Big turnout for memorial shoot

By John Wood

Overcast conditions and misty showers greeted competitors to the Woods Point Gun Club for the Bernie Elstrek Memorial shoot.

Shooters from Woods Point, Mansfield, Bright, Melbourne, the Yarra Valley, Gippsland and the Mornington Peninsula rolled in for the early start.

The Eye Opener resulted in Jim West, Phillip Desmond, Cameron Trevitt and Ross Elstrek (15/15 each) share the AA Grade cash.

Allan Kidd won A Grade outright (15/15) with Laurie Poile, Steven Howlett and Geoff Hill (14/15) sharing B Grade.

John Desmond had a nice little earner (12/15) in his C Grade win.

The Bernie Elstrek 20 target Double Barrel Memorial Championship saw Kidd and Trevitt both return 20/20 scores to go into a shoot off for the championship sash.

In the end, Trevitt outlasted Kidd to win 32/32 to 31/32.

In the grades, Trevitt (20/20) won AA Grade with Ian Findlay finishing second after a shoot off with David McGregor.

A Grade was won by Kidd (20/20) with David Allen (19/20) in second place.

A short shoot off between John Winters and Steven Howlett resulted in a win for Winters.

Justin Broderick was a clear winner in C Grade.

The main event was the Bernie Elstrek 60 target Memorial Trophy which showcased Continental and 30 targets Tower, two unique and challenging disciplines.

After the 30 target Continental, no one had a clear grasp on the trophy so a good result in the 30 target Tower event was crucial.

In the end, it was Ross Elstrek (57/60) who proudly held his father’s trophy aloft.

Allan Kidd (75/80) also won the Memorial High Gun Sash.

The club’s next shoot is on 24 December starting at 9.30am.

It will feature the Brian Prothero Memorial Trophy and the annual President’s Championships.