Practice Makes Perfect at Least that's the Objective

ECDRA wins the Chas Hayes memorial 2017 pennant.

East Central District Rifle Association team won both the final round and the overall Chas Hayes memorial 2017 pennant on Saturday.

The final round of this long range pennant was shot over two stages at 800 yards on the Karramomus Range. Going into the final round it was the ECDRA team and the Shepparton / Natalia team who were both on equal points so all interest was focused on these two teams.

The conditions were far from ideal the blustery North Westerly wind was due to change however nobody was prepared to the 50 to 60 kph winds that scythed through the range just after 3:00pm changing the wind to a West - South Westerly. Shooters on average that had to shoot in these conditions dropped 5 - 6 points.

Matt Frazer led the ECDRA team off with 59.4 (1.6 points off a best score while David Black (Australian Team Member) led for Shepparton/Natalia with a 49.5 (1.5 points of best score). This set the pattern until ECDRA Des Coulter shot a brilliant 60.6 (0.4 off a best score). If there was any doubt about how serious the match was this Des's shoot put all doubts aside.

On the first stage only Katandra's P O'Dwyer 50.6, Nagambie's S Fella 50.5, C Warnie 60.4 and J Melbourne outstanding 60.7 could equal Des's score. All with possibles (The highest score possible)

As stage 2 started there was nothing in the match. Matt again lead off with a 59.5 while David Black shot a maximum 50.6 and it was the Karramomus team who hit their straps with P Betts and P Daldy both shooting 50.8 and Shepparton/Nathalia's Robert Stuart a 50. For the ECDRA Vaughn Murphy shot, a mind boggling, 60.9 with an incredible vertical spread of just 102mm for his 10 scoring shots.

Vaughn Murphy ( foreground shooter on the grass) at 800 yards drawing a fine bead as he shots his way to a brilliant 60.9 ( just 0.1 off a perfect score) under the very watchful attention off coach Geoff James, seated on the left. The little green computers with “ears” are the shooters monitors for the Hex System Electronic targets. The E Targets have transformed the sport.

To top it off Des Coulter shot a 60.5 the only shooter to shoot the maximum score possible on the day. This sealed the win for the ECDRA with a handicap score of 619 just 5 points ahead of Shepparton /Natalia 614 points. Karramomus finished in third on 587, Nagambie 485 and Katandra 121.

The overall pennant result being decided by ECDRA's win with a tally of 14 points over the three rounds; followed by Shepparton Nathalia on 13 points; Nagambie 8 points; Karramomus 7 points; Katandra 3 points.

A feature of the ECDRA team all year has been their consistency and their ability to shoot to their handicap. Credit must also go to Captain Marty Kelly in the way he led the team and to the coaches Geoff James, Graeme Kerr and Marty Kelly a great effort by all and especially for Geoff as he applied over 60 years experience to gain the position of head coach. Geoff will be 82 next birthday and Norm Lienhan over 85 showing age is no barrier.

ECDRA individual scores were: Top scorer for both ECDRA and overall on the day Des Coulter 60.6, 60.5 = 120.11, Vaughan Murphy 58.6, 60.9 = 118.15 Matt Frazer 58.4, 59.5 = 117.9, Marty Kelly 57.3, 59.4 = 116.7, Graeme Kerr 58.3, 58.3 = 116.6, Neal Hambridge 56.1, 57.3 = 113.4, Paul Watkins 56.4, 56.2 = 112.6, Norm Lienhan 57.4, 55.3 = 112.6, David Wallace 58.3, 52.2 = 110.5 and Geoff James 56.3, 51 = 107.3. Special thanks to Rosco Davis for keeping the scores all day, Brain Houlihan who came to support the team and for the return to the range the club President Robert Chaffe.

It was the first time Robert has been on the range this year due a serious medical condition. Over the traditional cuppa with a delicious spread of afternoon tea, Robert was given a very warm welcome back with best wishes that he may be back shooting soon.

With the pennant season rapped up with a victory to ECDRA the conversation moved to the State Champions of Champions Match held on the State Range at Bendigo that Matt (F class open) and Marty (F class standard) will contest for the ECDRA as well as the State Team championship where the ECDRA will contest the 5 shooter F class Standard Team and a 5 shooter F Open Team competition.

On a lighter note the Spring Dragon Diesel Challenge ( Deer Hunters Vs Target shooters) is on on Saturday October 14, this fun day is not to be missed and is just what the ECDRA team need as a break and chance to get their gear in perfect order for the Sate titles.

Second Place for ECDRA in the Chas Hayes Long Range Pennant. The first loss of a match for the 2017 season.

