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UKBRA 600 Yards - 26th February 2017


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600 yard Benchrest Competition Sunday 26 February 2017

 

Round 5 - the pen-ultimate round of this year’s 600yard series.

 

In the past I have suggested that there has been a difference in the conditions between the morning and the afternoon, some readers have disagreed. Does anybody wish to disagree that there was a difference last weekend? For those not present it was windy in the morning and blowing a hooley in the afternoon.

 

Not quite full house but close enough 32 shooters; 12 Heavy Guns and 16 Light Guns and 4 Factory Sporters. Welcome to Raphael and Andreas from Spain, this is becoming the “Diggle International” – Spain, Germany, England, Scotland and Wales all represented!

 

Today its Light Guns up first, Heavy Guns and Factory Sporters this afternoon – have they read the weather forecast?

 

Approx. 10:30 and we’re ready for the first shot down the range, bit later than of late but not too bad.

 

First detail, 4 Light Guns including yours truly. It is immediately apparent that this will not be the day for records, the question is just how much windage to put on, and will we manage to find a steady condition to get five shots off. First groups are not spectacular but not bad, between 5 and 12”. Second groups slightly better as shooters get control of the conditions, but most find their groups in a different position on the target. Looking at the windflags just in front of the firing point it is clear that the wind is swinging from about 3 o’clock to 4:30, thus moving the groups across the target, staying on the paper might be the challenge of the day. Detail two up now and quickly sighted in, again 4 Light Guns. Groups tending to be a bit bigger now, first relay about 8 to 16”, second relay bit better, Jack Gibb managing down into the fives. Back to Detail one, Alex Carson manages one in the low four’s the best group so far, others up to 9”. Final relay for Detail 1, 6’s upwards, but Bruce Lenton has finally got a handle on the wind and posts a low 3” – well done, but it’s Dad who has the early lead … will it last? Detail 2, Now this is better, Willy Dixon gets down into the two’s, but it’s only just on the target, the others 4, 5 and 9”. Relay 4 can they keep it together, especially Jack and Willy who have reasonable aggs. so far? Three six’s and an eight, will it be good enough – time will tell.

 

Third detail, surprise surprise 4 Light Guns, highlight of Relay 1 is Sean Broxham who finds favourable conditions and manages 2.6”, the other three shooters 6’s and a 9” – well done Sean, but can you do it again? Relay 2 - Sean can’t repeat his 2” and has to settle for 7.5” but Gary Stewarts wonder load and his secret Saturday practise on ‘A’ range pays off and he posts 2.169” for the best group of the day so far, and most would be happy with this even in ideal conditions – fluke or skill? Detail four, final 3 Light Guns, 5” from Vince Bottomley, 9” from Dave Jackson, but Mike Perdaux gets bitten at 15”. Second relay see groups of 7 to 13”. Back to Detail 3 – relay 3 the best is Gary Wrighton with a 4” group others up to 10”, unfortunately Gary Stewart’s “skill” has deserted him. Relay 4 – 5”, 6”, 6” and a 9” but Mal and Sean have managed to be relative consistent, how will they finish? Final 2 relays of the morning for Detail 4, all still to play for. Highlight of relay 3 is Mike Perdaux’s 3.8” group. So to the final relay - 4’s from both Vince and Mike, but Dave has to suffer a 10” group his worst of the day.

 

So to lunch, RO Vince “suggests” a quick lunch as he’s seen the weather forecast, around 2pm it going to get windy – well really windy – they say up to 42m.p.h. this will sort the men from the boys.

 

All up and ready, oh bugger it’s now decided to start and rain too – this is going to make the butts an experience.

 

Detail one, 4 Heavy Guns. Relay 1 not bad at all considering the conditions, 5 through to 8”, relay 2 5 through to 11”, with Darrell Evans taking the early honours. Detail two 3 Heavy’s and 1 Factory Sporter, Paul Pendleton suffers badly being blown right of the target with all 5 shot, again the Heavies are in the 7-9”range. Second groups are mixed with Steve Roberts down in the 4’s –well done, but again Paul and Andreas suffering with penalties. Is it windy like this in Spain Andreas? By now it’s no longer fun in the butts, targets are being blown (well rippled) off the frames and we’re running out of targets and staples with targets needing thick end of 20 in each to stand any chance of holding them on. Vince and Bruce call a hold to “re-supply” and the early targets are brought back to the club house for measuring – what a soggy mess!

 

Off we go again, Vince and Bruce having worked out some sort of routine that sees the targets up for a short a period as possible, and a few are given the opportunity to reshoot broken/interrupted relays. Detail one resume their shooting, groups much as before 7-11”, but keeping it around the 7” ain’t bad today and may bring in the honours. Final group for Detail one, much the same if not a little bigger, so it’s still Darrell in the lead. Detail two, third group, both Paul and Andreas have issues again incurring some penalties but Mike Hutton manages a 5.8” group - not bad all things considered. Group 4, Andreas gets all 5 to count, Paul Pendleton is down in the 6’s Steve Roberts has a reasonable group but Mike Hutton unfortunately gets bitten which push his agg. out of the running. But it’s like the old time it’s still Darrell out in the lead.

By now the butts crew want to go home – who can blame them – “stick in there guys the sun will soon be out!”

