Roseville Rifle Club Australia

Belmont in Queensland (14th to 15th October) was the place to be for 3 of Roseville’s shooters as they represented NSW in the State Veteran’s competition. It was an interesting and challenging time for the NSW Veterans’ teams this year. First the call for teams was for FSTD and TR only. Later they did a second call for nominations as the NRAA decided to also add FTR and F-Open disciplines. Two teams were also allowed from each state in each discipline. Ultimately, this meant there was movement and juggling in the various NSW teams’ composition until the teams were settled.

Roseville had 3 reps in the various teams:
– Alan Patrick as Captain and Shooter in NSW GOLD TR;
– Eva Patrick as Captain and Reserve in NSW Blues FTR;
– Janet Beale as Shooter in NSW Blues FTR.

The captain’s role is never an easy one what with organising trials, selecting the team, organising practices, uniform orders, liaising with NSWRA and NRAA etc. But this year the various NSW Captains had some unexpected team medical issues impacting the practices and then last minute challenges to overcome. The most poignant one was finding a replacement for Linda Sweet in FSTD as she had sustained massive internal injuries on her farm days before the team was due to leave. While a substitute was found, unfortunately Linda died the day before the team’s “Meet and Greet” in Brisbane. The replacement was John Alp from North Sydney RC who had been scheduled to shoot in F-Open but the F-Open team had too many individuals withdraw with medical issues so they had to pull out. John used Janet’s ammo and FSTD rifle…as did Alexina. Also a last minute substitute in the TR Gold team was Bill Ballantyne from Hornsby Manly TRC.

Final NSW teams and their outcomes:
– NSW Blue TR (Scott Brindley, Jim Jeffery, Neil Gibbins, Michael Chad, Jim Bailey (Captain & shooter), Coach: Steve Williams) won every distance and overall aggregate. Their advantage was having so many Australian PALMA team members and world champions
– NSW Gold TR (Richard Jones, Bill Ballantyne, Alistair Williams, Ken Young, Alan Patrick (Captain & shooter), Coach: Mark Bunt) came a very strong second without any PALMA team members. They also were a stones throw from beating the NSW Blue team at 300yds, 900yds and 1000yds. Alan was top shooter in his team and out-shot several in the NSW Blue TR – Good job Captain/Shooter Alan!
– NSW Blues FTR (Varuna Wijetunge, David Vivian-Jones, Cathy Burnitt, Paul Breeze, Janet Beale, Coach: Alan Seaman, Captain & Reserve: Eva Patrick) came second and winning at 300yds. Good Job Captain Eva!
– NSW FSTD (John Alp, Mal Sharp, Ralph Garlick, Peter Walters, Alexina Bunt (Captain & shooter), Coach: John Leask, Reserve: Joseph Jason) came second and winning at 600yds. Good Job Captain Alexina!

It is hard to beat Queensland at their home range shooting 1000yds which is something Sydney doesn’t have. NSW can be proud of the 1 win and 3 second places for the 4 teams we sent. Well done Rosevillians (Alan, Eva, Janet) you did your state and your club proud!

Janet Beale