The Bathurst Rifle Club's 900 yard range of the W & J Brown shield was postponed due to very strong winds threatening to snap the target legs and endangering the markers.
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A practice shoot was organized over 600 yards with smaller targets but the weather almost halted that shoot before it began.
A swirling shower of sleet and rain swept Grahame Willis off the mound after just four shots and he retired for the day.
The sapping cold was a real drawback to achieving good scores as numb hands and fingers made it impossible to get any real feel for the trigger.
The cold north-westerly wind began to vary in strength and direction and became very unpredictable.
After the sleet, there were periods of bright sunshine but the overwhelming cold wiped out any feeling of comfort.
Steve Williams and Gordon Shepherd set the standard with 47s with Graeme Bright and Dennis Lavelle both one point back on 46.
Bright somehow managed a magpie three between two centre bull’s eyes such was the wind variation.
John Coghill stayed out of the magpie ring but jumped from side in his 44.01.
Colin Howell and Mathew Allen, a newcomer to target shooting, found buffeting on the mound another factor to overcome.
Second stage improved as the wind eased off and Williams and Shepherd went shot for shot, both finishing with 48.04 apiece. Shepherd’s inability to finish (last shot inner fours in each stage) saw Williams come out on top by a solitary centre bull’s eye.
Bright wobbled, dropping 5 points in his last seven shots, while Lavelle could not improve on his first stage. Coghill did however, with a satisfying 46.02 second dig.
Geoff Willis, a late arrival due to work commitments, did not experience the early conditions but had to contend with another drenching rain squall before putting together a pair of 56.2s.
The 900 yard final range of the W & J Brown Shield will be held August 27.
Scores: S Williams TRA 95.06; G Shepherd TRA 95.04; D Lavelle TRB 92.03; G Bright TRA 91.06; J Coghill TRB 90.03; G S Willis FSA 112.4; M Allen FSB 92.1; C Howell FSB 91.1.