East Central District Rifle Association Team was a close second to Shepparton Natalia. The second round of the Chas Hayes Memorial Long Range Pennant shoot was over 900 yards at the Karramomus range on Saturday 26 August.   The final scores were Shepparton/ Nathalia 605, ECDRA 601, Nagambie 589, Karramomus 588 and Katandra 357. Although Kantandra were down 2 shooters eliminating there chances no matter how well the other team members shot. The competition now all hangs on the last round, to be shot in September, with ECDRA and Shepparton Nathalia on top with 9 points, Nagambie 6 points, Karramomus 4 points and Katandra 2 points. 

Round two on Saturday started under leaden skies with a light but fickle fish tailing winds from behind the shooters. The conditions play a vital part when shooting 900 yards and they certainly foxed the shooters and their coaches in the first stage.  Scores were down on average and there were "odd shots" appearing out of the normal shooters group. The ECDRA team were looking at the first stage scores and there was a determination to improve their scores for the second stage. It was Graeme Kerr with a 58.2 who broke the jinx and the team rallied on the second stage with all shooters improving their scores. New shooter David Wallace top scored for the ECDRA with a 59.  David also top scored off-rifle for the ECDRA with 115.3 and also on handicap with 124.

Above Marty Kelly Club Captain Preparing to Shoot the Second Range.

The consistency off the team again was the strength that kept them in in the competition with only 3 points off-rifle separating the first and last member of the team. Three of the top members of the ECDRA shot above their handicap.A good effort by all but not quite good enough to match the great shooting of the Shepparton Nathalia team on the day.  Gary Thomas, from Nagambie, had the best range score for the day 50.7 just 0.3 off a perfect score for target rifle. 

The warm Club House, the very welcome afternoon tea and cuppa were again a hit with all the shooters.  It was a very different feeling for our local team as this is the first pennant match they have lost in 2017. This focused commitment and determination the determination to win the third and final match of the Chas Hayes pennant to be shot over 800 yards on the 23 September 2017.  Based on the team’s past performance every member will be doing their best and we wish them well.

Mother Nature Wins

David and Marty blow them away at 900 yards /Get blown away at 900 yrds

Marty Kelly, the ECDRA captain, despite the wind took out 2nd place overall in F Class Standard A grade. David Wallace, one of the East Central District Rifle Association new shooters, took 2nd place overall F class standard B grade at the Wodonga picnic shoot on Saturday.

Above Marty Kelly preparing to shoot the final Range.

The Wodonga shoot is triple jeopardy, as it is shot over 900 yards in three stages. On Saturday the extreme range was made even more challenging with a very strong wind changing to a fickle wind then back again. At one stage there was complete silence as the shooters waited to see if the wind would change again as it had changed direction by about 180 degrees. The silence was broken by a shot from ECDRA's Graeme Kerr. Graeme had been challenged by an electronic malfunction earlier in the stage and decided he had nothing to loose so he backed his judgement, the result was an almost dead centre shot. The rest of the field slowly followed suit and the match was back on in earnest.

A feature of the shoot is the outstanding hospitality, hot donuts for morning tea followed by a great lunch and hot donuts again for afternoon tea. Just the thing on a cold spring day when the conditions made shooting very tough for even the very best shooters.

Back at Violet Town things were no better with that Violet Town tormenting wind! The other contingent of the ECDRA were shooting at 600 yards, close to the warmth of the Club House with access to a hot drink. The evidence of the fickle nature of the wind was the way the shots were stretched across the centre of the target, some well outside the maximum scoring zone! 

All were very vocal about how to deal with the wind as they packed up and sat down for the afternoon tea chat. Soon the conversation shifted to next week's shoot, the final round of the Chas Hayes memorial long range pennant. The recent good experience at Horsham and the day's experience were just what is needed to get the team in the best condition. If they had know what was going on up at Wodonga these shooters would have been even more pleased. We can but hope that all this practice pays off as the main thing is that the local team beat the Shepparton/Natalia team as they both go into the final with equal match points. We wish our local team all the best.

A Relaxing shoot for ECDRA at Violet Town

The East Central District Rifle Association marksmen had a relaxing day on Saturday at the Violet Town Shooting Complex.  Well the sun was shining, the pressure of completion was off and that VT wind was up to its fickle best! A Keen Visitor  came along to see what this precision long range target shooting was all about,  the last time he had used a centre fire rifle was while doing Nation Service in the 1970’s.  With the assistance of some very experienced wind coaches he proved that he had remembered quite a bit about shooting and posted not only a good score but a very nice group showing that he has the potential to be quite proficient at this sport. Best of all he had a very enjoyable afternoon. Yes, there was much muttering about this Violet Town wind and by the end off the day most agreed that VT actually stood for very tricky. Geoff James took off the top score for the day with 111.4 and was please to get that.

Rosso Davis was the shooter who was "on song" after a fair bit of fiddle with his telescopic rail. At 600 yards Rosco managed to place all his scoring shots in a slot 104mm high, his recorded score of 51.3 does not tell the best part of his day on the range. A spectacular group that the Very Tricky wind literally blew apart.

