Ravenshoe/Mt Garnet Rifle Club Inc.: RAVENSHOE/MT GARNET OPM: A SUCCESS WITH THE FTR CLASS

Ravenshoe/Mt Garnet Rifle Club held its annual OPM on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 October 2014. The turn up was very good with 44 shooters across 6 disciplines attending from various clubs ranging from Mossman to Bowan, Collinsville and Ayr, as well as all the Tablelands ranges and Cairns. For the first time in North Queensland F/TR was included as a separate class in its own right, as opposed to “F/TR compliant” and it was a great success with 8 shooters choosing the FTR class, only one less than the number of shooters in FSA, the most chosen class.

The biggest challenge for the shooters on both days were the rapidly changing winds, together with heavy mirage. On the second day especially, flags and mirage were competing for dominance. The first day was 300yds, 400yds and, after a well prepared and varied buffet lunch, 500yds. On Sunday it was double 600yds, 15 shots competition. Presentations followed another great lunch and our grateful thanks goes to Cnr. Shaaron Linwood for presenting the prizes and trophies to the winners and for her generous donation towards the running of this competition.

Right from the first range, the Ravenshoe shooters showed some excellent scores, with Peter Burg and Kevin Chatfield achieving a possible each at the 300yds and Kevin Chatfield also achieving a possible at 500yds.

On day 1: the 300yds range showed a great performance for Ravenshoe F class shooters with Peter Burg winning F Open, Kevin Chatfield and Garry Venables winning FSA and FTR respectively. Kevin Chatfield excelled taking out both the 400yds and 500yds in FSA, while Betta Gianasi took out the 500yds in FTR. Day 1 aggregate was a clean swipe for Ravenshoe shooters in FSA with Kevin Chatfield 1^st, Kathleen Chatfield 2^nd and Mick Wood 3^rd, while Murray Wilson was 3^rd in FSB. Peter Burg took out F Open with Peter Smith (Herberton) 2^nd and Steve Lazarus (Cairns) 3^rd. FTR was ladies at top with Vicky Cusick (Cairns) 1^st followed by Betta Gianasi 2^nd and Shane Green (Cairns) 3^rd.

On day 2: Chris Allman convincingly took out both 600yds in FTR, while Kathleen Chatfield and Mick Wood took out one 600yds each in FSA. In TRA Jason Kuchel, on his first day of shooting, kept up a steady performance winning the daily aggregate. Daily aggregate in FSA was a convincing all Ravenshoe win with Mick Wood 1^st, Kev Chatfield 2^nd and Kathleen Chatfield 3^rd. In F Open Peter Burg missed 1^st place for only 1 point to Peter Smith, with David Stewart (Herberton) 3^rd. Chris Allman took out the daily aggregate in FTR with a 10 points advantage on Shane Green 2^nd followed by Betta Gianasi 3^rd.

Grand Aggregate winners showed the great performance of our shooters with an all Ravenshoe win in FSA: Kevin Chatfield 1^st, Mick Wood 2^nd and Kathleen Chatfield 3^rd. Peter Burg confirmed his top performance winning F Open from Peter Smith 2^nd and David Stewart 3^rd. In FTR, Ravenshoe had a great shoot with Chris Allman 1^st and Betta Gianasi 3^rd, only one point behind Shane Green 2^nd.

The Club’s big thanks goes to Sandra Wood for doing a fantastic job in preparing and looking after the catering and to her “little helpers”: Rebecca & Ashley Langley and Yvonne Burg. Our thanks also go to our sponsors: Ravenshoe Hardware, Choppity Droughtmaster Stud, Cnr Shaaron Linwood, Kathleen and Kevin Chatfield, CRM Gunsport, John Anderson, Bertoldo Electrical, Liz and Murray Wilson, Yvonne and Peter Burg, Sandra and Mick Wood, Rebecca and Errol Langley, Ravenshoe Tyreright, Mt Garnet Tyres and Spares. Our markers were exceptional in their marking, making sure that the competition ran smoothly and efficiently on both days.

We will do it all again next year, running the FTR class and we hope to see you all there.

Photos by Kevin Shaw: