Written by Liz
Wilson, photo by Chris Allman
North
Queensland and Tableland shooters gathered on the October long weekend to
contest the Ravenshoe/Mt Garnet annual Open Prize Shoot at the Ravenshoe Rifle
Club. The weather was very sunny and
warm (at times a bit too much so) with changeable moderate winds.
Day 1
comprised three 10 shot matches at 300, 400 and 500 yards over six disciplines incorporating
Target Rifle (peep sites) and F Class (telescopic sites). At 300 yards both Target Rifle Divisions
started in earnest with Eric Christie (Townsville) and Charles Forster (Cairns)
on a tied score, with Eric winning on count-back in Division 1 and Frank
Chester counted out Dudley Ford (both from Mareeba) in Division 2. Saturday’s winners were Bob Hawkins (Townsville)
in Target Rifle Division 1 (TR 1), Dudley Ford Target Rifle Division 2 (TR 2), Peter
Burg (Atherton) F-Open, Travis Kohn (Atherton) F Standard Division 1 (FS 1), Jordan
Drew (Cairns) F Standard Division 2 (FS 2) and Mark Azzopardi (Cairns) in F/TR.
Sunday’s
shoot was two fifteen shot matches at 600 yards. The winners for Day 2 were Jason Kuchel
(Atherton) in TR 1, Rick Mischlewski (Mossman) came 1st in TR 2. FS 1 was taken out by Jim Blomfield (Bowen),
while newcomer, Jordan Drew won FS 2. Garry
Venables (Cairns) won F/TR and Peter Burg took out F-Open.
Overall
winners in the Grand Aggregate were Jason Kuchel, Bob Hawkins by 5 super
centres from Eric Christie (Townsville) in TR 1. Dudley Ford, Peter Barry (Cairns) and Rick
Mischlewski in TR 2. Peter Burg, Howard
Simpson (Ayr) and Philip Azzopardi in F-Open.
Travis Kohn, Jim Blomfield and Ravenshoe’s own Mick Wood in FS 1. Excellent results for first-timers Jordan
Drew and Joan and Peter Munro (Townsville) in FS 2. The F/TR winners were Garry Venables, Mark
Azzopardi and Betta Gianasi (Ravenshoe). Lance Matthews (Townsville) attended
his first prize shoot and was awarded an encouragement award.
Ravenshoe/Mt
Garnet Rifle Club would like to thank Mayor Joe Paronella for presenting the
Grand Aggregate trophies, Mitre 10 and Cec Condon for their generous support. Sandra Wood and her band of merry helpers
(the bullet cake went down a treat!) did a magnificent job catering, while
Betta did a great job keeping the scores updated. Thanks
must also go to Jason Kuchel, Paul Padgett, Dudley Ford and Jim Blomfield for
their great Range Officer duties.
Full scores
can be accessed at www.nraa.com.au .
The Club conducts weekly shoots at 9:00am on Sundays. You would be most welcome to come and try. Contact Captain John Anderson, 4097 6670.
From left to right: Travis Kohn, Dudley Ford, Jordan Drew, Garry
Venables, Jason Kuchel (at back), Peter Burg and Mayor Joe Paronella