Sports Reports: Long range tests Murray Bridge rifle shooters

This post includes contributions from Murray Bridge Rifle Club’s Daniel Irvine and Murray Bridge Lawn Tennis Association’s Graham Buttle. Send your sports reports to peri@murraybridge.news.

Last weekend’s cool change brought early showers on Saturday morning, but they thankfully didn’t dampen the day for the small number of shooters who gathered at the Deed Range at Monarto to shoot from 700 metres, with many from the club travelling to a Maitland prize meeting this weekend.

What did cause some consternation and trouble was the strong wind that came along with it, and which presented its own challenges as it pivoted from about 45 degrees right wind to almost straight down the range, with sudden shifts that caught out more than one shooter.

No-one scored particularly highly, given the range, but the best scores did stand out above the rest.

In target rifle, Greg Traeger scored a 48 and a 49 to secure a two-point win over a small contingent, but Gordon Harrison’s high centre count in a 95.07 helped him take out the handicap win.

Daniel Irvine continued his up-and-down form by winning the sniper’s award for best sighters, scoring a near-perfect 20.02, but unfortunately was unable to finish as well as he started, ending both rounds with “birds” to also secure the Magpie Award for the day.

In F-class, the pick of the shooters was Frank Marshall, whose 112.06 was easily the top score of the day, followed by Peter Casley in second place, three points behind off-rifle and 4.8 points behind in the handicap.

Casley’s sighters were well utilised, however, as he took out the F-class sniper’s with a very handy 22.01.

Brad Kirpensteyn found that his load-testing ammunition didn’t quite agree with the club rifle which he needed to use this week, but took solace in his first ever Magpie Award for F-class, securing four “birds” on a difficult day at the office.

Shooters might claim that the difficult day was merely psychological preparation, as the club will meet again this week to shoot the ninth stage of its championship season from its furthest range of 1000 yards.

Murray Bridge Lawn Tennis Association doubles results

River Aces five sets, 45 games defeated Mobilong four sets, 49 games

Player of the day: Zak Bald

Swanport five sets, 38 games defeated Twin Bridges four sets, 46 games

Player of the day: Roger King

Murray Bridge News is happy to share news, results or photos from sporting clubs throughout Murray Bridge and the surrounding region, free of charge. Email peri@murraybridge.news or call 0419 827 124.

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