Bundaberg-Burnett Rifle Club

27/28 September 2008 - Bundaberg Prize Meeting

Ken Shillington and Jim Dickenson,      Michael Dickenson and Isaac Francis,     
representing Pratten Rifle Club and Darling Downs Rifle Club.

Michael Marsh and Anne Cree from Gympie-Kilkivan Rifle Club.   Darren Enslin
Anne's rifle is a 6.5mm 284 Norma on a Remington 700 action.    Pacific Rifle Club

John Simmons, Maurie Irwin and Diane Philips,      Rod Prayle, Greg Gartner, Peter Craib and Alan Bishop
representing Bundaberg-Burnett Rifle Club and Maryborough District Rifle Club

Competitors on the Bundaberg Range, Neville and Dennis Bidgood, Crows Nest Goombungee Rifle CLub

Veteran Darling Downs shooter Jim Dickenson showed his class to win the Bundaberg-Burnett Rifle Club Open Prize Shoot

by Gordon Collie

Mr Dickenson, a member of Pratten Rifle Club, had three possibles from the six ranges shot over two days to score 347 out of 350.  Australian representative Darren Enslin of Appletree Creek also shot 347 but Mr Dickson won with 41 inner bullseyes to 29.   He completed a successful competition winning the gold medal in the 65 to 74 age class of the Maryborough Masters Games which was held in conjunction with the Bundaberg Open.   Mr Dickenson started shooting at the age of 15 but after a long break from the sport he has been shooting competitively for the last decade.

The Bundaberg Open attracted a field of 45 shooters from Northern NSW to Rockhampton for the 70 shot competiton over distances from 300 to 900 yards.   Maryborough shooter Rodney Prayle placed third in A Grade aggregate with a score of 345 and 35 inner bulls.   Goondiwindi shooter Russell Saxby was fourth in the Bundaberg shoot with a score of 344 with 31 inner bulls.  Mr Saxby was philosophical about the Border Championship event at Goondiwindi being washed out earlier this month after more than 60 mm of rain. “At least the rain has made for a great wheat crop this year, so everyone is smiling,” Mr Saxby said.  

The Bundaberg Open B Grade was won by Wendy Latham from Natives Club in Brisbane and the C Grade by 14 year old Toowoomba shooter Isaac Francis.   Kelvin Bell from Brisbane Rifle Club won the F Open class for scoped rifles and  Nick Williamson from Clermont the F Standard class.

Darren Enslin was the Maryborough Masters gold medalist for 35 to 44 years. Rodney Prayle won 45 to 54 years, Dennis Bidgood of Toowoomba 55 to 64 years and Emil Daniel of Brisbane Natives the 75 years plus category.

Results

Bundaberg Open shooting results

A Grade.

1 Jim Dickenson, Pratten, 347.41. 2 Darren Enslin, Appletree Creek, 347.29. 3 Rodney Prayle, Maryborough, 345.35. 4 Russell Saxby, Goondiwindi, 344.31. 5 Peter Scovell, Brisbane Natives, 343.30. 6 Anthony Sultana, University of Queensland, 343.25. 7 Lee Robinson, Beaudesert, 342.31. 8 Dennis Bidgood, Crows Nest-Goombungee, 342.27. 9 Ashley Powell, Raglan, 342.26. 10 Ray Truelson, Raglan, 341.21.

B Grade

1 Wendy Latham, Brisbane Natives, 340.22. 2 Diane Philips, Bundaberg, 339.30. 3 Allan Cronk, Murwillumbah, 338.28. 4 Kevin Howlett, Brisbane Natives, 338.28. 5 Robert Hynes, Cannon Hill, 335.20.

C Grade

1 Isaac  Francis, Darling Downs, 332.18. 2 Ron Curtis, Bundaberg, 327.16. 3 Allan Bishop, Maryborough, 325.18.

F Open scope

1 Kelvin Bell, Brisbane, 643. 2 Anne Cree, Kilkivan, 614.

F Standard scope

1 Nick Williamson, Clermont, 408. 2 Ken McLachlan, Pheasant Creek, 388. 3 Greg Gartner, Maryborough, 382.

Maryborough Masters

35 to 44 years

Gold medal, Darren Enslin, Appletree Creek. Silver, Lee Robinson, Beaudesert. Bronze, Michael Dickenson, Darling Downs.

45 to 54 years

Gold, Rodney Prayle, Maryborough. Silver, Russell Saxby, Goondiwindi. Bronze, Peter Scovell, Brisbane.

55 to  64 years

Gold, Dennis Bidgood, Darling Downs. Silver, Allan Cronk, Maryborough. Bronze, Robert Hynes, Cannon Hill.

65 to 74 years

Gold, Jim Dickensen, Pratten. Silver, Ray Truelson, Raglan. Bronze, Bill Herdman, Pheasant.

75 years plus

Gold, Emil Daniel, Brisbane. Silver, Alan Gray, Gold Coast.

2 October 2007 - Girl Guides Target Shooting

On Tuesday 2^nd October, forty-one Guides aged 11-17 attending a State Outdoor Camp at their campsite at Mon Repos near Bundaberg, elected target rifle shooting with .22 rifles.  Half came in the morning, and the other half in the afternoon.  Six leaders accompanied the Guides. Lunch was a sausage sizzle and fruit at the clubhouse.

Each groups was given preliminary instruction on safety, weapon handling and technique including position, breathing, aim and how to achieve the best results.  They were also given a practical lesson on the mound as well as individual coaching as they shot.

Guides Queensland approved the activity for inclusion in the Camp programme.  An organiser of the Camp approached Ruth Duncan who had to meet all requirements of Guides Qld to become a Ratified Instructor.  Ruth represented the Bundaberg Rifle Club Inc, which authorised her to conduct the activity on their behalf, and to be the Range Officer for the day.   Other adults present were Gordon Duncan and six Guide Leaders one of whom was a coach on one target with Gordon on the other.  Other leaders supervised the Guides in the whole event.

Each girl was given her own A4 sheet with an aiming mark printed on it.  The sheet was sticky taped onto a piece of corflute on a wooden frame 25 yards from the firing point.   Girls were given an order for shooting by one of the leaders, and other girls in the group participated by taking off or replacing the aiming marks, adding up scores and writing them on a form that was divided into 6 age groups of approximate even numbers.  A transparent template with the same target dimensions was moved around on the fired aiming mark to achieve the maximum score.  Some groups were so good that some possibles were achieved – and this, by some girls who had never fired a rifle before! 

Great excitement and pride made them realise that this challenge could be met.  Many girls were quietly proud on their newly found prowess, while others were disappointed at their inability to do as well as others.  Emphasis was continually placed on the importance of meeting a Guide Challenge, their participation, having a good sporting attitude and doing one’s best.  Taking each Guide through individual instruction for their 10 shots required patience and encouragement from the coaches and leaders – attitudes that transferred to the Guides themselves in encouraging each other.   At the end of the day, each Guide was presented with a Certificate of Participation.  Those coming first and second in each of the 6 age groups were given medals to remember their particular achievement.

Because this camp included girls from all over the State, it is hoped that the new challenge met by them will be taken back to their own areas.  If nothing else, they know more about the safe handling of rifles, and generally had a more positive attitude to the sport of target rifle shooting.  Perhaps in years to come, we will have some new inductees to our ranks!

 Ruth Duncan

2-3 December 2006 - Coaching and Simulation Training