Casino Border War
NSW M.S.D. Rifle
Grand Prix Round 5
NSW M.S.D. Pistol
Grand Prix Round 4
RESULTS
Standard Rifle Optical Rifle Cadet / Trainer Pistol
Thirty Four competitors gathered at the Casino range to take part in the Casino Open 2006. This is the largest number of entries for some years despite the current high fuel costs.
Friday afternoon saw the first shots of the weekend series of events with the start of the Cadet/Trainer matches. Shooting on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning these matches attracted 27 competitors including six Juniors. This is the largest number of entries ever for a Cadet/Trainer match in the Grand Prix series and speaks eloquently for the increasing popularity of the match.
In the 25 metre section of the Cadet Trainer match, Junior shooter Matthew McPherson (Grafton) shot an excellent 96.02 and Junior Andrew Brown also from Grafton was not far behind on 91.01. A total of 10 shooters shot 90 plus in the first round of the match. In the 50 metre section three shooters produced scores over 90 including Valma Irving in only her third attempt at the match who scored a creditable 91.01.
The junior winners for Cadet/Trainer were Andrew Brown on 244.01, Lee Knight (Casino) on 240.03, and Matthew McPherson on 237.03. Overall winners were Robert Irving on 276.06, Fred Meyer on 254.01, and Stephen Heidrich on 246.03.
Col Maloney welcomed the competitors on Saturday morning and Discipline Chairman Jamie Harris stressed that our first priority for the events was the safety of everyone involved and second priority enjoyment. The day was overcast and windless, occasional flurries of Scotch mist occurred but did not interrupt proceedings and could not be dignified by being called rain.
The highlights of the standard rifle 3P core event were Junior Andrew Browns score of 139.10 and Darren Ottery's (Northern Rivers) score of 146.13. In the Rapid fire B event only two possibles were scored, a superb 100.17 shot by Peter Brown (Grafton) and a 100.11 by Darren Ottery. Junior Grand aggregate winners were Andrew Brown with 231.14, Lee Knight (Northern Rivers) with 223.05 and Robert Black (Grafton) with 219.09. Overall winners were Darren Ottery on 246.24 Greg Mills-Thom (Coffs Harbour) on 243.29 and Peter Brown on 241.30.
The optical rifle event, with 27 competitors, consisted of a single snap followed by a double snap at 300 metres and produced some of the closest competition seen for years. Junior grade was won by Matthew MacPherson (Grafton) with a score of 94.03 followed by Robert Black on 93.09 and Andrew Brown on 87.02. In the open event Greg Roberts (Coffs Harbour) won on a count back from Ian Matheson (Northern Rivers) both scoring 96.08. Darren Ottery was third with a score of 96.07.
In the pistol competitions, Class 1/2 was won by Wal Cameron (Tamworth) with an aggregate score of 495.10 from John Lewis (Sydney) with a score of 476.04. Stephen Heidrich (Eidsvold) was third with a score of 475.05. Class 4 produced another “toe to toe” battle between Wal Cameron and Robert Irving with Wal Cameron the victor by three centres on 529.18 from Irving on 529.15. Owen Graham (Northern Rivers) was third with an aggregate score of 509.09.
In the Queensland versus New South Wales border War the winner was New South Wales with Queensland being given a magnificent runners up Trophy that depicted the classic symbols of both states. Cane toads, prickly pear and bananas on the Queensland side with three sleeping seated figures dressed in sombrero and blanket surrounded by cockroaches on the New South Wales side. This Trophy along with the others that the competitors were privileged to receive were manufactured by Owen Graham. Owen received a vote of thanks from all competitors for his imaginative and magnificent work.
Once again the Northern Rivers Branch put on a great event with another memorable dinner produced by Jim and Julie, to say nothing of the great bacon and egg breakfasts. This event was characterised by hard competition and very good humour and we all look forward to the State Championship at this venue.