A number of club members scored particularly well last week (3 March).  Of note Meredith Ackrill 195.9, Evan Little 98.6, Mark Baines 98.5 and Erin Little 97.3.

Our new shooters are taking on board coaches’ comments and putting these into practice well.  This week the emphasis was on the two-stage trigger, shot release and follow through.  Top shots on the rest were Lauchie Grahame 88.1, Ryan Day 85.2, Maia Lapointe 84.1, Finn Ashby 82.1 and Cassie Truscott 80.0.

The first of the 2019 open championships is being held at the Colyton Range (Manawatu) on Saturday 6 April.  It is hoped that many club members will take part in the various open champs held throughout the season.  These provide a good level of graded individual competition, enable shooters to have a go at many different ranges, and offer the opportunity to get to meet other people participating in our sport.

A reminder that the WSRA AGM is being held this Friday at 7.30pm.  There are two vacant positions on the Executive, so if you are keen to be involved, please put your name forward at the AGM.

Our club AGM will be held at 7.30pm on Sunday 24 March followed by club competition shooting.  The membership fees will be set at the AGM – prompt payment in the next few weeks following the AGM would be appreciated.

Attached is the TSNZ membership form.  If you haven’t already done so, could you please fill this in and bring it to the club or email it to me.  Please do not email your form to TSNZ or pay the membership fee direct to TSNZ – Brooklyn club will organise a bulk payment for all members.

The club competition commences next week.  Please advise if you are not returning this year, so that the scoreboard can be as accurate as possible.

And finally, don’t forget to wipe your club rifle down with an oily rag before leaving each evening to ensure the rifle is kept in the best possible condition.

Upcoming events:

• Friday 15 March, 7.30pm, WSRA AGM.
• Sunday 17 March, 6.30pm, introduction programme, followed by club competition commencing at 7.30pm.
• Friday 22 March, deadline for Teams of Ten nominations.
• Sunday 24 March, 6.30pm, final week of introduction programme
• Sunday 24 March, 7.30pm, BSRC AGM, followed by club competition.

A good start to the season with approximately 30 people at the club yesterday.  Our new shooters quickly picked up the basics and scored well, particularly Martin Browne 89.1 and Cassie Truscott 81.1.

It was a great opportunity to refit our growing younger members into gear as well as our more senior members, some of whom have found their jackets have shrunk over the Christmas period J.

Once again we have a good spread across the grades this year which will provide healthy competition for a place in interclub teams, and the all-important Osmond Shield and Wright Cup matches towards the end of the season.

You should have received a short while ago an email regarding the Teams of Ten match (also called Rees Scroll), this year being held at the Masterton range.  The Wellington Executive will determine how many teams Wellington enters in this match following the nomination close-off date of 22 March.  If you are interested in taking part in this exciting match, one of the highlights on the shooting calendar, please ensure your form is emailed back to me as soon as possible.  Give it a go!  It’s a great weekend away with the opportunity to meet shooters from all around the North Island.

A couple of quick notes:

• Meredith Ackrill completed the South Island leg of the Te Araroa Trail over the summer months, I understand a distance of approximately 1400 kilometres – a fantastic achievement!
• Welcome back to Mark Baines and Bex Gibbs and congratulations to Bex on completing her microbiology degree last year
• Dianne and David Grain are feeling a little older now, having become grandparents in January to Adeline Grain – congratulations to Michael and Alex and fingers crossed you start getting some sleep soon
• Also welcome back to Stephen Thessman – Stephen made an extremely valuable contribution to club organisation last year and is now ready to shoot again
  

I’d be keen to hear what others have been doing during the summer break – I’m hoping the club can focus a little more on the social side of shooting this season and get to know each other better.

The WSRA AGM is being held at 7.30pm on Friday 15 March.  Please add the date to your calendar.

Don’t forget to wipe your club rifle down with an oily rag before leaving each evening (Meredith or Craig will show you what to do) to ensure the rifle is kept in the best possible condition.

Next week we’ll follow the same format as this week: introductory programme for new shooters at 6.30pm, followed by a practice session for current club members from 7.30pm onwards.  The club competition will commence on 17 March.

Upcoming events:

• Sunday 10 March, 6.30pm, introduction programme.  Assistance required from 6.00pm each Sunday.
• Sunday 10 March, 7.30pm, club practice session for current members.
• Friday 15 March, 7.30pm, WSRA AGM.
• Sunday 17 March, 6.30pm, introduction programme, followed by club competition commencing at 7.30pm.
• Friday 22 March, deadline for Teams of Ten nominations.
• Sunday 24 March, 6.30pm, final week of introduction programme, followed by club competition at 7.30pm.

The 2019 indoor shooting season begins on Sunday 3 March.

Please let me know if you are NOT returning to shooting this year.  This is particularly important if you are using club equipment so that we can determine the size of this year’s new shooter intake.  But also important to enable the scoreboard to be right for the start of the club competition.

The four-week introduction to shooting programme will be held over four squads at 6.30pm on the first four Sundays in March (3, 10, 17, 24).  There will be numerous tasks to do (meet and greet, entry money and forms, squadding, safety talk, ammo filling, target preparation and changing, coaching, range officering, marking, checking marking, talking with shooters and parents, collation of targets and forms).  We need as many people as possible to help run this programme, so please come along and assist.

Practice sessions will be available for current members from 7.30pm on 3 and 10 March and the club competition will commence on 17 March.

There will be a focus this season on self-analysis with on-range coaching offered for the first two squads only each evening after the completion of the introduction programme.  Shooters are encouraged to ask coaches questions off-range before, between and after their squads with a view to gaining a better understanding of how to score a good shot.  Coaching material is also available on the coaching noticeboard.

Members using club equipment will also be shown how to wipe down their rifle with an oily rag, and will be expected to do this before leaving each session, to keep the equipment in good condition.

A reminder that there will be a working bee at the range on Saturday 2 March, commencing at 10am.  Tasks involve replacing the butt boards, removing lead and stored iron, and a thorough cleaning of the range and men’s toilets.  The more helpers, the quicker the work will be completed.  Please take along any cleaning equipment or tools that would assist.

Upcoming events:

• Saturday 2 March, 10am, working bee.
• Sundays from 3 to 24 March, 6.30pm, introduction programme.  Assistance required from 6pm each Sunday.
• Sunday 4 March, 7.30pm, club practice session for 2019 members.
• Sunday 11 March, 7.30pm, club practice session for 2019 members.
• Friday 15 March, 7.30pm, WSRA AGM.
• Sunday 17 March, club competition commences.