It’s great to see such large numbers at the club each week, particularly in the afternoon session.  We would like to encourage our more experienced afternoon shooters to come along to the evening session, to relieve a little of the pressure on shared equipment, but also to be able to really focus on their shooting with much less coaching talk in the squads.

Congratulations to Ollie Tuohy on winning D Grade at the Bulls Open Champs on Saturday.  It was a close contest with only four points separating the top three shooters in this grade.  An excellent result in Ollie’s first-ever open championship.

All five shooting off the rest scored extremely well yesterday, especially Dave Wilks with an incredible 97.6 and 96.3.  Many personal best (PB) scores were achieved by our new shooters as they become accustomed to the jacket and sling.  Summer O’Dwyer is setting a high standard already, scoring 92.2 and 91.2 having moved to sling and jacket only last week, while Georgia Karantze also shot extremely well with 90.1.

Top shot in D Grade this week was Luisa Kristen 94.4 followed by Alex Hill 93.2, Summer O’Dwyer 92.2 and Ollie Tuohy 91.3.  Stephen Thessman and Callum Osborne had the best scores in C and B grades with 86.1 and 95.3 respectively, Dianne Grain’s 100.5 was highest in A Grade, and Meredith Ackrill was top Master Grade shooter with 99.7.  Michael Grain top-scored in the 20-shot competition with 199.15 (made up of 100.6 and 99.9 – that’s a cake for the roster Michael), very closely followed by Ross Little with 199.12 (100.6 and 99.6).

The second of the Rees Scroll trials was held yesterday morning.  Michael Grain was top shot with an impressive 397.27 followed by Ross Little 394.21, Dianne Grain 391.20 and Evan Little 391.14.  The final trials are being held next Sunday at 9.30am.  The Rees Scroll is a shoulder to shoulder match between 15 teams of 10 people from each of the North Island associations, this year being held in Dannevirke on Saturday 9 May.  It is a great event to be involved in, so if you are a self-sufficient shooter and keen to have a go, come along next Sunday.

Last week the Excel spreadsheet was attached for recording competition scores onto (attached again this week).  With many of our new members now having shot at least one competition card, these scores can be inputted into the spreadsheet.  It is best to get into a habit of doing this following every match, so you don’t need to try and remember at a later date what scores you’ve shot when.  If you have any questions as to how to complete the spreadsheet, or would prefer to fill out a hard copy, please talk to one of the senior members next week.  This spreadsheet determines your grade for next season.

The Rangitikei Champs are on next Saturday in Marton, with the Masterton Open Champs the following weekend (poster attached).  If you are keen to have a go at an open champs match, and require club equipment to be transported, please let me know as soon as possible so that this can be organised the previous Sunday.  The Masterton Champs is recommended, especially for those who have nominated for North Island teams.  Highly recommended is the Wellington Central Open Champs on the first Friday and Saturday of May, being held at our range – it would be great to have as many of our club members enter this match as possible to support a fellow Wellington club.  Those requiring coaching should aim to shoot on either the Friday night or Saturday morning.

Finally many many thanks to all those involved with this year’s introduction programme and with the move to slings.  This is a huge task that can only be undertaken with the help of many.  There will be a little tweaking of equipment needed, but the bulk of the work has been completed, with excellent results already coming through.

Upcoming events:

• Friday 17 April, 6.30pm, WSRA Business House shoot.
• Saturday 18 April, Rangitikei Open Champs, Marton.
• Sunday 19 April, 9.30am, Teams of Ten trials, 2x20.
• Thursday 23 April, 7.30pm, NDC Round 1.  Team named next Sunday.
• Saturday 25 April, Masterton Open Champs, Masterton.
• Sunday 26 April, Wellington v Horowhenua, 1.00pm, 2x20 cards.  Team named next Sunday.