In the Interassociation Junior match on Wednesday Cassie Truscott scored a very impressive new PB of 98.7.  Meredith Ackrill was the top Brooklyn shooter in the open team with a score of 197.12.  Both the junior and open interassociation team scores were slightly lower than in previous years.  Full results will be available in September.

Congratulations to Maia Lapointe and Stephen Thessman on their new PBs yesterday.  Stephen’s was his first-ever 100 – fantastic!

The top five D Graders this week were Stephen Thessman 100.5, Cassie Truscott 95.3, Maia Lapointe 93.1, Ethan Haigh 92.3 and Josh Whitehead 91.4, while another two D Graders also scored in the 90s.  Hamish Guthrey’s 94.4 was best in C Grade, and Dianne Grain took top honours in B Grade with 99.3.  Evan Little recorded the highest score in A Grade with 98.4 while Meredith Ackrill’s 100.6 was best in Master Grade.  Evan Little had a phenomenal 20-shot card made up of 99.4 and 100.9, the latter with an extremely close test-out for the inner.

Results from Round 4 of the closed champs competition were distributed on Saturday.  Brooklyn members currently hold quite a number of 2^nd placings (Meredith Ackrill, Dianne Grain, Casey Israelson x 2, Cassie Truscott, David Grain) while Stephen Thessman leads D Grade and Meredith Ackrill leads the women’s section.

Dianne Grain travelled to Levin to shoot in their club champs over the weekend.  This range is quite unique, being in amongst the foundations of a scout hall.  Targets are sent to and from the butts via a cable system; shooters need to climb up approximately a metre onto the mound; the mounds are split into four bays of three mounds each.  Taking part in open champs is a great way to experience many different ranges, and to meet shooters from other parts of the country.

The National Indoor Champs are being held on Sunday at a number of venues around the country including the Newtown range.

Those wishing to be considered for selection for the Wellington team to compete in the BSA match against other New Zealand and United Kingdom teams need to email the WSRA Secretary by 5pm 4 August.  The Wellington team will shoot at 1pm on Saturday 31 August at the Levin range on UK targets.

A date to add to your diaries: Brooklyn have booked the range for a training session at 2pm on Sunday 15 September.  The session will assess shooters’ position and set-up, followed by a number of shooting drills.  This is a great opportunity to train and analyse.  If you are using a scope, come along and have a go.

Upcoming events:

• Thursday 1 August, Round 5 interclub.  B Grade, 8.15pm 1x10.  Open Grade, 8.45pm, 1x20.
• Saturday 3 August, 2pm, Triangular B Grade match: Craig Fair, Dianne Grain, Erin Little, Mark Riley, Stephen Thessman. On call: Ethan Haigh, Cassie Truscott.
• Saturday 3 August, 2pm, Triangular Women’s match: Meredith Ackrill, Bex Gibbs, Dianne Grain, Erin Little. On call: Cassie Truscott.
• Saturday 3 August, 2pm, Triangular Junior match: Ethan Haigh, Cassie Truscott. Emergency: Maia Lapointe.
• Sunday 4 August, 1pm, National Indoor Champs.
• Sunday 4 August, Round 3 Triple S deadline.
• Sunday 4 August, 5pm, BSA Match nominations close.
• Tuesday 6 August, 8pm, Titipounamu Match 1x10 + 1x20: Mark Baines, David Grain, Erin Little, Evan Little.  Emergency: Dianne Grain.

Meredith Ackrill scored highest in the 20-shot competition this week with 198.11 followed by Evan Little with 197.11.  David Grain had the highest 10-shot score of 100.7, an inner higher than Meredith Ackrill with 100.6.  Dianne Grain’s 99.4 was best in B Grade ahead of Erin Little with 98.5, and in C Grade the highest score of 98.5 was shot by Casey Israelson.  The top five shooters in D Grade this week were Stephen Thessman 96.5, Ethan Haigh 96.2, Ryan Day 93.3, Cassie Truscott 93.1 and Josh Whitehead 91.0.

