Country marks the sport!

April 2002 saw the 3rd running of the NSW City Vs Country event to great success. The CvC started as a half-annual event, however a sudden increase in Military/Service rifle competition has resulted in a now very busy and exciting yearly calendar forcing this event to turn annual. Without doubt, this event so far has been a success on every scale and it will only keep getting better. The founders of the event, Noel Cross and David Waters, were very pleased with the efforts of all the volunteers and competitors. "We are hopeful that everybody enjoyed their time away at Mudgee and will return in greater numbers in 2003" said Noel Cross.

Competitors from the City and Country branches rolled in from midday Friday. They assisted setting up the range, getting their camping territory staked out and a having a rifle practice session for the big weekend of regional rivalry.

A total of 41 competitors (15 City and 26 Country) marked the firing lines, 7 more than the previous largest turn out ever. Almost a dozen regulars could not make the date due to Anzac day and other commitments, however thanks to a few competitor influences, many new faces appeared for the first time ever. Being this was a club level state challenge, it really says something for the sport in NSW and the battle for pride and supremacy between the City and the Country regions. "We should be proud of where we come from. Some of us are here for the competition. The rest just want a fun weekend away, mixing with fellow shooters and to take in the fresh air that only the country can deliver" says city shooter David Waters.

Saturday, the first day of action, had perfect weather to kick off the friendly rivalry between the 2 regions. Starters gathered for a briefing and a 300m warm up to get the blood pumping, then half the field contested the 3P Core Event for standard issue rifles. Simultaneously, the other half of the field went to the silhouette range for some heavy rifle action. The 3P is the SSAA Mil/Serv main event that offers the competitors the chance to maintain their grade card and the possibility of shooting for their proficiency awards, which many did achieve.

Many of the competitors agreed that this shoot is great fun, but it does make you hungry. So at the halfway point, the Mudgee locals put on a very tasty country style BBQ for everybody to satisfy the competitive shooters hunger, all in the price of admission.

Without doubt the draw card for the weekend is the "Silhouette match" and is what the shooters talk about the most. This event is shot from the prone position and only up to 400m, instead of the scoped rifle 500m. This is due to the use of our open sights over these small targets that may handicap some of those whose eye sight maybe put them at a disadvantage. People love the "ting" or "ping" sound of copper and lead hitting a metal target before it's pushed over with a forceful thud……"whammoo, over she goes", is the regular cry from the spotters.

Competitive results had Saturday's large prize pool evenly spread across both regions to multiple participants. The large range of trophies is one of the keys to the success of the CvC. Another important thing to consider for new shooters is that just one visit to this weekend will almost qualify you for a grade to participate anywhere in a 3P match for the future.

Members of the Mudgee branch deserve all the credit for the success of the event after all the labour they pored into the range facility. For the first time the Silhouette match was shot with targets sitting on professionally constructed rails that were perfect in symmetry. This way, if a target was hit fairly, it was certain to fall. Along with the rail work, a massive amount of lawn care and catering efforts were put towards the weekend that should make the Mudgee branch feel proud and be the envy of the state.

Last year, a vote was taken to increase the City and Country teams make up from top four aggregate scores to the top six. These team scores are used to determine winners between the two regions. Each team member has their names engraved on the perpetual shield and receives individual team medallions. The two Saturday events, 3P and Silhouette, are the only matches used to decide the CvC shield for reasons of fairness.

Sunday morning after another 300metre warm up, 27 competitors took their positions for the supplementary 3P modified rifle event kick off. This competition carries a special reward where the outright winner who has their name engraved on a beautifully hand made perpetual trophy with a .303 muzzle embedded in it. This event is normally followed by the Rapid Fire match however, an early finish on Saturday afternoon saw it slotted in there. Instead, the new SSAA event called the "Action M" was run and after the dust settled, literally, a quick tally up was done with a handshake to the winner. This event isn't about winning or losing, it's about having fun.

The standard of shooting at the CvC was much improved this year.

While average scores across all shooters were similar to last October, winning scores across the grades were much higher. As an example the average winning score last for the 3 Position Core Event was 135 compared to 127 last October. In the Modified Silhouette match, a special feature of the CvC, this year's average winning score was 78 compared to 61 in October.

Thanks to the Mudgee volunteers and all their hard work, the new format should allow us to comfortably support 100shooters. "Hopefully we can convince everybody that owns a pre-loved service rifle to come and compete in 2003" said the modest new Mudgee military/service rifle Captain Darren Pearce…..(Darren gave up his shooting on Sunday to ensure the weekend finished to a perfect end…..thanks Darren). "We are just doing our bit for everybody who came to support the event' he want on to say.

