SA Queens 2016

[RDavies]

A story has filtered back from the coal face. Tim Nugent who won yesterdays aggregate in F Open, broke a cocking piece and nearly missed shooting a range today.
In true sportsman like fashion, 2 of his main competitors (Mike Waites and Richard Braund) stepped in and lent him a rifle to shoot the rest of that target and the next 2 ranges today.

[Brad Y]

Well done gents, fine example of sportsmanship right there

[Tim N]

Hi All,
True story, while doing the bolt cycle test my bolt jammed and wouldn't extract.
Best time to break too!
Pull out the trigger and see bolt removed with a spare little bit...
Mike waites and Richard braund both offered the use of their guns which is very generous when you think about cleaning reigimes and getting the best out of your equipment for an event like this.
Close to tears but none yet
Jerome Zierch, a local gunsmith should be able to get it sorted for tomorrow
Back to light winds today and mirage to read instead of dust.
All the best to my competitors for the last range and the queens.

[Norm]

Sounds like you should have picked up the "Stiller" on the way through Tim!

[Tim N]

Just got back from Jerome's place and he managed to replace the broken bit with one out of one of his own actions!
He has a well laid out workshop and was efficient and professional with the repair,
Very much appreciated.
The shooting day ended well, and both guns I borrowed shot extremely well.
Can't wait to see what season we get tomorrow, I'm thinking some snow might round it off nicely...
Good luck to all

[AlanF]

Great effort from Tim, particularly considering the gear problems and borrowed rifles. And congrats to the other F winners, Chris Green, Rod Mahon and Gerald Upchurch. Winners from 4 different states in fact. There were only 3 locals in F-Open, so hoping for more in the Queens.

We had light rain overnight, in fact its still trying to hang on, so the dust is settled.

Keep an eye on the NRAA website for results. They're being entered at the mound so should continue to be available as soon as ranges finish.

[AlanF]

300 is underway. Flags are hanging straight down, overcast, perfect conditions - a good equipment test.

[Tim N]

92 shooters here for the queens and while the numbers are slightly down the competition is fierce.
After dropping 4 points for the day a few tears are starting to form, the journey from rooster to feather duster is fairly short.
But not to worry as I only need to look into the shooters book of excuses and page 49 says that with two days left there's plenty of time to catch up
Weather was much better today and hopefully will stay that way.

[Steve N]

Question for Tim or Alan. How is the squadding working out? Has it evened out the conditions for shooters as intended?
Steve

[AlanF]

Steve,

Its definitely improved things, but....

On a typical board there are 8 or 9 shooters, the first 5 or so are TR, with about 4 F-Class. It appears to me that A Grade is getting the best treatment, being closely aligned, and B Grade as well, but my impression of F-Class is that we're basically lumped in together - in the leadup the only (3) F-Class shooters on my board were F-Open. Things seem a little better in the Queens, but some late arriving F-Classers have been slotted in with TR! I think its going in the right direction but needs to get some fine tuning. Personally I think there needs to be a cut-off point for entries, say 24 hours before the first range, so that squadding can be done better. If people haven't made there mind up about attending that late in the piece, then I really think they need to go to positive thinking course .

The good thing about having squadding here is that it really does even things up, because there's very little advantage to being anywhere in particular on the mound.

Alan

[scott/r]

Unless you are a queenslander going by the name Mr Tillack.

[Tim N]

I agree with Alan that the squading makes things much fairer, although if you are a few points behind and your opposition gets a bad patch it will include you.
In a perfect situation there would be a target for all shooters but in most cases this won't happen.
I'm happy with how it's being run.

[Tim N]

Hi All,
Some more trivia from yesterday
Local shooter Lee Stoddard took out the 300 range with a PB of 60:9 shooting her 6.5x47 - well done
Another local Peter Larsen took out second with another 60:9 using a 280AI
I managed to get the 500 with a 280AI
Local shooter Brent won the 600 also with a 280AI
The day belonged to the super consistent Lowell Tillack and his straight 284
There was at least 1 dasher and a 260 AI or LR also in use

[Tim N]

Day 2
First 600 many 60s
2nd 600 and 57:3 looks like top score
Lowell threw a side of beef and some loaves of bread out of his castle to us peasants with a 53:3
Welcome to the house of pain
Not to worry Richard Braund tells me it can get much worse...

[Chopper]

What a lottery, or heart ache, Alan , not a kiss x at 2nd 600, Waites from 60.8 to 52, Rod from 59 to 47, Looks like the locals can read it GOOD LUCK tomorrow , if this keeps up , Anyone can win ,Chop