Congratulations to Bex Gibbs and Meredith Ackrill on their selections for North Island teams to compete against the South Island at the Keene Range in Petone on Saturday 17 August.

Wellington had a very close match against Canterbury in the final round of the NDC competition, taking the win with 8 points to Canterbury’s 7 points.  Both teams scored a bonus point, Wellington’s thanks to Meredith Ackrill’s 200.12, and the best overall score went to Canterbury who finished a mere two points ahead of Wellington.  Wellington’s open, junior and total scores were their best this season.  As well as Meredith’s 200, a number of other 100s were recorded by Brooklyn members Mark Riley (new PB 100.8), David Grain 100.8 and Bex Gibbs 100.5.  Wellington have finished in 6^th position in Division 1 and therefore retain their spot in Division 1 for the 2020 season.

Six Brooklyn shooters travelled to Palmerston North on Saturday to compete in the Manawatu Open Champs.  Evan Little shot best with 295.18, a few inners ahead of Meredith Ackrill on 295.13, while Dianne Grain and David Grain decided 290 was the score to get (Dianne 290.10, David 290.11, then Dianne’s  re-entry 290.12).

A reminder to ensure you communicate any issues on the range with the range officer.  These may be a rifle malfunction, a misfire resulting in a need for a replacement bullet, a crossfire to another shooter’s target, or an overload on your own target.  The range officer will provide instructions as to what you need to do which could save losing more points than necessary.

Attached is a nomination form for those wishing to be considered for selection for the Wellington team to compete in the BSA match against other New Zealand and United Kingdom teams.  The Wellington team will shoot at 1pm on Sunday 31 August at the Levin range on UK targets.  Nominations close at 5pm on Sunday 4 August.  Please email nominations to bevnewton17@gmail.com.

Upcoming events:

• Wednesday 24 July, 8.00pm + 8.40pm, 2x10, Interassociation Juniors.  Team: Ethan Haigh, Cassie Truscott.  On call: Maia Lapointe.
• Wednesday 24 July, 8.15pm, 1x20, Interassociation Open.  Team: Meredith Ackrill, Evan Little.  Emergency: David Grain.  On call: Mark Baines, Dianne Grain.
• Saturday 27 July, Levin Club Open Champs.
• Thursday 1 August, Round 5 interclub, B Grade and Open Grade, teams named next Monday.
• Saturday 3 August, 2pm, Triangular B, Junior and Women’s match, teams named next Monday.
• Sunday 4 August, 1pm, National Indoor Champs.
• Sunday 4 August, Round 3 Triple S deadline.
• Sunday 4 August, 5pm, BSA Match nominations close.

Only two inners separated Bex Gibbs and Meredith Ackrill for top spot in the 20-shot competition (194.12 and 194.10 respectively) and they both recorded 97.6 in the 10-shot competition.  Mark Baines scored highest in A Grade with 98.1, while Dianne Grain’s 98.6 was best in B  Grade.  In C Grade Emily Lockery was top shot with 93.2 and the best four in D Grade this week were Ethan Haigh 95.3, Jaz Hamilton 94.1, Mike Williams 93.3 and Josh Whitehead 91.4, while Seth Smith, Finn Ashby and Ryan Day all scored 90s.

An excellent result for Brooklyn in Round 4 of the interclub competition, with both teams recording wins.  Top shot in the C Grade team was Stephen Thessman with 97.3 followed by Cassie Truscott 95.3 and Ethan Haigh 95.2 – great shooting!  Dianne Grain top-scored in the B Grade team with 97.1, while Erin Little and Craig Fair both scored 96.4.  Round 5 is on Thursday 1 August, involving B Grade and Open Grade (C Grade have a bye in this round).

