Phill beats them at the 2015 Bathurst OPM

Competitors were greeted on Sunday morning 25th Oct by overcast cool, calm conditions. The bush flys were also there to greet them!!

Phill after the shoot-off

Phill after the shoot-off

By the time shooting commenced the flags picked up from the right and were twitching around the poles, the calm conditions had left. Mark and Phill were the attendees representing Roseville, Mark started off strongly winning the first match @500y with a 50.6, Phill coming third with a 50.4.

The conditions got a little more tricky for the first 600y as the low scores showed. The range was won by John Baxter (NSWRA Chairman, 2015 Australian Palma Captain and Lithgow RC member) with a 50.3, the next two shooters could only manage 49’s! Phill shot a 48.1 and Mark 47.2.

There was a break for lunch and to give the markers a well earned rest and a feed. Phill was one of the first to shoot after lunch in the more readable conditions as the sun came out and it started getting hot, he took advantage scoring a 50.6, which ended up the highest score. Going into that stage he was coming third, one point and two centres behind Nick Cock (Bathurst RC) and two centres behind John Baxter. As he watched the other competitors finish their last stage he watched Nick only record a 49.3, Mark shot another possible scoring 50.5 for second position, and John shoot a 50.4 good enough for third place. This meant that both John and Phill finished on the same aggregate score for the 3 ranges 148.11. A shoot-off was needed to decide the winner.

Phill and John got ready on targets 3 and 4 and shot the mandatory 5 shots. Phill recorded a 25.3 to John’s 24.2, meaning Phill won the shoot-off and the Bathurst Prize Meeting in their Centenary Year!  Mark  finished fourth on 147.13. Scores can be found at: http://www.nraa.com.au/bathurst-rc-annual-opm-2015-nsw-results/

Phill receiving his prize from John Baxer

Phill receiving his prize from John Baxer

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