Coffs Harbour
 Anzac Memorial
NSW M.S.D. Rifle Grand Prix Round 4

21st & 22nd April 2006

Standard Rifle    Optical Rifle    Cadet /Trainer

People began gathering for the fourth round of the rifle Grand Prix 2006 from Friday noon at the Coffs Harbour Rifle Club range near Coffs Harbour.  The range was in great shape and was even being mowed right up until Friday afternoon, hats off to Allan Phillips on the ride-on mower, as well as the club for making the excellent shower, toilets and clubhouse facilities available for M.S.D. visitor use. A fine, but cool evening encouraged those camping to sit outside under brilliant stars, to have a beer or two and catch up on news with old and new friends. 

Saturday was fine and clear as competitors arrived early to sign on. Thirty-four competitors registered despite high fuel costs, holiday period, Anzac Day weekend, etc. This is one of the best attendances at Coffs Harbour, which hopefully can be bettered next year.  

Shooters from Sydney, Newcastle, Grafton, Tamworth, and Coffs Harbour clubs where in attendance. With nine target frames in operation, this meant four details.  

Jamie Harris and Alan Phillips, in their briefings, welcomed the competitors and stressed that the first priority of the event was the safety of all attendees and that this took precedence over scores, trophies, completing matches and all other considerations.  The second priority was stated as to have fun and to enjoy the weekend. The third priority was to honour those who had fought for our country, to pay our respects to our ANZACS with one minute’s silence. 

In the 3P core and rapid Fire B events many shooters put their groups below the target centre not allowing for the uphill range.

Top gun and GM grade winner in 3P and GP. aggregate was Peter Barnier (Tamworth) with a score of 149.18 (a near possible 3P score) and 247.31 for the GP Aggregate.

In Master grade Nick Abrahall (Grafton) took the honours with an impressive score of 242.24 that also saw him take out the runner-up top gun medal. He was followed by Greg Mills-thom (Coffs Harbour) in second place with a score of 235.19, followed by Peter Brown (Grafton) in third place with a score of 230.12. Peter has only recently advanced to Master Grade, so maybe we will see him in Grand Master Grade soon? 

In A grade the winner with a No. 4 was Colin Maloney (Northern Rivers) with a great score of 232.19, followed by Aubrey Sonnenberg (Sydney) in second place with a score of 230.15. He was followed by Ian Mathison with a No.1 in third place with a score of 230.08. Ian also shot a very impressive Master grade score of 142.07, two more of these will see him into Master grade.  

In B grade Greg Roberts (Coffs Harbour) was first with a very respectable 132.04 and 231.14 saying goodbye to B grade.  Second was John Black (Grafton) on 226.10 then followed by his son Robert Black (Grafton) on 220.13, look out dad, junior is coming up through the ranks? 

In C grade Lev Hassan (St Mary’s) top scored with 203.07 followed by Norm Johnson (Coffs Harbour) on 182.06.  Daniel Roberts (Coffs Harbour) was third with 175.01. 

As it was the ANZAC weekend Memorial shoot, the top standard rifle scores for the GP aggregate where awarded with medals to mark the occasion for those who represented their rifles well. Top No.1 went to Ian Mathison (Northern Rivers) with a score of 230.08, top No. 4 went to Colin Maloney with a great score of 232.19, and top Mauser went to a shooter that really knows how to use his Mauser, Peter Barnier with a fantastic score of 247.31 from 250.50.  

The Optical/Sniper match was run after the lunch break with 28 competitors taking part. This match was shot at 500 metres with a deliberate, single and double snap. All classes shot combined, with an assortment of calibres and classes being put on show. 

So, it was fitting that with a most impressive score of 149.20 and top gun was Aubrey Sonnenberg (Sydney). Aubrey only dropped one point in the deliberate, which cost him a possible score. Following in second place was Darren Ottery (Northern Rivers) with 141.14, closely behind in third place was Peter Barnier (Tamworth) with 141.10, fourth place went to Peter Brown (Grafton) with a score of 138.08, fifth place went to Jim Rushbrook (Tamworth) with a score of 136.06, with sixth place going to Nick Abrahall (Grafton) with a score of 135.10.    

The day was concluded with the combined Martini Cadet and .22 Trainer match which was contested by 18 competitors. Nick Abrahall (Grafton) produced a score of 243.01 using his Martini Cadet rifle to win the event.  Greg Mills-thom (Coffs Harbour) was second with 241.03 followed closely by Dick Bennett (Silverdale) on 241.01.  Junior class was won by Andrew McPherson (Grafton) who used a Martini Cadet to shoot a score of 220.00.   

The atmosphere through a very full day was excellent. The competition was intense but in the spirit of true sportsmanship and this added up to an event that will be hard to top next year. 

Special thanks must go Harris Building Design Services who sponsored the Top No.1, Top No.4 and Top Mauser Medals. The day’s events would not have been possible without help from Greg Mills-thom for his tireless efforts in organising and running the weekend, Jamie who did the scoring, the Coffs Harbour Rifle Club who handled the catering and administrative organization.  In addition thanks to all the competitors who worked as safety officers, butts officers and in details, plus those who helped with the clean up. 

The next M.S.D. State sanctioned event is Round 3 of the 2006 Pistol Grand Prix to be held on the 20th of May at the Tamworth Pistol Club at Tamworth, for details see the calendar.