SA Queens F-Open Blog

[AlanF]

I'd better get started on this SA Queens blog before its too late. Results are being put up on the website HERE.

What is particularly pleasing is the F-Open numbers, 12 in fact for the Queens after only 4 in the leadup. I'll try to get a full list of calibres tonight. There was some discussion early about number of sighters - eventually it was decided that 2 was enough. Ian Pavey, the main "lobbyist" for 3 certainly didn't seem to suffer on the scoreboard from this decision.

Squadding has all F-Class mixed on 4 adjacent targets, which are moving 2 positions to the right each range. Its the first time I've seen this recipe, and its good actually. There's noticeably more friendly chat than I've seen with fully mixed squadding.

Conditions at the range were quite challenging most of the time, with moderate to strong wind from over the left shoulder which was constantly changing in direction and speed. Ian Pavey is performing extremely well with his new 7mm Shehane, and Bruce Moulds is going well too, as he usually does when the weather gets tough. The "bunch" is sitting back off the pace by about 5 or 6 points.

In F-Std A, the Freebairn brothers had a great first day, closely followed by the Halloran brothers. Will be interesting to see how those 4 go today.

Forecast for today is similar windspeed and direction, so hopefully some of us visitors will have learnt something from yesterday about how to handle it.

Back tonight with a more timely report, including some calibre details.

Alan

[actionclear]

I see Terry and Cheryl Sheedy on the list, has Rod Rees made it over?

[AlanF]

I see Terry and Cheryl Sheedy on the list, has Rod Rees made it over?

There is no Rees shooting so maybe not.

[AlanF]

I know its late again, AND I haven't got all the calibres. Here's what I do have :

Ian Pavey 7mm Shehane, myself 6.5-284, Bruce Moulds 284 Win, Stuart Braund 6x47 and 284 Win, Paul Janzso 300WSM, Mark Heywood 6.5x47, Adam Pohl 6.5x47, Graeme Mincham 308 Win?, Glen Hutchins 284 Win, Richard Braund 284 Win, Ron Hatten 308 Win.

Conditions were tough again today, and the middle ranges made scores generally lower than yesterday. One top A-grade shooter had a miss in drop-off, and I saw a 1 on a target nearby. In general F-Open shooters with heavier bullets fared better than most. Both of the 6.5x47s were using 130gn projectiles and they struggled at 700, as did the 223s generally in F-Std and TR.

Yesterday's clear leader Ian Pavey has a smaller lead after today, but has held up very well given he's newer than most to the sport. Bruce Moulds and I are trying to close the gap, and Stuey Braund and Pestbird Janzso are coming at us from a bit further back. Compared to the Open target, its not easy to pull back a deficit with this one, but if Ian holds on, he will have done a very good job I think.

Time for me to do some secret recipe (7mm killing) reloads.

Back tomorrow night for the post-mortem.

Alan

[agro]

Go the 7mm's

[AlanF]

Post-mortem time .

Well done to Ian Pavey. He just kept hanging on in there to the end, and had a well-deserved win. There was only 1 point separating Ian Bruce and I going into the last range. Then Ian bagged a very nice 57, and Bruce followed with a 54, so I had to get a 57.2 for victory, but it only took about 4 shots (all 5s) to put paid to that.

Conditions were close to perfect when I shot the first 800, and to use a polite expression, extremely challenging at the second . I asked Spencer Dunstall, one of the most travelled and experienced top TR shooters which is the hardest Queens range, and after some thought he announced that since Pontville (Tasmania) was closed, Lower Light has that honour!

There was a very strong Queens field in F-Open this year, with several new faces shooting very well e.g Mark Heywood and Adam Pohl. When you see no Braunds or Pestbirds on the dais, it speaks volumes for the quality of the field.

My next blog should be Canberra next month - perhaps one of our northerly members would be so kind as to do the honours at the Nationals?

Alan

PS I wasn't here for the leadup, but congratulations to Stuey Braund for his close win there, and to Paul (Pestbird) Janzso for taking out the Grand.

[RAVEN]

Congratulations to Ian Pavy FO
Bill Freebairn FS –A and Matt Robert FS-B the no. 1 Badge winners
Great field of competitors very hot competition well done all
Very well run Queens as usual SARA
No. were down some no thanx to NRAA
See U in Canberra

[Lynn Otto]

Apart from the morning mosquitos it was a very pleasant day on the range, but then I wasn't on the ground looking down a scope trying to figure out what the hell the flags were doing.

