UKBRA 1000 Yards 17th July 2016

mole-e30 · July 22, 2016

1000 yard Benchrest Competition Sunday 17^th July

Looked a bit murky coming over the top but at Diggle itself it was fine, a bit windy and a bit dull. However it was not long before it brightened and the temperature started to approach, and even passed 20⁰C. Summer has come to Diggle, but will it last?

How many today, looked a bit crowded in the clubhouse as we signed in, 29 shooters, 19 Light Guns, 5 Heavy Guns and 5 Factory Sporters. A few new faces – welcome hope you enjoy your day.

Light Guns up first today with 4 relays of 4 in the morning, then 3 Light Guns and the Sporters and the Heavy Guns in the afternoon, who will have the best of the weather?

First shots down the range just the back of 10, not bad.

Ian Dixon, bench one relay one first group 107mm, just about 4.5”, then a group around the 200mm, his colleagues are typically getting between 200 and 300mm, Sean Broxham tries hard with a 134mm. Over to relay two, Bruce Lenton’s first group 73mm, under 3” not bad!!!

Ian manages to keep around the 200mm mark and ends with an agg. of 6.919”, Sean Broxham is second but 1.6” bigger – what is Bruce going to do after his great start? Unfortunately whilst maintaining around 250mm Bruce can’t capitalise on his brilliant start and at the end of the second relay he’s in third place just 40 thou behind Sean.

The star of relays 3 and 4 is Phil Sammons who gets progressively better in each group to end with an agg. of 8.287”. Others manage promising groups but unfortunately interspersed with some less good.

At lunchtime its Ian Dixon way out in front, followed by Phil then Sean, Bruce out the “medals” now.

Reflecting on the wind it is not too windy, but it does drop off suddenly causing significant side to side movement if you’re caught mid string.

After lunch its two relays of Heavy Guns to start. With the 10 shot groups, obviously taking longer to complete, and a wind that can drop off suddenly the Heavy Guns are getting punished and the best that can be achieved is Simon Drakes 244mm, way, way bigger than twice the best of the Light Guns. After his sterling achievements last month how is John Campbell going to do, in the medals but not as good as last time. Unfortunately not a day for the Heavy Guns, proving the point that 10 shot groups are likely to be bigger than twice a 5 shot group, and even worse in variable wind conditions.

To complete the day the Factory Sporters and a few remaining Light Guns. The wind has turned down range just to make things a little more interesting and difficult. Those left to shoot now are struggling to keep it below 300mm with a few exceptions. Alan Seagrave, with his worn out barrel, keeps it together and posts a very creditable agg. of 9.665” whilst “Shooting God” takes the small group with 188mm (approx. 7.4”). However one of the “newbies” Tim Brosnan starts to put the cat amongst the pigeons when he posts 83mm for his second group. All eyes are now on Tim, especially Sean Broxham’s who sees his third place under severe threat. Well done to Tim who keeps his third and fourth groups reasonable to finish with an agg. of 8.494” pushing Sean out the medals.

Tim please note “rules of the game” – don’t borrow somebodies rifle and beat them – that’s not cricket!

So finally back to Ian Dixon - well if this was a Formula 1 Grand Prix then the words to describe Ian Dixon would be “on pole position and lead through the race” – well done, not a record but a pretty good agg. for anyone. Will Bruce’s 73mm be the small group of the year?

As ever thanks to all those who make it happen at both ends of the range and “off-range” too.

Results for Light Gun:

I^st Ian Dixon – 6.919”

2^nd Phil Sammons– 8.287”

3^rd Tim Brosnan – 8.494”

Small Group – Bruce Lenton – 2.874”.

Results for Factory Sporter:

1^st Alan Seagrave – 9.665”

2^nd Stuart Benson – 13.415”

3^rd Toni Young – 13.740”

Small Group – Stuart Benson – 7.401”

Results for Heavy Gun:

I^st Simon Drake – 12.579”

2^nd Jochen Schulz – 14.980“

3^rd John Campbell – 15.817”

Small Group – Simon Drake – 9.606”

Nearest the Bull:

Luke Wadsworth – 0.748”mm

2016 League Update (after 4 shoots) - top three

Light Gun

Sean Broxham 34pts, Bruce Lenton 32 pts, Mal Roberts 24pts

Heavy Gun

Emily Lenton 27pts, Willy Dixon 18pts, John Campbell 18 pts

Factory Sporter

Stuart Benson 33pts, Nick Parkin 30pts, Toni Young 26pts

Next shoot is Sunday 14^th August,

Safe shooting

Tony Lenton

For full results click here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gl040gxpip159wv/UKBRA%201000BR%2017th%20July%202016.pdf?dl=0

Panda · July 22, 2016

Some amazing groups there. Let's hope the weather is conducive to the same at Gelston on Sunday for those that are coming up from Diggle, but I doubt it will be. Looks like wind and rain blowing straight into the firing point .