SARA Queens F-Open Report

[Barry Davies]

Well done Richard and Mike but in particular Terry Gee--first major win.
Looks like the visits to Wellsford ( Bendigo) paid dividends.

[RAVEN]

Red Jocks
The reason we are moving to May is hopefully we can run the event without having to alter the dance card or shorten the event
There was the possibility that this may have applied on the Monday and I was more than happy to have gotten no 2 badge
The force can be with you or nowhere to be seen when needed.
RB

[bartman007]

Richard, well done on your win. If the Calcutta had run my money was on you, due to your local knowledge of those terrific/horrific windy conditions. It sorts the men from the boys.

Well done to all those others that braved the local conditions!

[AlanF]

Just made it home. Results are up on the NRAA website here : http://www.nraa.com.au/south-australia-queens-results/. Not yet on the SARA site, probably due to the power cut at Lower Light late yesterday.

It was on the whole a very good Queens, marking very good, weather handled well with the program changes, and I understand there were less flies than last year (because of less shooters? ). BTW I'm assured the move to May will eliminate the fly problem . I expected to see all winners (not just TR A-Grade) included in the procession as they are elsewhere. I guess FCASA will be lobbying for some changes there.

I seem to get to the SARA Queens about very two years, so roll on May 2016!

[saum2]

Have to agree with Alan, program changes were spot on. I don't think many shooters or markers would have liked the weather if we shot 800m on the last day.
Overall, a well run Queens event.

[Bindi2]

I expected to see all winners (not just TR A-Grade) included in the procession as they are elsewhere.

WA only had the TR winners in the procession of the chair. The Queens is ONLY (official line) for TR the rest are just tolerated. Also no crown on F class badges.

[RAVEN]

Bindi
that is correct there is only 1 QUEENS BADGE winner
The rest of the badges should be State Champion Badges
May be time to move away from the TR tradition and call the F-Class Badge something else this has already been muted by the NRAA
The sad thing about the SARA Queens was that there were 24 A Grades and 20 badges really makes it worth winning one NOT

Too bad the powers that be didn’t have the guts to reduce the number to a more appropriate amount in the past they certainly haven’t had any trouble doing it the F-Class ppl
Last year there were only 3 badges for 16 FO competitors 20%
And it was agreed that SARA would award 25% over all grades and provide more badges as required which is what the rest of aust seem to be doing
TR received 83% when will they wake up to themselves.

[Bindi2]

Time to change many things including grades. Why do you have to be in A grade to win a Queens badge should be top 20 (just a number) shooters agg
Divisions are a means to encourage and reward and cannot be fiddled.

[MCLE]

It is the same after most Queens events with Fclass shooters (I'm one ) not happy with the Badge Distribution.And it seems the same reply it is a Queens TR event!!!!Well if Fclass is not going to get the same amount of Badges and the rest.Then our entry Fees should reflect our second class status.We are supporting the TR trophy grab with our entry fees.Thanks
Michael H

[higginsdj]

Time to change many things including grades. Why do you have to be in A grade to win a Queens badge should be top 20 (just a number) shooters agg
Divisions are a means to encourage and reward and cannot be fiddled.

I know what you mean but there are a lot of 'lower' grade shooters who would not compete in a Queens if it wasn't graded! Note also that you do not have to be in A Grade to win a Queens Badge or THE Queens. The Top off rifle score wins the Queens Prize regardless of Grade.

Cheers

David

[higginsdj]

It is the same after most Queens events with Fclass shooters (I'm one ) not happy with the Badge Distribution.And it seems the same reply it is a Queens TR event!!!!Well if Fclass is not going to get the same amount of Badges and the rest.Then our entry Fees should reflect our second class status.We are supporting the TR trophy grab with our entry fees.Thanks
Michael H

Be fair - Queens Prize and F Class badges have to be made pre event (you'll notice that they are embroidered with grade and position) and can't be relicated on the spot. It is often very difficult to 'guess' how many people are going to show up and compete particularly when entries are taken up to the end of the first range. When numbers start to stabilise then you will see the distribution of badges stabilise as well.

FClass will get a 'status' when it decides what it's status should be. From what I can see (on the whole) it has been left up to 'others' to decide what that should be. In Canberra, we have recognised F Class Winners in the past and they form part of the chair procession (albeit not in a chair). This year we are hoping to acknowledge the FClass winners (Standard, Open and F/TR) in an additional way. If you want better recognition in your own states then it's up to you to improve the situation! So ask yourself - what are you doing to improve your lot!

Cheers

David

[Barry Davies]

To improve ones lot you firstly need a receptive/sympathetic council.
Best way to do this is to nominate and then lobby.
Recent council elections in Victoria( last week ) resulted in a vote return of some 280 from a membership of around 700.
How's that for getting involved in ( as some put it) " politics "--pathetic.
The lot of F Class is not going to improve unless we as a discipline get off our proverbial and make it happen.
David is correct in what he says.

[higginsdj]

Of course you do not need to put yourself up to improve your lot - just make sure you vote and nominate people who are sympathetic to your cause, lobby people, put up a well argued case (not a whinge or complaint), promote solutions and not problems. It won't happen over night but it can happen!

280 out of 700 is a pretty consistant ratio for these types of things across clubs/associations. Would be interesting to see how many of those 280 were F Class or sympathetic to F Class!

Cheers

David

[Bindi2]

Time to change many things including grades. Why do you have to be in A grade to win a Queens badge should be top 20 (just a number) shooters agg
Divisions are a means to encourage and reward and cannot be fiddled.

I know what you mean but there are a lot of 'lower' grade shooters who would not compete in a Queens if it wasn't graded!

Cheers

David

The divisional line is a floating line dividing the group into equal sizes after being ranked by average.
Personally I only want to shoot off the rifle I don't enter for prizes and she who runs the new house decreed no more trophies which I agreed with after having to decide what was kept for the move.
You are right about having to get off the backside and get into council. Most F/S shooters are ex TR and wont rock the boat. FO have not got to that size yet.
As quoted the approx. third that voted are probably the ones running the clubs. The outlook is bleak. Before you ask I mow the grass and do the maintenance I have retired from the big jobs.

[RAVEN]

Dave & Barry I agree

Q: would either of you be embraced to receive badge No. 20 from 24 competitors
Or have I got some sort of distorted perception of what the Badge award is all about.
And if I were a B Grade TR competitor I would be a bit annoyed that out of 24 competitors there were only 5 badges
I would have held back the number of badges to A grade and had them altered to be handed out later to b Grade or change the date and number for next year
Common-sense seem to be and aloof resource when it comes to these things at times.

SARA have improved the reward ceremony by allowing the other grades TR & F-Class to be seated up with the VIP’s a move in the right direction and a push by the FCASA
RB