Others took the chance to try new loads and different disciplines including F class Target Rifle, one of the most challenging of all the disciplines. By the time the range was packed up and it was time for a cuppa everyone was very pleased with their day on the range with notebooks full of information that will help in the next two rounds of the long range championships, the Sate Team Championships and the State Champion of Champions competition.  The ECDRA team and individual champions have a very good chance in all these competitions and today's shoot has given just that little more information that will help them do their best on the day. 

Wangarrata Charity Shoot Raises $5847 for Cancer Research

The East Central District Rifle Association members this week made the trip to the Wangaratta rifle range at Glenrowan for the charity shoot to raise funds for cancer research.  Shooters from all over North Central, Northern Country and North east Victoria gathered at Glenrowan for a charity shoot over 300, 500 and 600 metres.  The weather was not kind as it took a turn away from Spring to a very wintery day with showers and a very fickle wind that dropped out only to suddenly appear again.  The shooters were looking forward to the blue skies of the previous few days took it all in their stride and really enjoyed the day and the generous hospitality of the Wangaratta rifle Club.

The ECDRA winners L to R Graeme Kerr 1st 500 yards F standard A grade, Marty Kelly Standard B Grade 2nd Overall and David Wallace F Standard B Grade winner overall.

So it came as a very pleasant surprise to find that $5846.85 had been raised for cancer research.  With ECDRA’s president, Robert Chaffe, one of the recent casualties of this dreaded condition there was a real personal interest in the cause and an incentive to shoot well.  Marty Kelly took second place overall in F standard A grade and David Wallace took first place overall in F Standard B grade.  Graeme Kerr, not to left out of the prizes, had a stage win at 500yards.  Rodger King, Neal Hambridge and new shooter Brian Houlihan all found the conditions very testing as they struggled with the subtle changes in light and wind, although they still managed some good shooting.  The shooters all voted it a great day out, and there was a big thank you to Wangaratta for organizing the shoot.

Next week some ECDRA members may make it to the Prize shoot at Horsham while others will be at Violet Town to get some practice in before the Wodonga Long Range Picnic shoot the following week (the 16th) and the final stage of the Chas Hays pennant on the 23.  New shooters are most welcome. You may also wish to view the YouTube video "East Central District Rifle Association" 

ECDRA VS Shepparton Nathalia Gold Round Four

The East Central District Rifle Association met the Shepparton Nathalia Gold team at the Violet town range to contest the fourth round of the McAuliffe Shield last Saturday over 500 and 600 yards. Saturday was the winters day we all have been waiting for, no fog, bright clear sunlight and a gentle breeze what a great day for a target shooting match.

Well all was not as it seemed.  After the first few shots were fired it was clear that the gusting breeze was “cold and heavy” pushing the projectiles in every direction.  That Violet Town wind!  It was only ECDRA’s Roger King who came through with the top score of 60.3 on the first stage at 500 yards that kept the hope of four wins in a row for our local ECDRA team.  The wind coaches were scratching their heads and there was an improvement at the next 500 yard stage with ECDRA’s David Wallace shooting 60.3 and M Tinkler and Jason li from Shepparton Nathalia Gold shooting 60.4 and 60.6 respectively.  As the teams moved back to the final stage at the 600 yard range it was clear the match would be decided on this range and the pressure was on.  Jason Li continued his good form from 500 and shot a 60.4 ( top scoring for the day with 177.11 out of 180 points) and ECDRA’s Marty Kelly shot 60.3 to get things going.

It was the ECDRA team’s consistency that finally got them through as winners with 896 out of 900 to Shepparton Nathalia Gold 876.  The ECDRA scores (adjusted for handicap) were Matt Frazer (top score) with 180 out of 180  followed by Roger King 180, David Wallace 180, Vaughan Murphy 179, Des Coulter 177, Marty Kelly 175, Graeme Kerr 174, Geoff James 169, Neal Hambridge 169 and Richard Godden (who only shot one range) 50.1.  Over a hot cuppa at afternoon tea much was said about the impact of the wind that came from behind and the great difficulty in working out the sight adjustment  needed to keep the shot in the middle of the target.  The warm cuppa and a good trip home did not dampen the enthusiasm as emails continued to be exchanged well into Sunday afternoon.  Now that the marksmen can get accurate plots of their shots electronically and also see other shot plots of fellow shooters the conversations are based on the objective record that places the shot with millimetre precision on the target.  No room now for extravagant claims.  Neal Hambridge was the sad story for the day, his perfectly executed shot (a 6) landed on the wrong target - with the instant loss of six points, these six points would have put the match in no doubt at all as the team would have shot 899 out of 900.  That a Flagon of Spirits that Neal has to shout the club according to tradition.