Mudgee CvC & Noel Cross Memorial Shield

16-18^th March, 2007

NSW M.S.D. Grand Prix Round 3 - Pistol &Rifle

Match Report

All Pistol & Rifle Results                    Photos

The Windamere Shooting Complex was green but only just, following a recent rainstorm. Thirty five competitors gathered for this popular series of events.

Pistol competition began on Friday with the 3P 25m. match. Rob Irving (Sthn. Highlands) top scored in Class 2 with 118.08 with Kerry Benson (Sydney) on 113.02 and Terry Lark (Bathurst) on 109.01. A new competitor in pistol, Junior Matt McPherson (Grafton) in his first SSAA match and fifth pistol match of any kind shot 100.01 a creditable performance. Matt has shown himself to have rifle shooting talent and this looks transferable to pistol.

The class 2 aggregate went to Rob Irving with 640.29 followed by Kerry Benson on 633.18 and Terry Lark on 620.19.

Class 1 pistol was won by Rob Irving on 639.20 followed by Terry Lark on 603.10 and Ben Doherty (Mudgee) third on 581.13.

City thrashed Country, (AGAIN) with a score of 2447.64 versus 2351.46.

Cadet trainer matches were shot in a variable wind that may have depressed the 100m scores. The match shot was the National event on the Mini-core targets. Rob Irving top scored with his trusty Cadet shooting 144.17, followed closely by Craig Mahoney using a borrowed trainer to shoot 140.08. Ben Doherty came in third using a Cadet on 139.07. Top Junior was Matt McPherson on 120.04.

The campfire was lit early and a number of competitors entered into the true spirit of the evening. It is reported that singing was heard to be occurring around 4am. Others thought a plague of cigar smoking frogs had descended on Windamere.

After an enthusiastic attempt at Australian Idol ’07, it is surprising that the scores next day were very respectable. The day was overcast and the normal shoot low problem was not in evidence. In the 300m deliberate match, Craig Mahoney top scored with 49.03 followed by Rob Irving on 47.03 and Robert Prowse on 46.01. Top Junior was Matt McPherson on 41.01.

The 3P Core event was won in the following grades;

Grand Master Grade – 1^st Rob Irving (Sth Highlands) on 146.17,

2^nd Craig Mahoney (Silverdale) on 145.16 &

3^rd Graham Smith (a new shooter from Sydney) on 118.02.

Master Grade – 1^st Ben Doherty (Mudgee) on 143.13,

2^nd Tim Hayes (Mudgee) on 138.10 &

3^rd Dick Bennett (Silverdale) on 136.08.

A Grade – 1^st Matthew McPherson (Grafton) a Jnr with 142.15,

2^nd Dave Toovey (Mudgee) on 139.12 &

3^rd James McRae (Mudgee) on 139.05.

B Grade – 1^st Ray Harrold (Sydney) on 123.05,

2^nd Gordon O’Donnell (Sth Highlands) on 120.04 &

3^rd Wal Von Szlagowsky (Silverdale) on 116.02.

There where no competitors for C Grade.

Juniors – 1^st Matthew McPherson (Grafton) on 142.15 &

2^nd Chris Cross (Mudgee) on 108.03.

The 3P Core event was won by Rob Irving on 146.17 followed by Craig Mahoney on 145.16 and Ben Doherty on 143.13. Matthew McPherson again top scored in Junior grade with his third Master Grade score of 142.15; goodbye ‘A’ grade for Matthew.

Action M produced some excellent performances from A graders Darren Pearce (Mudgee) winning with 50.03 from Andrew Prowse (Mudgee) 50.02 and Craig Mahoney on 49.02. Top junior was again Matthew on 46.03.

The Noel Cross Memorial Silhouette event, favourite on the Mudgee calendar, was won by Tim Hayes (Mudgee) with a superb score of 96 followed by Rob Irving on 95 and Craig Mahoney on 93. This event proved the limit of the 120 grain projectile from the M96 Swedes. Both Rob Irving and Craig Mahoney produced multiple central and high hits on the Rams without knocking them over. There was a suggestion that the two top City shooters had been given Rams held down by tack welds. This was hotly denied by range officer Dave Toovey (Mudgee) who claimed squib loads from tomato stakes were the problem. Dave is a No.1 303 shooter naturally.

Grand Aggregate winner Standard rifle was Rob Irving on 337.23 one point ahead of team mate Craig Mahoney on 336.21 and Ben Doherty on 319.19.

City took the rifle trophy for the third time running with 1236.52 from Country on 1228.55 very close but just enough.

Dinner on Saturday was again well catered with steaks from Tom and Co. and a delicious desert by Gisella Smolen. Good campfire stories and antics kept the party going but the real stayers had exhausted themselves the night before so it was all over by midnight.

Modified rifle day was again overcast although light conditions were variable.

After the 3P match Rob Irving and Craig Mahoney were neck and neck in the two rifle aggregate with a 146.14 from Craig and a 145.19 from Rob. Gisella Smolen showed her true talent with an exceptional 136.07.

The decider was the Rapid fire B match with Craig winning the Two Rifle grand aggregate on 581.50 from Rob on 579.53. Ben Doherty was third on 560.48.

Three day Rifle and pistol Aggregate winner was Rob Irving on 1219.82 from Ben Doherty on 1141.63 and Andrew Prowse 1094.43.

Another very successful NSW grand Prix event is complete; a credit to the small Mudgee team who put in so much work to make the weekend enjoyable for their guests.

Don’t miss the next GP event at Majura range ACT on Sunday 22^nd April. The inaugural ACT Anzac Memorial Open is rifle only.