Just like spring – but cold

Winners and grinners. Pictured, from left are Dale Price, Rob Bevis, Andrew Estcourt, Mick Ward, Daniel Chinn, Daryl Ewert, Marty McLachlan, Geoff Hill, Peter West and, at front, Shawn Wood.

It was like a spring morning at the Woods Point Gun Club’s July competition, though a tad cold.
This didn’t stop Rob Bevis in AA Grade, Kaylene Estcourt and Daniel Chinn in AA Grade, Marty McLachlan in B Grade and Ronald Press in C Grade shooting 30/30 or 29/30 scores in the Eye Opener to share in the cash prizes.
The main event was the 40 target Matlock Double Barrel Championship sponsored by Geoff Hill with gold or silver belt buckles for the trophies and meat trays as well totalling over $800 in value.
These buckles are not available in Australia and were imported from the US by special order, while the meat trays, of course, were local.
Competition was tense and the scores suffered but Mick Ward with the only perfect 40/40 took the main trophy outright.
The AA Grade gold buckle was won by Andrew Estcourt from Warnambool Gun Club 39/40 from Rob Bevis 38/40 for a silver buckle.
A Grade was taken by Daryl Ewert, 64/65 from Peter West 63/65 with the B Grade winner being Geoff Hill, 39/40, Marty McLachlan 2nd, 37/40.
Shawn Wood took C Grade 36/40 followed by Dale Price, 36/44.
Well done to all of the winners and special thanks to Geoff Hill for his generous sponsorship of the event.
After a hearty hot lunch, The Matlock Double Rise Championship sponsored by Lyn and Rod Stewart of the Stewart Bus Company was next.
Conditions were good but the targets were elusive with only four shooters breaking 20 or more targets of the 30 possible.
Full bellies clearly slowed their reflexes.
Breaking away from working the club’s new computerised scoring system, Daniel Chinn won the event outright with 22/22 to take the championship sash.
AA Grade was a won by Andrew Estcourt, 35/50 from Mick Ward, 34/50, 2nd.
Chinn took the A Grade prize with Don Rhodes the runner-up.
Marty McLachlan, Robert Lay, Frank Balcombe and Geoff Hill fought out a shoot-off in B Grade with Hill taking first, 22/40 McLachlan 2nd, 27/50.
Kirsten Chinn won C Grade with 18/30 closely followed by Shawn Wood, 17/30.
The day finished with the Matlock 20 target Continental Championship sponsored by Laurie and Jo Poile of Wesburn.
After a shoot-off between Marty McLachlan, Philip Desmond, Andrew Estcourt, Mick Ward and Geoff Hill, McLachlan finished with the sash, 23/24, Desmond 2nd, 22/24, Hill 3rd, 21/23 and Estcourt 4th, 20/22.
The overall High Gun Sash sponsored by Scott McKenzie of Jamieson River Autos was presented to Mick Ward, 79/90 from Daniel Chinn and Andrew Estcourt 78/90.
The next shoot is a Team Shield event against Mansfield Clay Target Club at Mansfield on 20 Sunday August, followed by the King of the Mountain Championships at Woods Point on Sunday 27 August starting at 10am.
Look forward to seeing you there.