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North Shore District Rifle Association Open Prize Meeting 2021

Roseville take out 4 of the 8 Grand Prizes at the North Shore District Rifle Association Open Prize Meeting

8th and 9th of May, 2021

Hornsby Rifle Range

It was a very good weekend for the Roseville Rifle Club on the weekend of May 8 and 9 2021 when the North Shore District Rifle Association held its 2021 Open Prize Meeting. It was a happy return to competition, after the 2020 event was cancelled due to COVID-19. Even though Mothers Day was celebrated on the Sunday, competitors came from all corners of NSW to participate, as well as a good number of competitors from the “home” clubs at Hornsby. There were a total of 95 competitors on the range over the course of the two-day event.  I am pleased to report that the Roseville Rifle Club had four members who took home number 1 badges in the Grand Aggregate:

  • Phill Hodder – TRA #1
  • Adam Beale – TRB #1
  • Janet Beale – FTR #1
  • Rob Trodden – S/H #1

It was a wonderful 2 days of intense competition, but camaraderie was also in plentiful supply. The weather was mostly kind, with a few intermittent periods of drizzle on Sunday but for the most part, conditions were perfect for shooting.

Day 1 – Saturday the 8th May

A fine day greeted competitors and the programme commenced with a stand-alone 300M ISSF match – shot on the challenging ISSF 300M target with a 100mm 10 ring.  There were two divisions in this match: Target Rifle and Scope Rifle with competitors allowed to use any calibre up to 8mm. Each competitor had unlimited sighters and then shot three strings of  10 shots to complete a 30 shot match.  The field was split into two squads with 12 TR shooters competing shoulder to shoulder in Squad 1 and then 9 Scope shooters and 2 TR shooters competing in the second squad.   There was a slight breeze coming in from the south west which would catch you out at 3 o’clock if you did not watch it.

In Target Rifle, the winner was Duncan Davies of West Wallsend Rifle Club, with a score of 296.11, closely followed by David Wright from Goulburn Rifle Club on 295.14 and Matt Shepherd of Endeavour Rifle Club on 295.12. In F-Std, Kris Wilson of Hornsby RSL Rifle Club won with an impressive score of 300.24, just pipping Janet Beale of Roseville Rifle Club by one centre, on 300.23, followed by Chris Hodges of North Sydney Rifle Club on 299.16

There were several impressive scores in the 10 shot strings: In Target Rifle David Wright with 100.6 and Duncan Davies with 100.3 impressed and special mention should be made of schoolboy shooter Angus Langsford with a 99.5. In F-Std Kris Wilson was outstanding with scores of 100.10 and 100.9, as was Janet Beale with 100.9 twice.

So from the ISSF 300m event, the competition moved onto the first of the main OPM matches, at 400m. Traditionally a tricky distance and the gentle breeze from the south west continued to play with the competitors. As it would turn out – these were the only conditions for any of the matches over the two days.  Competitors showed their mettle with some fine scores in all disciplines and grades. Phill Hodder of Roseville Rifle Club got out of blocks early with a 50.7 in Target Rifle A Grade, as did Wu Lau of Hornsby RSL Rifle Club in F-Open with 60.7. Sandiswa Nzimande of Gosford District Rifle Club gave an early glimpse of what was to come with a very impressive 60.5 in F-Std B Grade.

Next up, the competitors moved all the way back to 800m for a 15 shot match and by this time the breeze disappeared and Hornsby unusually became a shooting gallery. The only challenge for competitors was the late afternoon Autumn sunshine – with the sun coming straight down the range.  This is one of the peculiarities of the Hornsby Rifle Range – which faces West North West – the only range in NSW to do so.   Mark Buchanan of Roseville Rifle Club showed his superior group shooting with a superb 75.13 in Target Rifle A Grade. There were many high scores in F Class, including 90.11 from David Li of North Sydney Rifle Club and 90.10 from Bruce Rowlands of Lyndhurst Rifle Club in F-Std A Grade, as well as 90.10 from Greg Emms of Lyndhurst Rifle Club in F-Std B Grade, along with Andrew Beavis of North Sydney Rifle Club in F/Open with 90.10. In Sporter/Hunter, William Davis again excelled with 75.12

One of our newest members – Craig Vermeulen gets advice from the Great Duncan Davies

 

So the first day finished with the aggregate of the 400m and 800m scores, with the leaders being:

Target Rifle A Grade – Phill Hodder from Roseville and David Morton from Port Macquarie Rifle Club on 125.14. This required a shoot off on the second day, which was won by David.