Congratulations to the winners and all of the competitors, it was tight competition for the entire event, so well done to everyone.

Next year is SARA's 150th anniversary Queens so put it in your diary and come join us for the celebration.

[IanP]

It was a pleasure to shoot at such a well run event and in such good company! It wasn't such a pleasure trying to read the wind and Lower Light always turns on difficult and challenging conditions.

I was surprised to win the FO event when on the last range I dropped 3 points. Alan only needed a 57.2 for the win and I was sure his wind reading skills would bury me but he showed that he is only human and not infallible.

My two nearest competitors for the 3 days were Alan and Bruce but they both still gave me advice on wind reading when discussing difficulties on this range. It seems in F-Class even in serious competitions we all still help each other and urge each other on to do our best. I hope this camaraderie amongst shooters will persist and always be present.

I thought the marking at the Queens was excellent and the super center ICFRA targets with their velcro attached score indications were returning to the fire position super fast.

Congratulations to all competitors and organisers on a such a well run event.

PS Thanks PJ, shooting with you at MBRC for the last 4 months has made me a better shooter!

IanP

[IanP]

Here are some interesting tables which directly compare the F-Class scores (converted to TR) for the 3 day Queens Shoot. It shows that all grades and classes of F-Class out scored the top A grade TR score at every range and on every day (with one exception for one range in F-B).

I think this shows that the standard of F-Class is improving every year!

Day 1- 300M- 500M- 600M- AGG
T/R- 50.05- 50.06- 48.03- 148.14
F-O- 50.10- 50.10- 50.06- 150.26
F-A- 50.08- 50.07- 50.08- 150.23
F-B- 50.09- 50.01- 50.04- 150.14

Day 2- 600M- 600M- 700M- AGG
T/R- 49.07- 48.02- 49.07- 146.16
F-O- 50.08- 50.10- 50.07- 150.25
F-A- 50.09- 50.09- 50.03- 150.21
F-B- 50.08- 50.08- 50.05- 150.21

Day 3- 800M- 800M- AGG
T/R- 50.03- 50.04- 100.07
F-O- 50.10- 50.05- 100.15
F-A- 50.08- 50.09- 100.17
F-B- 50.08- 50.04- 100.12

IanP

[Lynn Otto]

Ian how did you calculate your conversions? You can convert TR scores to F scores on a total figure but you can't convert F scores to TR on a total, you need to have the actual shots fired. Let me show you an example:

666,666,665,5 =F 58
666,666,666,4 =F 58
However you can not assume that these will convert to a TR score of 50.8 as only the first will do so, the second will convert to 49.9.

If you had the actual shots to convert from then ignore this post, if not you may need to rethink your calculations.

Lynn

[IanP]

Hi Lynn,

Point taken but top scores on the ranges for F-Class didn't include 4 or less!
F-Class 60 = T/R 50.10
I didn't worry about the X count as its not needed in the conversion!

IanP

[Paul Janzso]

Well done to Ian Pavy for his great F Class Open win, Bill Freebairn for his F Class Standard A Grade win and Matt Roberts for His F Class Standard B Grade win, well done.
For me it was a great 5 day shooting comp. The Hunt was a great start, closely fielded by Mark Hayward, Stuart Braund, Richard Braund and myself with really only Super centers being the decider.
There was also a scoring system for the payed markers, we scored them from 1-3, and at the end of the comp one marker was awarded a prize for being the best. Well done to the markers.
I am already looking forward to the Canberra National Teams and the Queens after that.

We must not froget the sponsors for all the prizes and to Richard Braund for all the running around he did to get the sponsorship, well done Richard and a big thank you to the sponsors.
I would like to mention a special thankyou to Ron Hatton for help he gave to some of the shooters who had trouble with there equipment, well done Ron, and also a big thank you to Ron again for the great sponsorship he once again gave to the 2010 S.A. Queens.

Cheers
Paul

PS I must thank Bruce Moulds for his great scoring. He was scoring my cards and every shot was called clearly as was every score, thank you Bruce.

[Lynn Otto]

Hi Lynn,

Its really simple to convert F-Class to TR!
F-Class 60 = T/R 50.10
I didn't worry about the X count as its not needed in the conversion!

Hope this helps you to understand just how easily it is accomplished!

IanP

Ian did you look at my example, there are no X counts in there, just 6's which are the TR V's, so unless all the F class scores were a 60 it's not that simple.

[IanP]

Lynn, re-read my post!
IanP