Easter Prize Meeting 2023
The South West DRA enthusiastically hosted the 2023 Easter Prize Meeting, the first since 2021 due to COVID-19.
Despite the effects of rising costs of fuel and shortages of reloading components, 51 competitors took part over the three days of shooting which covered Service Rifle, Target Rifle, all branches of F Class and Sporter/Hunter.
The structure of the weekend is unique, in that while the Program consists of the Friday being a stand alone shoot for TR, F Class and Sporter/Hunter, it is also the first of a two-day competition for Service Rifle competitors. Ranges over the two days are confined to 500m and 600m.
Saturday serves both as the opening of the two day SWDRA OPM and the second and final day for the Service shooters. Sunday's program completes the SWDRA Championships, and is fired over 800 and 900m.
CRO Wayne Oldfield was in charge of proceedings, which ran smoothly as shooters have come to expect under his supervision.
Despite the effects of rising costs of fuel and shortages of reloading components, 51 competitors took part over the three days of shooting which covered Service Rifle, Target Rifle, all branches of F Class and Sporter/Hunter.
The structure of the weekend is unique, in that while the Program consists of the Friday being a stand alone shoot for TR, F Class and Sporter/Hunter, it is also the first of a two-day competition for Service Rifle competitors. Ranges over the two days are confined to 500m and 600m.
Saturday serves both as the opening of the two day SWDRA OPM and the second and final day for the Service shooters. Sunday's program completes the SWDRA Championships, and is fired over 800 and 900m.
CRO Wayne Oldfield was in charge of proceedings, which ran smoothly as shooters have come to expect under his supervision.
Coolilup Cup
The Coolilup Cup is shot on Good Friday, and consists of two 10-shot applications over 500m followed by one application at 600m.
A strong field took to the mounds, with 5 disciplines taking part. Conditions were slightly overcast, providing good sighting for most of the day. The prevailing wind in the morning was from the East, ie, left to right on the South facing Coolilup Range. Relatively benign at first, the wind presented shooters with more difficult conditions as it vacillated before becoming more southerly. Those who read the conditions better generally found themselves benefitting on the score board.
The winner of the Target Rifle discipline wins the long-standing Coolilup Cup. The 2023 winner was Mark Milentis of the Manjimup Club with an aggregate of 150.21, having gone clean for the day.
Other Discipline winners were:
TR Div 2: Michael Green (Mundaring)
F Standard: Neil Yates ( Busselton-Bunbury) 178.13
F Standard A: Cathy Keogh (Beverley)
F Open: Jack Redman (Busselton-Bunbury) 179.20;
F/TR: Roger Brown (Waroona) 176.15;
Sporter/Hunter: Simon McGorlick (Busselton-Bunbury) 150.24.
A strong field took to the mounds, with 5 disciplines taking part. Conditions were slightly overcast, providing good sighting for most of the day. The prevailing wind in the morning was from the East, ie, left to right on the South facing Coolilup Range. Relatively benign at first, the wind presented shooters with more difficult conditions as it vacillated before becoming more southerly. Those who read the conditions better generally found themselves benefitting on the score board.
The winner of the Target Rifle discipline wins the long-standing Coolilup Cup. The 2023 winner was Mark Milentis of the Manjimup Club with an aggregate of 150.21, having gone clean for the day.
Other Discipline winners were:
TR Div 2: Michael Green (Mundaring)
F Standard: Neil Yates ( Busselton-Bunbury) 178.13
F Standard A: Cathy Keogh (Beverley)
F Open: Jack Redman (Busselton-Bunbury) 179.20;
F/TR: Roger Brown (Waroona) 176.15;
Sporter/Hunter: Simon McGorlick (Busselton-Bunbury) 150.24.
Service Rifle Championship
Despite there only being a field of four in this year's Service Rifle competition, the top scorers produced noteworthy results.
Shot in conjunction with the Coolilup Cup and the first day of the SWDRA Prize Meeting meant that the service shooters fired 70 shots over 500m and 600m.
In the end, there were only 4 points separating the winner, Julien Davey from his Busselton-Bunbury team mate Rod Davis.
Shot in conjunction with the Coolilup Cup and the first day of the SWDRA Prize Meeting meant that the service shooters fired 70 shots over 500m and 600m.
In the end, there were only 4 points separating the winner, Julien Davey from his Busselton-Bunbury team mate Rod Davis.
South West DRA Open Championship - 2023
Fifty one shooters lined up for the two-day South West DRA Championship shoot, which was held over Easter Saturday and Sunday.
Possibly reflecting a growing trend, the Sporter/Hunter group provided the largest discipline on the mound, with significant growth since the last shoot in 2021.
Conditions were as described above for pretty much both days, providing shooters with enough variation to be challenging, but thankfully, any possibility of rain held off so that the whole of the meeting was in dry and pleasant weather.
The South West DRA has the good fortune of having two very supportive and active Patrons; local Federal member of Parliament, Nola Marino, and former State Upper House President, Barry House. Both are locals, born and bred in the South West. Their presence at our shoot and presentations is always appreciated.
Detailed results can be accessed below. In Summary, the Winners and Badge recipients were:
Target Rifle: Mark Milentis (Manjimup) 370.45 (1st Badge); Molly Craigie (Yarloop) 366.36 (2nd Badge); Tyler Jeffery (Albany) 365.29 (3rd Badge).
F Standard: Neil Yates (Busselton-Bunbury) 442.32 (1st Badge); Bruce Lloyd (Bassendean-Bellevue) 434.26 (2nd Badge).
F Open: Brad Day (Busselton-Bunbury) 444.34 (1st Badge); Martin Viviers (Esperance) 443.32 (2nd Badge).
F/TR: Roger Brown (Waroona) 439.33 (1st Badge)
Sporter/Hunter: Brett Merritt (Bsn-Bun) 370.37 (1st Badge); Brett Boneham (Perth-Fremantle) 369.38 (2nd Badge); Charlie Mitchell (Bsn-Bun) 366.36 (3rd Badge); Mike Bradshaw (Bsn-Bun) 363.30 (4th Badge).
Possibly reflecting a growing trend, the Sporter/Hunter group provided the largest discipline on the mound, with significant growth since the last shoot in 2021.
Conditions were as described above for pretty much both days, providing shooters with enough variation to be challenging, but thankfully, any possibility of rain held off so that the whole of the meeting was in dry and pleasant weather.
The South West DRA has the good fortune of having two very supportive and active Patrons; local Federal member of Parliament, Nola Marino, and former State Upper House President, Barry House. Both are locals, born and bred in the South West. Their presence at our shoot and presentations is always appreciated.
Detailed results can be accessed below. In Summary, the Winners and Badge recipients were:
Target Rifle: Mark Milentis (Manjimup) 370.45 (1st Badge); Molly Craigie (Yarloop) 366.36 (2nd Badge); Tyler Jeffery (Albany) 365.29 (3rd Badge).
F Standard: Neil Yates (Busselton-Bunbury) 442.32 (1st Badge); Bruce Lloyd (Bassendean-Bellevue) 434.26 (2nd Badge).
F Open: Brad Day (Busselton-Bunbury) 444.34 (1st Badge); Martin Viviers (Esperance) 443.32 (2nd Badge).
F/TR: Roger Brown (Waroona) 439.33 (1st Badge)
Sporter/Hunter: Brett Merritt (Bsn-Bun) 370.37 (1st Badge); Brett Boneham (Perth-Fremantle) 369.38 (2nd Badge); Charlie Mitchell (Bsn-Bun) 366.36 (3rd Badge); Mike Bradshaw (Bsn-Bun) 363.30 (4th Badge).