By John Wood
Glorious sunny weather greeted the competitors at the first shoot of 2017 at the Woods Point Gun Club.
On the Saturday, many first-time shooters took part in a come and try day at which they were coached on firearm safety, gun-handling and how to shoot clay targets.
As the Sunday sun started to show its strength, the club’s 2017 AGM was held and dispatched in quick time.
On to the competitions!
The obligatory Eye Opener 10 targets Double Barrel Points decision allowed the shooters to clean the rust from their barrels and resulted in Phillip Desmond and Trevor Newman taking the AA Grade cash with 29/30.
Laurie Poile, Don Rhodes and Steve Russell shared A Grade on 29/30 while Marty McLauchlin took the B Grade cash on his own with 29/30 as well.
John Winters’s 26/30 was enough for him to win C Grade.
The first championship for 2017 was the Hector Stewart 25 target Double Barrel.
In the clear bright conditions, the targets were excellent but only Marty McLaughlin managed a perfect 25/25 to take the sash.
Rob Bevis was first in AA Grade with 33/34 and Newman second on 32/34.
A Grade saw Poile take first place, 24/25 with a great battle between Rhodes and Russell eventuating in Russell taking the second place prize, 58/60.
McLaughlin’s 25/25 saw him easily win B Grade, Chuck Lay second 24/25 whilst Shawn Wood’s 23/25 gave him the nod over Steve Bedggood in C Grade, 22/25.
Scott McKenzie of Jamieson River Autos was the sponsor of event three, the 25 target Jamieson Double Barrel Points score Championship that was won in fine style by Trevor Newman with a clean 75/75.
Newman also won the AA grade prize with Desmond second on 67/75.
Rhodes was the A Grade winner with 69/75 and Russell was second with 71/78 after a short shoot off with Poile.
McLaughlin’s wins in the first two events took their toll in B Grade with Chuck Lay now taking first place, 68/75, and David Frazer in second place on 68/78.
Bedggood’s 63/74 was enough for the C Grade prize with Peter Lang second on 56/75.
The final event was the Gaffneys Creek 20 Target Handicap Championship sponsored by Chuck and Linda Lay.
A great 24/25 by Ian Findlay saw him wearing the sash.
Frazer and Frank Balcombe shot off for second and third with Frazer second, 29/32, Balcombe third, 28/32.
Six shooters tied for the fourth place prize with Geoff Hill the eventual winner, 33/36.
Newman was the highest total score on the day recording a great 120/125.
John Winters started the day with a win and ended the day with 87/120 earning The Most Relaxed Shooter prize sponsored by Rob Bevis.
Maxine Winters ensured that the tucker was of exceptional quality and that the blokes got involved in the washing up.
The next shoot is on Sunday 26 February, starting at 10.30am, and includes the Jack Scott and Don Woods Memorial trophy events.
