By John Wood
On arrival at the Woods Point Gun Club on Saturday 21 July, the temperature was one degree.
By the start of the Matlock Championships on Sunday it was a balmy six degrees, no rain but overcast.
Not much snow was about and it was quite summery actually, but the conditions ensured that none of the 29 shooters who rolled up shot a perfect score in any event on the day.
They started with a five pair double rise eye opener – two targets released simultaneously, only one shot allowed at each target.
Five shooters shared the cash prizes: Allan Kidd and Andrew Brady in AA grade, 8/10; Ken Skinner in A grade, 8/10; and Shawn Wood in B grade, 9/10. Tom Apps claimed C grade with 7/10.
In the first of the championships,15 pair double rise, Mick Ward returned to the clubhouse with 26/30 to claim the sash outright and AA grade prize as well.
Trevor Ewert shot off with Daniel Chinn for AA grade second with Ewert winning, 32/40.
A grade was a clear win for Ken Skinner, 24/30, with Jim West second, 22/30, while Peter Lang cleaned up B grade, 21/30, followed by Shawn Wood, 25/40, after a shoot-off with Chuck Lay.
Kirsten Chinn’s 21/30 was enough to win C grade from Tom Apps 20/30.
The main event was a 30 target medley championship.
The championship trophies were gold and silver belt buckles purchased from the USA and quite unique in Australia.
Megan Boast was one target from a perfect score and her 49/50 was enough to take the overall trophy outright.
Trevor Ewert, Mitch Dunnachie and Andrew Brady went into a shoot-off for AA grade with Dunnachie winning the grade buckle, 106/108, from Brady second, 105/108.
A grade was a clear win for Allan Kidd, 46/50, with Marty McLaughlin having to fight off David Frazer and Jim West to take second place, 69/75.
Chuck Lay won the B grade buckle outright, 45/50, Shawn Wood second, 41/50.
Kirsten Chinn was thrilled to receive the C grade buckle after scoring 39/50 while Tom Apps went into a shoot-off with new junior member Mitchell Russell to take second place prize, 60/75.
The day finished with a 20 target continental championship and shot points decision with three points for a first shot hit and two points for a second shot hit.
Missing both shots earned zero points.
Andrew Brady shot a great 59/60 to take the championship sash, Robert Bevis second, 56/60.
Troy Grimes, Jim West, Phillip Desmond and Ken Skinner went into a shoot-off for the minor places with Grimes eventually taking third place, 79/84, Skinner fourth, 78/84.
The overall high gun was won by Andrew Brady, 129/140, after a great contest with many difficult targets.
The next club competition is at Mansfield Gun Club on Sunday 19 August where the club will challenge Mansfield for the Woods Point/Mansfield Teams Trophy.
The next Woods Point shoot is the King of the Mountain Championships one week later on 26 August starting at 10am.
For any queries about the club or clay target shooting, call John Wood on 0417 513 011.
