SSAA Sydney Branch Initial 5-Stand Shoot
24-25 October 2009

The SSAA Sydney branch staged a highly successful 5-Stand shoot at their Malabar (Anzac) Range on October 24 and 25. Under the leadership of local shotgunner Michael Vella, fellow local members planned and worked hard to ensure an enjoyable and successful shoot for more than 40 competitors who attended each day.

Using the 100m Benchrest Range, which has a reduced danger area template and a reduced shotgun arc that restricts the angles at which the clay targets could be thrown, SSAA shotgun trailer manager Greg Allen carefully placed seven traps around the 5-Stand layout. These traps presented an excellent variety of targets that remained within the reduced shotgun arc and avoided the out-of-bounds area on either side of the 5-Stand layout. With a mixture of experienced and beginner 5-Stand shooters present, the variety of targets offered everyone some interesting and challenging targets. At the beginning of each day, competitors were briefed by range manager Don Brooke on the safety requirements when using the range. With only one 5-Stand layout, organisers were kept busy catering for the squads of shooters, who were eager to pit their shotgunning skills against the targets presented to them.

The weather was perfect on Saturday, with the results after 50 targets being:

AA Grade: Grant Powell (Sydney) 44

A Grade: Greg Allen (Griffith) 44, Andrew Webb (Bathurst) 42, Harry Webster (Sydney) 37

B Grade: Jon Lloyd (Sydney) 41, Stuart Dawes (Sydney) 38, Richard Thompson (Sydney) 37

C Grade: Frank Araco (Sydney) 37, Robert Briscas (Sydney) 37, Bill Summers (Sydney) 32

Veterans: Warren Brown (Griffith) 41, Doug Brenton (Sydney) 37, Jim Cain (Sydney) 34

Ladies: Amy Buys (Gosford) 36, Joy Gyic (Sydney) after a shootoff with Helen Kingsford (Sydney) 13

Juniors: Darcy Chuctic (Sydney) 27

The weather was fine on Sunday morning, but a storm developed later in the day and the shoot concluded in the rain. The results of Sunday's shooting was:

A Grade: Andrew Webb (Bathurst) 41, Ralph Ali (Sydney) 37, Steve Newcombe (Sydney) 26

C Grade: Terrence Burgess (Sydney) 30, Brent Supprain (Sydney) 29, Paris James (Sydney) 27

Ladies: Amy Buys (Gosford) 37, Helen Kingsford (Sydney) 10

Juniors: Michael Burgess (Sydney) 21

The Overall High Gun winner for both days was Grant Powell (Sydney) with an excellent score of 86/100.

The SSAA Sydney branch wishes to acknowledge the generous support provided to this shoot by sponsors Safari Firearms, Bankstown Gun Shop, Joe Camilleri Custom Stocks and EXPRESS Cartridges. Also contributing to the success of the shoot were the range officers from SSAA Sydney who managed the administration of the shoot, nominations and scores, as well as providing a delicious barbecue and refreshments during the weekend. Members of the local Navy Rifle Club generously lent some marquees and equipment and the use of their facilities. These all contributed to a very successful 5-Stand shoot, of which SSAA Sydney looks forward to hosting more of in the future.