Target Rifle B Grade – Steve Horvath of Gosford District Rifle Club on 124.9

Target Rifle C Grade – Doug Rawson-Harris of Hornsby Manly Target Rifle Club on 113.7

F-Std A Grade – Daniel Galea of Nowra Rifle Club on 149.16

F-Std B Grade – Stuart Nimmo of North Sydney Rifle Club on 147.10

F/Open – Wu Lau on 150.14

F/TR – Janet Beale of Roseville Rifle Club on 149.11

Sporter/Hunter – William Davis on 125.19

There were four sponsors at the Day 1 Presentation to award prizes and represent their organisations who donated so generously to our Open Prize Meeting:

John Warren – Director of the Hornsby RSL Club

Andrew Martin – Director of Peak Investments

Matt Shepherd  –  Director of the NSW Rifle Association

John Leask – Director of QBN Insurance Services

The presentation was held out on the lawn in front of the Memorial Wall – with competitors enjoying light refreshments while they cheered on their fellow Club mates and competitors who made the podium in the matches and the Day 1 aggregate.

Relaxing at the Day 1 presentation – Mark Buchanan, Mike Hodder and Sam Houston

 

Day 2 – Sunday the 9th May – Mothers Day

The North Shore DRA were pleased to welcome a large contingent of shooter from the Sydney Boys High School who turned up to compete in the second day of the competition.  Sunday was even better for shooting than Saturday afternoon – with no wind at all and cloud cover providing the perfect light for getting a brilliant sight-picture.   It was clear this was going to be a day for possibles on an unusual day when the Hornsby Range was more like a shooting gallery.

The day started with a 10 shot match at 500m. Clearly a distance that appeals to many shooters, if the scores were anything to go by! Mark Buchanan showed everyone how it’s done with a perfect 50.10 in Target Rifle A Grade. Daniel Galea in F-Std A Grade and Sandiswa Nzimande in F-Std B Grade were also impressive with scores of 60.9 and 60.8 respectively. In F/Open John Alp of North Sydney Rifle Club led a group of 4 shooters who all scored 60.9 and in F/TR Janet Beale posted 60.5. Rob Trodden of Roseville Rifle Club impressed in Sporter/Hunter with 60.9

At the conclusion of the 500M match, Phill Hodder from Roseville Rifle Club and David Morton from Port Macquarie Rifle Club had a shoot off for the Day 1 Aggregate tied on the previous day. After 5 shots the pair still could not be split – both posting at 25.3 and so an extra shot was fired. David Morton put up a V-Bull to win the shoot-off – with Phill firing a bulls eye – but both shooters till stayed clean showing fine marksmanship skills under pressure. Next up was another 10 shot match at 600m. By this stage many competitors had found their shooting rhythm and more good scores were recorded. Damon Livermore from Sydney Rifle Club led Target Rifle A Grade with 50.9. Jackie Wu from Sydney Boys High School was equally impressive in Target Rifle B Grade with 50.9. Chris Rigby from Gosford District Rifle Club led the F-Std A Grade shooters with 60.8 and Warwick Gordon from Hornsby Manly Rifle Club scored 60.4 in F-Std B Grade. Michael Difford from Cessnock Rifle club led a group of 3 shooters in F/Open who scored 60.9 and Janet Beale from the Roseville Rifle Club led F/Tr with 60.8.

With all the excellent scoring across all disciplines, the final range distance of 700m would prove the difference between a winning aggregate score and a “close second”. A 15 shot match is a great way to finish the competition and the tension was clearly in the air as the competitors went about their business.

Duncan Davies from West Wallsend gave a tremendous exhibition of long range shooting in Target Rifle A Grade with 75.14.  In Target Rifle B Grade, Adam Beale of Roseville Rifle Club showed why he was about to move up a grade with a very impressive 75.13. Special mention should be made of the 3 Sydney High School boys (Jackie Wu, Ruiyu Zhang and Cameron Young) who each scored 75 points in Target Rifle. In F-Std A Grade David Li from North Sydney emulated Duncan Davies’ efforts with 90.14. In F-Std B Grade, Sandiswa Nzimande from Gosford District showed why she is a future star with 90.10. In F/Open, Kris Wilson from Hornsby RSL also matched Duncan and David with 90.14 and Janet Beale closed her excellent campaign with 90.11. Rob Trodden from Roseville Rifle Club finished the weekend with 75.12 in Sporter/Hunter.

So from beginning to end, competition was intense and incredibly close. In the final reckoning, consistency across all range distances would prove the difference.

