Saturday was cool, calm and cloudy, with coastal showers pushing a late afternoon breeze into the face of Target Rifle shooters in a Double 700m Competition.

In the first 700 metre match Neil Attwood opened the Full-bore Target Rifle (308 cal., non-telescopic, manually-supported) competition with two 5-point bulls-eyes.

He closed with two 5-point centre-bulls (used to separate identical scores on a count-back) and another bulls-eye, and though dropping two points to a disappointing 3-point ‘bird’ mid-match, he posted a competitive 46 points (out of 50, this 10-shot match) with 3 centre-bulls to set the challenge for following shooters.

Rob Wearne was next down and opened strongly with a centre and two bulls. A wayward 3-pointer on his fourth pull however threw the cat amongst the pigeons and put early pressure on the balance of his range.

In typical fashion he steadied, and closed with six straight 5-pointers to move into the lead with a 48/3.

Mal McKellar returned to the mound after a two month absence, and his lack of match practice was immediately obvious when a bad misread of his starting setup saw his first sighting shot surprisingly hit the earthen mantle below the target.

An elevation adjustment saw him on target with his second sighter, but still far too low. It was apparent that he was lost when further adjustment saw his first-to-count still short with a 4-point ‘inner’ and then a bad over-adjustment take him way high for a disastrous 2-point ‘outer’.

His third-to-count found the centre-bull, and though he dropped only one more point in his seven remaining pulls, the game was already up for his chances and he fell to third for the match with a 45/3, behind winner Wearne and Attwood.

Norbert Schmidt opened the F-Class Standard Target Rifle (308 cal., telescoped and bipod-supported) category, uncharacteristically dropping four points in his first five pulls before finding the centre and pulling four consecutive centre-bulls, including two ‘super’ centres (the very centre of the centre), to close with a disappointing 55 points (out of 60 this 10-shot match, for F-Class) with 2 super-centres.

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In the second 700 metre match Attwood again opened for Full-bore Target Rifle, once more with a 5-point bulls-eye, but his first match consistency had evaporated, and six more bulls-eyes, including two centres, were interspersed with two 3-point ‘birds’ and an uncomfortable 2-point ‘outer.’

He dropped his match score to a disappointing 47 points (out of 55, this 11-shot match) with 2 centre-bulls.

Wearne again followed, and in an effort to stamp his authority on both the match and the day’s competition, he opened with two fine 5-point centre-bulls.

Just one 4-point inner marred his next seven straight 5-pointers, but a surprise 4-pointer on his last pull left the door slightly ajar for following shooters, with a 53/3 to beat.

McKellar was again last down and he rose to Wearne’s challenge, opening with a string of seven straight 5-point bulls-eyes, including a centre and a super-centre.

A change of ammunition (he claimed) saw him drop two points in his last four pulls however to close with a 53/2, matching Wearne on points but losing the match on centre-bull count-back and handing this second match win to Wearne.

Schmidt’s second range for F-Class Target Rifle saw him lift his form considerably, shooting an outstanding match with a perfect 66 points (out of 66 this 11-shot match, for F-Class) and 2 super-centres to take a decisive F-Class match win.

Wrapping up, an exciting Full-bore Target Rifle Double 700m Competition was taken by Rob Wearne with an excellent 101 points (out of 105) and 6 centre-bulls, over Mal McKellar 2nd on 98/5 and Neil Attwood 3rd with 93/5.

F-Class Target Rifle was taken by Norbert Schmidt with 121 points (out of 126) and 5 super-centres.

The Club meets every Saturday at 1pm at the Mossman & District Rifle Club Range mid-way between Port and Mossman. Visitors are always welcome.