LITHGOW OPEN PRIZE MEETING RESULTS

Ben Emms Wins 2011 Prize Meeting 

 

On Sunday 4/12/2011, the Lithgow-Small Arms Rifle Club played host to 61 shooters at its annual Open Championship on the historic Lithgow Small Arms Factory Rifle Range.

Some of the best shooters in all grades again came from all points across the State to compete for some $4000 in prizes in what we believe is one of the best regional shoots in NSW. As has been our practice for a number of years, the event comprised two 500yd and one 600yd matches.

Over the past few years the conditions at Lithgow have been rather benign, with aggregate winners being decided on thin centre margins. Not so this year! Lithgow’s unpredictable conditions were back – with a vengeance! The range being in a relatively sheltered valley, it’s not the brute strength of the wind at Lithgow, it’s more the subtle changes and its unpredictability. Add to this the sudden arrival of a significant south westerly change at the beginning of the 600yd match, which brought a temperature drop of 10-12 degrees, a total wind change and rolling fog – all in about 30 minutes.

Match 1 at 500yds was shot in warm, sunny, fairly benign conditions with a 2 to 2.5 minute easterly wind. Jim Jeffrey (Lyndhurst) made the best of it with 50.8 in A Grade, closely followed by Jim Bailey (Holsworthy) also with 50.8. John Baxter (Lithgow) wasn’t far behind with 50.7. B Grade went to Greg Monaghan (Lithgow) with a nice 50.4 and C Grade to Bob Schoevers (Katoomba) with 49.3. Matt Paroz (North Sydney) took the honours in F Class Standard with an excellent 60.5.

 

Match 2 at 500yds was shot in very similar conditions, but with a strengthening easterly – now 2.5 to 3.5 minutes. Eric Wilson (Holsworthy) had the best of the 6 possibles shot to take the range with a 50.7. Gary Wootton (Katoomba) took the B Grade range prize with 48.5 and C Grade went to Lawrence Sim with 45.3. F Class Std went to Graeme Willis (Bathurst) with 58.4.

Match 3 at 600yds brought the south westerly change with its fog, temperature drop and blustery 1.5 to 2 minute winds. This was especially reflected in the A Grade scores, with only two possibles, the best from Ben Emms (Lyndhurst), with 50.7. Alexina Bunt (Katoomba) narrowly won the range in B Grade with 48.5, with Lawrence Sim taking out C Grade with 47.4. Dave Grayson (Lithgow) shot well in F Class to win the range with 59.3

 

After a day with some conditions that tested both shooters and spectators, we had some very worthy winners. Congratulations to Ben Emms (Lyndhurst) who was presented with a shiny new Krieger stainless barrel for winning the Aggregate and scoring the only triple possible (150.15) on what turned out to be a very difficult day.

The Lithgow-Small Arms Rifle Club would like to thank all who attended – without your ongoing support, regional events such as ours will cease to exist. We hope to see you back again next year!

Aggregate Scores:

A Grade:

Ben Emms                 Lyndhurst                    150.15

John Baxter               Lithgow                        149.17

Jim Jeffrey                 Lyndhurst                    148.20

Bernie Doohan           Lithgow                        147.14

 

B Grade:

Greg Monaghan         Lithgow                        145.12

Alexina Bunt              Katoomba                   142.9

Melbourne Lucas        Coonabarabran           139.6

 

C Grade:

Lawrence Simm         Bathurst                       137.9

Bob Schoevers           Katoomba                   133.6

 

F Class Standard:

Matt Paroz                 North Sydney              174.7

Greg Emms               Lyndhurst                    172.10

Dave Grayson           Lithgow                        172.7

Alan Seaman            West Wallsend            170.9