The weather on Saturday afternoon was threatening. However, our intrepid captain predicted heavy rain at our normal commencement time. So we waited patiently until the rain had passed before heading to the 700 yard mound for the first stage of the Spring Cup monthly competition, which is to be fired over 700, 800, 900, and 300 yards. Although the rain had cleared, there was a treacherous northerly wind that played havoc with the projectiles over the tricky 700 yard distance. Nick Abrahall blitzed the field in Target Rifle with a fine pair of 49’s/50 to win the Grafton ShoppingWorld Butchery Off-Rifle trophy, and went on to win the Daily Aggregate as well. In F-Class, Nick DeBellis matched Abrahall’s effort in taking out both the Off-Rifle and Daily Aggregate as well, when he finished on a very solid 58/60 to count out John Black (Off-Rifle honours), and jumped away from John Bloomer by three points in the Daily Aggregate. As reported last week, John and Sue Bloomer travelled to the two day Goondiwindi Open Prize meeting where they performed quite well. Their efforts can be summarised quite briefly. John won the most money, and for this honour he had to take Sue out for dinner during the week. At the time of writing, the NSW Queens Shoot being held at Malabar (Sydney) is just one match away from completion with ten shooters all within one point of each other over the three days of competition. Obviously this is going to make for a very interesting finish. Unfortunately, our club’s only entry, Dennis Hilton is not among those front runners, but with a hot field such as this one, that would be a very big ask. Next week we will be shooting from the more friendly 800 yard distance for the second stage of the Spring Cup. The afternoon competition commences at 1pm. The range is located at 434 Trenayr Road opposite the Koppers log mill and adjacent to the Experiment Farm, where visitors and new members are always welcome. Anthony O’Keeffe