The competition for the individual champion of champions in target rifle and F Class disciplines was contested over four matches at 300 metres, 600 yards, 700 yards and 800 metres. 

Conditions were good and scores were tight.  However, Wingham Rifle Club captain Jim Blackmore was unbeatable in target rifle, finishing with a total score of 197 and 16 centres.  Bruce Corven from Port Macquarie emerged the winner in the F Class division over Phil Costa from Wingham and Ray Nash from Port Macquarie. 

Both Blackmore and Corven have now qualified to challenge the individual champion of champions in other NSW Rifle Associations for outright State winner. 

This competition will take place at the Malabar Range in Sydney later in the year.

Next on the range were the team events in target rifle and F Class. The team events were shot over two ranges at 800 yards and 600 yards.

Teams for target rifle have five shooters while F Class shoot in pairs.

Wingham fielded an impressive four F Class teams and one target rifle  Among Wingham’s F Class pairs were two married couples and one father/son combination, demonstrating that target rifle is truly a family sport.

Once gain the Wingham target rifle team of Peter Thurtell, Lyndon Thurtell, Steve Southwell, Jim Blackmore and Mal McKenzie were successful while the F Class pair of Bruce Corven and Ray Nash from Port Macquarie succeeded in the F Class division.  

DRA matches were followed by a normal Wingham Rifle Club competition round at the 600-yard range.

The F Class B-grade shooters are chasing the A-grade boys with Ean Heaney and Duncan Robinson both recording higher off gun scores than any shooters in A-grade F Standard class. Duncan Robinson won the handicap event again so I’m sure the club handicapper will be looking closely at him.

There is no shooting at the club next week while members prepare the range and clubhouse for the annual Wingham Rifle Club open prize meeting held over the three days of the long weekend. 

The event will attract entries from all around the State and further. It is the biggest open prize shoot outside the “Queens” event in NSW.

Meanwhile Wingham Rifle Club’s Peter Thurtell will continue his quest to gain a berth in the Australian team for next year's Commonwealth Games with the final round selection round to be held June 19 and 20 in  Brisbane.

He gained a top 10 placing following the second round held earlier this year.