Hopefully another future change will see the increase in junior numbers. "We need to help preserve this sport we all love being part of" said the Mudgee range captain Dave Toovey. "We have the facilities and the event so why not bring the whole family".

The weekend finished with lots of back slapping and hand shakes until next year, for some, or shooters meet up again throughout the year at the other events. The next big event is Tamworth and people are already organising accommodation, camping arrangements and travel methods. If people don't meet up there, then they are sure to meet up at this years 4th running of the NSW State Championships being held at Armidale in September. Ian Crabbe and Peter Szacsvay are expecting the biggest and best event every for this state.

SCORES (c=City, b=Bush)

SATURDAY, Standard Rifle Events

CvC Match 1 - Three Position Core Event (possible 150.30).

Masters; 1st Peter Richards 148.19(c), 2nd Peter Barnier 141.08(b), 3rd Dick Bennett 140.09(c)
"A" Grade; 1st Brett Anthess 139.18(b), 2nd Ben Doherty 135.07(b), 3rd Darren Pearce 134.07(b)
"B" Grade; 1st Carlos Herreros 137.04(c), 2nd Phillip Prangley 130.07(b), 3rd David Toovey 129.01(b)
"C" Grade; 1st Wal Cameron 132.03(b), 2nd Mark Castle 112.04(c), 3rd Bruce Reeves 110.12(b)
Junior; 1st Rowan Herreros 120.05(c), 2nd Ross Spittles 113.04(b), 3rd Chris Harrington 104.04(b)

CvC Match 2 - Modified Silhouette (possible 100)

Masters; 1st Peter Barnier 98(b), 2nd Peter Richards 85(c), 3rd Dick Bennett 82(c),
"A" Grade; 1st David Waters 85(c), 2nd Robert Spittles 84(b), 3rd Brett Anthes 60(b),
"B: Grade; 1st Carlos Herreros 78(c), 2nd Jim Rushbrook 57(b), 3rd Phillip Prangley 52(b),
"C" Grade; 1st Wall Cameron 77(b), 2nd Bruce Reeves 56(b), 3rd Mark Castke 40(c),
Junior; 1st Chris Harrington 55(b), 2nd Ross Spittles 53(b), 3rd Mat Harrington 28(b),

CvC 2 Match Agg (possible 250.30)

Masters; Winner Peter Barnier 239.08(b), R/Up Peter Richards 232.19(c)
"A" Grade; Winner David Waters 216.04(c), R/Up Robert Spittles 209.08(b)
"B: Grade; Winner Carlos Herreros 215.04(c), R/Up Jim Rushbrook 182.01(b)
"C" Grade; Winner Wal Cameron 209.03(b), R/Up Bruce Reeves 166.02(b)
Junior; Winner Ross Spittles 166.04(b), R/Up Chris Harrington 159.04(b)

CvC Teams Shield

Winners – Country, Peter Barnier, Robert Spittles, Wal Cameron, Noel Cross, Brett Anthes, Ben Doherty 1257.50
Runners Up – City. Peter Richards, Dick Bennett, David Waters, Carlos Herreros, Jeremy Bates, Ray Harrold 1212.40

SUNDAY, Modified/Accurised Rifle Events

Three Position - Modified/Accurised (possible 150.30)

Masters; 1st Peter Barnier 148.19(b), 2nd Dick Bennett 141.06(c), 3rd Steve Taylor 138.04(b)
"A" Grade; 1st David Waters 141.09(c), 2nd Robert Spittles 134.10(b), 3rd Richard Brown 120.05(c)
"B" Grade; 1st Phil Prangley 146.13(b), 2nd Jim Rushbrook 142.13(b), 3rd Wayne Cole 134.07(b)
"C" Grade; 1st Bruce Reeves 132.04(b), 2nd Ian Crabbe 109.03(c)
Junior; 1st Rowan Prangley 127.03(b), 2nd Ross Spittles 113.03(b), 3rd Chris Harrington 103.02(b)

Rapid Fire B - Modified/Accurised (possible 100.20)

Masters; 1st Peter Barnier 100.15(b), 2nd Peter Richards 100.14(c), 3rd Steve Taylor 91.05(b)
"A" Grade; 1st Ben Doherty 100.13(b), 2nd David Waters 98.06(c), 3rd Rob Spittles 94.04(b)
"B" Grade; 1st Ian Brown 94.05(b), 2nd Peter Szacsvay 89.03(b), 3rd Jim Rushbrook 88.02(b)
"C" Grade; 1st Ian Crabbe 91.04(c), 2nd Bruce Reeves 89.05(b), 3rd Ken Harrington 83.04(b)
Junior; 1st Ross Spittles 65.01(b), 2nd Matt Harrington 42.00(b), 3rd Chris Harrington 36.00(b)

Weekend - Grand Agg Top Guns (possible 500.60).

