Our local East Central District Rifle Association Inc team won the last round of the McAuliffe Shield pennant series for 2017 last Saturday at the Karramomus Rifle range. The ECDRA scored 897 out of 900 on handicap while Karramomus scored 880 - the win making it 5 wins in a row for the ECDRA, well done.
The win puts the ECDRA team on the top of the ladder with 20 points, 8 points clear of the next team. The challenge for the offical scorer is who will meet our local ECDRA team in the finals as Karramomus and Nagambie both finished the peanut series with 12 points and depending on the results from the local derby between the two Shepparton Nathalia teams one of those teams may also finish with 12 points. 2017 has been one of the most hotly contested McAuliffe Shield pennants for many years as demonstrated by the teams who are contesting second place on the ladder, we await the decision of the offical scorer to see who will contest the finals. It was consistency that won the match for the ECDRA team with Geoff James and Marty Kelly the only shooters who shot the possible 60 out of 60 however there were a host of 59s and 58s. Captain Marty Kelly had his work cut out as both Graeme Kerr and Vaughan Murphy were absent and their extensive experience left a big hole in the wind coaches available on the day. The conditions were very good most of the time and as the day drew to a close poor light and a gusting wind were a real challenge. It was great to see Norm Linehan ( 81 years of age) step up and put in a good day on the other hand the light caught Rosco Davis out when he p[laced a shot on the wrong target. The hard luck story of they was Geoff James’ ( also 81 years off age) dropped 10 points on the first stage only to record a 57 then a 60 on the last two stages. Top Shots off-rifle were Matt Frazer 174.11 and Marty Kelly with 174.9, Matt took the top place with his 11 super centres to Marty’s 9, congratulations Matt. The handicap adjusted scores (out 0f 180 points) were: Mat Frazer 180, Marty Kelly 180, Rosco Davis 180,Norm Linehan 179, Neal Hambridge 178, Des Coulter 176, Geoff James 175 and Roger King 174. The hot topic of conversation over afternoon tea in the WARM club house was who is available for next weeks final shoot for the McAuliffe shield? The team(s) to meet the ECDRA team and the host Club/range have yet to be determined. ECDRA members will be contacted as soon as these are known. There will be no shooting at Violet Town Range next week. We wish our local team well as they strive to win the Shield for the 6th time in a row. Breaking News; the 2017 McAuliffe Shield final will be between ECDRA and Karramomus. Karramomus pipped Nagambie by 2 points to make the finals, it was a very closely contested pennant series! The location for the finals has not been determined yet.