Only seven shooters attended the shoot, with numbers a little down as many regionalfamilies took the first weekend opportunity to re-establish the social contact with extendedfamily.
Unfortunately, attendance of the meeting at Bisley in the UK has been problematic this yearbecause of COVID-19 travel restrictions. Bisley is the ancestral home to HM the Queen’s Prize, first won by Australian rifleman Percy Pavey in 1948 and more recently by James Corbett from Benalla in 2013. The competition has also shot right across the Commonwealth and by Victorian riflemen since 1881.
Shooting began at 500 yards and members took the opportunity at that range to re-tweak their equipment, which had been tinkered with in the search of precision. There have been three former opportunities to log a top score at ‘500’ and most shooters doubted the winds present would allow a trade-up to a better best.
There was unanimous agreement that winds were about the most difficult encountered for some time - strong, but varying in both strength and direction. A varying tailwind, up against the Strathbogie Range, introduces a vertical dimension bound to baffle all flatlanders and newcomers to mountain marksmen territory.
600 yards comp scores:
F class open; John Maccioni 58.4, Neal Hambridge 57.3, Randell Underwood 56.2 and Paul Watkins 54.3.
F class standard; Graeme Kerr 57.4, Richard Timms 56.2 and Geoff James 49.2.
One of the most notable shoots of the day was the series recorded by East Central District’snewest member Richard Timms, from Alexandra.
Timms is the proprietor of Alexandra-based RPT Plastering Pty Ltd, and the firm has been a strong sponsor of the club over several years. Timms is now personally moving toward being an active participant in the sport.
He arrived early on Saturday to donate yet more time to finish off plastering the club’s new disabled toilet facilities, and then weary from a morning of ladders, put in his very first serious competition attempt.
Timms shot a score of 52.2 at 500 yards, followed by 56.2 at 600 yards.
New F class standard shooters are assigned to B-grade, so based on one day’s shooting alone, Timms has a place at the table in the club championship for that grade.
This Wednesday morning will see a short working bee to finalise some work on the new clubhouse and putting in place the last pieces of disabled friendly facilities.
East Central is hoping COVID-19 rules allow the team to continue to shoot and complete allthe club competition rounds.
The plan for this Saturday is to complete 600 yards and 300 yards sessions to give as many members as possible a fair chance for recognition in the club championship.
Visit www.ecdra.com.au for more information about the club and the sport.
- Leigh Enfield