Welcome to our newest member, Gareth Poulter.  Gareth has completed the four-week introduction to shooting programme and achieved many scores in the 80s.

Top shots on the rest this week were Amy Nathanson 93.5, Alexander Elshout 91.0, Jon Harris 90.1, and Aiden D’Souza, Connor Smith and Emily Lockery all on 89.0.  Nine other shooters recorded scores in the 80s.  There was a fantastic improvement through the four-week programme and many favourable comments were received from new shooters regarding the programme structure and coaching advice.

Invitations to join the club have been sent to eight college shooters and a number of parents.  All new members will be scheduled to move into jacket and slings over the next few weeks.  Assistance from club members will be necessary to enable this to happen.

In the club competition Evan Little recorded the best 20-shot score of 197.11 (including 100.7 – first on the 100s board this season) closely followed by Meredith Ackrill with 197.6, and Dianne Grain was top shot in the 10-shot competition with 99.5.  Callum Osborne shot best in B Grade with 98.4 followed by Craig Fair on 97.2.  The two highest scores in C Grade were shot by Oscar Robinson 97.4 and Erin Little 95.4; and Georgia Beatson 91.0 and Melchior Meares 89.3 had the top scores in D Grade.

Subs are now due, and prompt payment would be appreciated.  If you are unsure how much you should be paying, please let me know.  The 2017 fees are as follows, and can be paid at the club or direct into the club’s bank account 38-9005-0731057-01 using your name as a reference.

*      For adult family members living in the same household, second affiliation fee is discounted by $25.
Please ignore TSNZ affiliation fee if paid already through outdoor summer shooting.

**     Junior A and B subs relate to those aged under 21 as at 31 December, but who have left college.

***    The “coaching” fee goes towards partial reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses incurred by coaches and organisers in attending secondary school shooting competitions.

From next week all competition scores need to be recorded for 2018 grading purposes.  Don’t include inners or practice cards.  It is far easier to record scores each week than to try to find scores at the end of the season.

The first of the Teams of Ten trials commences next Sunday at 9.30am and comprises 2x20-shot targets.  Shooters do need to be self-sufficient as no coaching is available.  This year’s Teams of Ten match is being held in Napier on Saturday 13 May.  Sixteen 10-person teams compete from associations throughout the North Island for the Rees Scroll and Jim Hart trophies.  Wellington have entered two teams in this year’s match.  Definitely one of the highights on the shooting calendar.  So give it a go!  You need to attend preferably two of the three trials (2, 9, 23 April, all at 9.30am) and shoot 2x20 shot cards at each.  Then a “practice” match is shot against Horowhenua on 30 April, after which the final teams are selected.

The scoreboard and ladder will be finalised this week, so remember to check out who you are challenging each week.

And finally, many happy returns to Ross Little on his 21st birthday today!

Upcoming events:

• Sunday 2 April, 9.30am, first Teams of Ten trial, 2x20.
• Sunday 2 April, usual 4.30pm and 7pm sessions commence.
• Wednesday 5 April, 7.30pm, BSRC committee meeting.
• Friday 7 April, WSRA Business House Challenge.  Set up at 6pm.  Assistance required.
• Saturday 8 April, Colyton Club Open Champs, Colyton, Feilding.
• Sunday 9 April, 9.30am, second Teams of Ten trial, 2x20.