The low point this week would definitely have to be losing the Osmond Shield match, having won it for the previous five consecutive years. Wellington Central started well with 95, beating both Brooklyn and South Wellington by three points, and never released their lead throughout the eight squads of this competition, finishing five points ahead of Brooklyn, and 17 points ahead of South Wellington. Top shots were David Grain 98.8, Michael Grain 98.7, and Pratik Tailor and Blair Wotton (Wellington Central) with 98.6. Brooklyn's team score of 765.37 would still have been the highest score shot in the previous two years in this competition, so everyone is shooting better and higher scores are being achieved.

In club shooting, Bex Amos was top shot this week in the college training squad with a new 20-shot PB of 182.4 which also included her best 10-shot score so far of 93.3. Nicoli Yamog is making huge improvements each week, having been absent for most of Term 2 due to an accident. His 20-shot score of 174.2 improved on his previous best by a phenomenal 24 points, and included a new 10-shot PB for him of 89.0 - huge thanks go to Craig Fair for coaching Nicoli and bringing him up to speed in just a few short weeks. In D Grade another new PB was set by top shot Luisa Kristen with 96.4, while Jamie Yee and Neakiry Kivi both shot 93s. In C Grade Callum Osborne and Stephen Thessman recorded 96s, and in B Grade both Craig Fair and Sergey Kladnitski shot 97.5. Dianne Grain top-scored in A Grade with 100.3, and Michael Grain's 99.5 was the highest score shot in Master Grade this week. Pratik Tailor shot a phenomenal 199.17 (which included a 99.9 - another cake for the roster!), while Michael Grain's 199.13 was just inners behind. Mark Riley's 195.7 was his best 20-shot score this season - well done!

Congratulations to Jialin Sae-Jiw, Stephen Thessman, Luisa Kristen and Neakiry Kivi on qualifying for their B, C, D and D Grade marksmen's badges respectively. Callum Osborne also looks likely to have passed his C Grade marksmen's badge (targets yet to be marked).

The Wellington secondary schools team came 2^nd to Manawatu in the quadrangular match between Wellington, Hutt Valley, Bay of Plenty and Manawatu shot yesterday. Top Brooklyn shooter was Sergey Kladnitski with 191.6.

A reminder that the final round for both the closed champs and Triple S competitions is Sunday 7 September.

The Wright Cup match is similar to the Osmond Shield match, but for C and D Graders. Teams comprise six shooters with the best five scores counting. As Brooklyn are the current trophy holders of the Wright Cup, we will be hosting this match on Sunday 14 September. If any C or D Grader is not available for selection, please let me know. The team will be named next week.

Upcoming events:

• Friday 5 September, Wellington v Hertfordshire match, 7.30pm (1x10 NZ, 1x10 UK): David Grain, Jess Fair, Ross Little, Dianne Grain, Evan Little. On call: Craig Fair, Mark Riley.
• Saturday 6 September, Wellington v Hutt Valley open match, 7pm, Keene Range. Team: Michael Grain, David Grain, Meredith Ackrill, Evan Little, Ross Little, Jess Fair, Dianne Grain.
• Saturday 6 September, Wellington v Hutt Valley women's match, 7pm, Keene Range. Team: Meredith Ackrill, Jess Fair, Dianne Grain. Emergency: Jialin Sae-Jiw. On call: Luisa Kristen.
• Sunday 7 September, Round 6 closed champs deadline.
• Sunday 7 September, Triple SSS Round 4 deadine.