The Sunday 3 match aggregate for Day 2 winners were:

Target Rifle A Grade – Duncan Davies from West Wallsend Rifle Club with 175.28

Target Rifle B Grade – Jackie Wu from Sydney High School with 175.24

Target Rifle C Grade – Cameron Young from Sydney High School with 172.15

F-Std A Grade – David Li from North Sydney Rifle Club with 210.30

F-Std B Grade – Sandiswa Nzimande from Gosford District Rifle Club with 209.23

F-Open – Evan Aspiotis from Kempsey Rifle Club with 210.30

F/TR – Janet Beale from Roseville Rifle Club with 210.24

Sporter/Hunter – Rob Trodden from Roseville Rifle Club with 173.30

 

The winners of the Grand Aggregate, and therefore the Open Prize Meeting Champions for 2021, were as follows:

Target Rifle A Grade – Phill Hodder from Roseville Rifle Club with 300.40

Target Rifle B Grade – Adam Beale from Roseville Rifle Club with 297.38

Target Rifle C Grade – Melbourne Lucas from Coonabarabran Rifle Club with 273.10

F-Std A Grade – Daniel Galea from Nowra Rifle Club with 359.45

F-Std B Grade – Sandiswa Nzimande from Gosford District Rifle Club with 355.35

F-Open – Wu Lau from Hornsby RSL Rifle Club with 360.38

F/TR – Janet Beale from Roseville Rifle Club with 359.35

Sporter/Hunter – Rob Trodden from Roseville Rifle Club with 295.39

A very happy Phill Hodder take #1 Badge in TRA – presented by John Alp

In addition, there were special presentations to:

Top Under 25 Target Rifle competitor – Adam Beale

Top School Target Rifle competitor on Day 2 – Jackie Wu

Top Under 18 competitor – Sandiswa Nzimande

Rob Trodden won Sporter Hunter with an off-the-rack hunting rifle. Presented by Adrian Hall

The presentation was attended by Paul Britton – Director of Terry Hills Gun Shop – one of our sponsors – who was on hand to give out some of the prizes.  There were many proud Mums in attendance at the presentation and every lady present was given a beautiful single stem flower in celebration of Mothers’ Day.

Janet Beale was led from start to finish to win FTR presented by Adrian Hall

Adam Beale wins TR B – presented by Phil Jacombs

The Roseville Gang – all smiles.

The North Shore District Rifle Association would like to thank all our sponsors and partners whose generous support made for a wonderful presentation of prizes.

Major Sponsors

Hornsby 300M ISSF – Shooting every Wednesday @ Hornsby Range
www.magnumsports.com.au

19 Babbage Rd Roseville Chase
Phone:  (02) 9882 2689

Contact Fritz

Welschinger

(02) 9476 4434

NSW Rifle Association
www.nswra.org.au
Shop: (02)9311 7485

 

www.rosevillerc.com
Contact Adrian Bonanni
0400 055 101
https://peakinvest.com.au/

Contact Andrew Martin

(02) 8274 5800

HMTRC on facebook

Contact Sandy Mansfield

0414 290 613

 

Delivering Promotions

with Impact

www.patricksmarketing.com.au

Contact: Alan or Eva
1300 728 831

hornsbyrslrc.com.au

Contact: Heather Smith

0411 131 345

hornsbyrsl.com.au

4 High St Hornsby

(02) 9477 7777

John Alp – Member – North Sydney Rifle Club Steve Wilson – Member – North Sydney Rifle Club

Partner Sponsors

Coffee Shop

Accuracy Matters

Gun-Smithing

Mt Wilga Private Hospital

Call Angus to pre-order

M: 0430 381 028

www.northsydneyrifleclub
.com.au
Contact John Alpnorthsydneyrc@gmail.com
Find on facebook
Contact Darren Bradley

M: 0448 895 104

Associate Sponsors

gdrc.centralcoastsports.com.au
Contact: Darren SmithM: 0408 430 594
www.thgs.com.au
Ph: 9486 3221Open Mon-Sat
QBN Insurance Services

Contact John Leask

Ph: 0428 875 683

 

Jeff and Cathy Burnitt – Members – Gosford District Rifle Club Adrian Bonanni – Member – Roseville Rifle Club Michael Cuda – Member – Roseville Rifle Club
Len Brown – Member – North Sydney Rifle Club Andrew Martin – Member – Roseville Rifle Club

So ended a very successful Prize Meeting, with some exciting new talent having been discovered, new sporting friendships made and plans already being made to return in 2022 and enjoy the friendly hospitality (and range conditions!) offered at Hornsby Rifle Range