 

Detail three, again 3 Heavy’s and 1 Factory Sporter. Relay one Laurie Holland kicks off with a 5.7” good start Laurie, just keep it like that and you’ll be a winner, the others 9 -12”. Relay two groups a bit better - Jim Marsden is down in the 5’s and Laurie has another good group albeit a 6, is the weather easing? Detail four, a mix this time 2 Heavy’s 1 Light Gun and 1 Factory Sporter. Their first group, 7” through to 12”. Group 2 6” through to 15”, with Adrian Evans having the best results. Back To Detail three for their final 2 groups, 8 through 14”, but unfortunately it’s Laurie who has the 14” group which may well have screwed his chances, how will their final groups be? Unfortunately groups are “biggish” especially for Laurie. Graham Watts holds it reasonably consistently for the early lead in Factory Sporter. Detail four their last groups, Raphael manages a very very creditable 4.3”, will that be the Heavy Gun small group of the day? Others are not so lucky. Now their final group, not quiet another 4” from Rapheal but a creditable 6” group, but its John Carr who does the best and posts a 4.075” for the HG small group of the day – pretty damn good today, others are not too successful.

 

Now we have just one left to shoot – all eyes are on Paul Parkinson, all by himself on his own personal detail. Paul has mixed fortunes, taking penalties on his fourth group but his highlight is group 3 at 6.75” which gives him Factory Sporter small group of the day – well done.

 

Well what a day, who would have thought that just under 6” would be the best aggregate of the day, in fact only two shooters made it under 6”. However, credit to all for their perseverance and sticking at it. A rough count suggests only about 6 or 8 shooters ended up taking penalties, most of those in the afternoon too – testament to how well all managed to handle the conditions – well done. And here’s a challenge to all those who comment on UKV about their ability to shoot half MOA groups all day long …. “You’ll be most welcome at Diggle and we’re all prepared to learn from you!”

 

Thanks to Vince for his RO’s skills and to the two butts crews, especially those in the afternoon who had a torrid time, sure the shooters appreciated your efforts – thank you. Looking forward Bruce and I are looking at “plastic” targets which should be tougher and less susceptible to the elements.

 

The next shoot is the last one of the series, all please make a special effort to turn up – whilst some league places are already decided many are still up for grabs, as they say “you need to be in it to win it”.

 

Results for Light Gun:

 

Ist Tony Lenton – 5.862”

2nd Sean Broxham – 5.876”

3rd Mal Roberts – 6.021”

 

Small Group – Gary Stewart – 2.169”

 

Results for Factory Sporter:

 

Ist Graham Watts – 10.688”

2nd Toni Young – 12.106”

3rd Paul Parkinson – 12.125”

 

Small Group – Paul Parkinson – 6.75”

 

Results for Heavy Gun:

 

Ist Darrell Evans – 7.569”

2nd Steve Roberts – 7.869”

3rd Jochen Schulz – 7.931”

 

Small Group – John Carr - 4.071”

 

Nearest the Bull

 

Mal Roberts & Gary Stewart ~ 0.5”

 

2016/17 League Results (five results and ONE discards)

 

Light Gun:

 

Ist Mal Roberts – 36pts

2nd Gary Stewart – 29pts

3rd Bruce Lenton – 29pts

 

Heavy Gun:

 

Ist Steve Roberts – 39pts

2nd Mary Marsden – 31pts

3rd Darrell Evans – 29pts

 

Factory Sporter:

 

Ist Paul Parkinson – 37pts

2nd Toni Young – 36pts

3rd Dan Valmont – 10pts

 

Next 600yard shoot is Sunday 12th March 2017

 

UKBRA Subs – please remember £5 Sub’s are now due.

 

Safe shooting

 

Tony Lenton

 

Full Details here

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wf53jk5h55jp7kj/UKBRA%20600BR%2026th%20February%202017.pdf?dl=0

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Awesome day out, that was some serious wind!!,

Well shot to everyone, let's hope the next one is just as windy,,

140 Berger seem to like the wind,,

Darrel

 

 

Well done Darrel on your Heavy Gun class win, where's the 'thumbs up' smiley when I need one. :huh:

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.............. and he borrowed a kind lady's rifle .............. and shot a smaller group than she did with it. Dashed unsporting Jeeves! :)

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Not my fault the bloody target fell down,,

And yes it was kind of Mary to offer to lend me her rifle for the last target,

But if you look at the results you will see that the smallest group was shot with my own rifle!!,

As records to it being sporting had nothing to do with it,, it was down to the extreme weather

Conditions and the range officers copping on the firing line and in the butts

 

Darrel

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I was joking of course, Darrel, hence the smiley. See you in a week's time and we'll have to see what Diggle throws at us. I reckon we're about due a plague of frogs having had snow, sleet, rain, hail, gales, fog and even the occasional bout of mirage since Christmas.

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It started at maybe 15-20 mph 4-5 o'clock wind and was the wrong side of 30 mph, maybe approaching 40 in gusts plus drizzle / occasional pulses of rain by the time of the last relay. As Bruce says in his write-up, the flags were flicking around every which way too.

 

At least we got to shoot though. The previous Sunday we couldn't start until almost 2 pm because of poor visibility, then the second match relay had to be abandoned at a bit past the half-way mark when cloud and fog rolled in. :(

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