Thirteen Brooklyn members competed at, and assisted with running, the Wellington Open Champs last weekend, while another six also came along to help during our club’s rostered time.  Many thanks to all for ensuring things ran so smoothly.  Congratulations to the following shooters on their achievements:

• Stephen Thessman – 1^st D Grade plus top Wellington D Grader
• Meredith Ackrill – top Wellington Master Grader plus top Wellington woman plus shot in Final 10
• Erin Little – 2^nd B Grade plus top Wellington B Grader plus new PB of 100.8 plus qualified for Final 10
• David Grain – top Wellington veteran
• Ethan Haigh – 3^rd D Grade plus new PB of 95.4 followed by newer PB of 96.4
• Bex Gibbs – shot in Final 10
• Finn Ashby – new PB of 94.1
• Bex Gibbs, Mark Baines, Erin Little – 3^rd in the teams competition

It’s great to see so many taking the initiative to ensure targets are prepared and changed, and marking is undertaken.  Please consider having a go at range officering as well, particularly for Squad 5 to enable senior members to shoot their cards while coaches from Squads 1 to 4 prepare their equipment.

Upcoming events:

• Thursday 18 July, 7.30pm, Round 5 NDC.
• Saturday 20 July, Manawatu Open Champs.
• Sunday 21 July, Round 4 closed champs deadline.
• Wednesday 24 July, 8.00pm + 8.40pm, 2x10, Interassociation Juniors.  Team: Ethan Haigh, Cassie Truscott.  On call: Maia Lapointe.
• Wednesday 24 July, 8.15pm, 1x20, Interassociation Open.  Team: Meredith Ackrill, Evan Little.  Emergency: David Grain.  On call: Mark Baines, Dianne Grain.
• Saturday 27 July, Levin Club Open Champs.

Congratulations to Jaz Hamilton on his new PB of 94.1.  The top five D Graders this week were Stephen Thessman 97.3, Jaz Hamilton 94.1, Ethan Haigh 93.1, Maia Lapointe 92.2 and Seth Smith 90.2.  The close contest continues in B Grade with only an inner separating Erin Little and Dianne Grain (97.4 and 97.3 respectively).  David Grain had the best A Grade score this week of 99.6, while Bex Gibbs’ 99.4 was highest in Master Grade.  Bex Gibbs and Meredith Ackrill recorded the top 20-shot scores this week, both achieved in the Interassociation Women’s match.

The Interassociation A Grade and C Grade matches were held on Monday.  Scores were similar or slightly lower than in previous years.

At the halfway point of the closed champs competition, Meredith Ackrill and Bex Gibbs are 2^nd and 3^rd in Master Grade, both A Grade and B Grade are tightly contested with only a point or two between the top three – Evan Little and Erin Little are 3^rd in their respective grades, Casey Israelson holds onto the lead in C Grade while Inge Little is 3^rd, and in D Grade Stephen Thessman has a four-point lead ahead of Cassie Truscott in 2^nd place.  Casey Israelson and Cassie Truscott are currently 2^nd and 3^rd in the junior competition, David Grain is 2^nd in the veterans section, and Meredith Ackrill has a good lead in the women’s competition.  The deadline for Round 4 targets is Sunday 21 July.

The Interassociation Women’s team score was their best to date.  Bex Gibbs scored a phenomenal 200.11 while Meredith Ackrill also had a great night with 198.11.  Full results will be available in September.

The Wellington Open Champs are being held on Friday and Saturday.  Brooklyn are rostered to run this event from 10am until 1pm Saturday.  Thanks to those who have indicated their availability to assist – a roster will be emailed in the next couple of days, so please ensure you check your emails again.  If you are using club equipment and wish to compete in the champs, please email me before 12 noon Tuesday so that your equipment is accessible.  This is a great opportunity to gain competition experience and also to support your own association.

Upcoming events:

• Tuesday 9 July, Round 4 interclub.  C Grade, 7.45pm, 1x10.  B Grade, 8.15pm, 1x10.
• Friday 12 / Saturday 13 July, Wellington Open Champs.
• Thursday 18 July, Round 5 NDC.  Team to be named Monday 15 July.
• Saturday 20 July, Manawatu Open Champs.
• Sunday 21 July, Round 4 closed champs deadline.
• Wednesday 24 July, 8.00pm + 8.40pm, 2x10, Interassociation Juniors.  Team to be named Monday 15 July.
• Wednesday 24 July, 8.15pm, 1x20, Interassociation Open.  Team to be named Monday 15 July.