by Malcolm McKellar

Local shooters journeyed to the Tablelands for two of the regional Annual Prize Shoots: Ravenshoe on Saturday and Herberton on Sunday.

At Ravenshoe, the competition was conducted over three 10-shot matches, the first getting under way at 9am at 300 metres and the final two consisting of a Double Match at 500 metres.

Thirty-six Target Rifle shooters attended (10 Full-bore TR with peep-sights and 26 F-Class TR with telescope and bipod) from the Ravenshoe / Mt. Garnet Rifle Club itself and from clubs as far afield as Mossman and Townsville. Mossman was represented by four Full-bore TR shooters.

Despite Ravenshoe’s claim to host the highest rifle range in Australia, at 913 metres ASL, conditions were very hot as shooting commenced in the 300m Match. The sky was clear, with the Sun directly behind shooters fully illuminating the targets and inducing a troubling mirage that varied in intensity and direction.

A light breeze gave occasional relief as it followed the bullets down the range, and the heat eased as the day passed, with increasing shadow from the cloud build-up.

Mossman & District Rifle Club shooters represented the district well in Division 2, with Mal McKellar taking second at 300m with a score of 45 with 1 centre-bullseye (out of 50 in these 10-shot matches); McKellar then won the first of the two 500m matches with a 46/2.

Ron Schild took third on 44/1; and in the final 500m Match, Rob Wearne with a fine 48/1 pipped McKellar (47/2) to take the win.

McKellar’s consistency saw him take out the overall Division 2 Aggregate for the day with a credible score of 138/5 (out of 150), while Wearne took third step on the podium with 132/4. Schild was acknowledged for achieving Most Centre-bulls for the day, with six.

At Herberton on Sunday, the competition was conducted again over three 10-shot Matches – this time at 300m, 500m and 600m, with the first off at 8am.

Mossman’s representation dropped to just two shooters – Schild and Attwood, as McKellar and Wearne were unable to attend. Otherwise, total numbers and category representation were much the same, though a number of shooters arrived from Cairns who had not been able to make Ravenshoe.

Weather conditions were even more obtuse than on Saturday, with similarly hot and sunny skies, but a “bad mirage, and a disconcerting wind moving from side-to-side” in the words of Schild, making life difficult for those on the mound. Scores were down across the board.

Nonetheless, Mossman shooters once more held the flag high, with Ron Schild taking third place at 500m with a 39/0, and Neil Attwood rising to the occasion to take a fine third place in the 600m match with 38/1.

The Club meets every Saturday at 1pm at the Mossman & District Rifle Club Range mid-way between Port and Mossman, and we will be back in action at our home range this coming Saturday 15 October. Visitors are always welcome. 

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