1st - Peter Barnier, 487.42 (b)
2nd - Peter Richards, 470.39 (c)
3rd - David Waters, 455.19 (c)
Junior - Ross Spittles, 344.08 (b)

Results courtesy of Andy Prowse, SSAA Mudgee

Name	Grade	C/B	Silhouette	3P-Core		AG		A/M 3P		A/M RB		AG		Overall-AG
PETER RICHARDS	M	C	84	148	19	232	19	138	6	100	14	238	20	470	39
PETER BARNIER	M	B	98	141	8	239	8	148	19	100	15	248	34	487	42
DICK BENNETT	M	C	82	140	9	222	9	141	6	89	9	230	15	452	24
TIM HAYES	M	B	42	139	3	181	3	134	5	90	3	224	8	405	11
NOEL CROSS	M	B	73	135	6	208	6	134	6	75	4	209	10	417	16
STEVE TAYLOR	M	B	53	131	6	184	6	138	4	91	5	229	9	413	15
ANDY PROWSE	M	B	54	113	2	167	2					0	0	167	2
DENNIS LAVELLE	M	B	10	100	2	110	2	123	3	64	1	187	4	297	6
ROWAN HERREROS	J	C	17	120	5	137	5					0	0	137	5
ROSS SPITTLES	J	B	53	113	4	166	4	113	3	65	1	178	4	344	8
CHRIS HARRINGTON	J	B	55	104	4	159	4	103	2	36	0	139	2	298	6
ROWAN PRANGLEY	J	B	14	94	0	108	0	127	3	28		155	3	263	3
MATT HARRINGTON	J	B	28	63		91	0	43	0	42	0	85	0	176	0
WAL CAMERON	C	B	77	132	3	209	3					0	0	209	3
MARK CASTLE	C	B	40	112	4	152	4					0	0	152	4
BRUCE REEVES	C	B	56	110	2	166	2	132	4	89	5	221	9	387	11
IAN CRABBE	C	C	20	110	1	130	1	109	3	91	4	200	7	330	8
KEN HARRINGTON	C	B	30	100	3	130	3			83	4	83	4	213	7
FRANK MIFSUD	C	C	23	98	4	121	4					0	0	121	4
CHARLIE MIFSUD	C	C	30	93	1	123	1			55	0	55	0	178	1
BRENDON O'CONNOR	C	B	13	84	2	97	2			37		37	0	134	2
IAN BRUCE	C	C	33	57		90	0							90	0
CARLOS HERREROS	B	C	78	137	4	215	4			83	1	83	1	298	5
PHILLIP PRANGLEY	B	B	52	130	7	182	7	146	13	51	0	197	13	379	20
DAVID TOOVEY	B	B	34	129	1	163	1	117	4	85	2	202	6	365	7
JIM RUSHBROOK	B	B	57	125	1	182	1	142	13	88	2	230	15	412	16
IAN BROWN	B	B	36	124	6	160	6	124	3	94	5	218	8	378	14
JEREMY BATES	B	C	45	121	3	166	3			83	1	83	1	249	4
WAYNE COLE	B	B	51	120	2	171	2	134	7	27	0	161	7	332	9
ROMAN COPOT	B	C	15	115	3	130	3	111	4	61	1	172	5	302	8
RAY HARROLD	B	C	50	111	1	161	1	125	0			125	0	286	1
STEPHEN LOSIAK	B	C	29	110	2	139	2			79	3	79	3	218	5
PETER SZACSVAY	B	B	39	109	1	148	1	125	3	89	3	214	6	362	7
RICHARD LOSIAK	B	C	42	104	2	146	2			72	2	72	2	218	4
BRETT ANTHES	A	B	60	139	18	199	18					0	0	199	18
BEN DOHERTY	A	B	58	135	7	193	7			100	13	100	13	293	20
DARREN PEARCE	A	B	55	134	7	189	7			93	8	93	8	282	15
DAVID WATERS	A	C	85	131	4	216	4	141	9	98	6	239	15	455	19
ARTHUR KIRBY	A	B	47	129	6	176	6					0	0	176	6
ROBERT SPITTLES	A	B	81	128	8	209	8	134	10	94	4	228	14	437	22
RICHARD BROWN	A	C	46	75	0	121	0	120	5	91	2	211	7	332	7

Modified Rifle Winners


Grand Champions


Grand Champion


CvC Teams


All the winners