7th Pacific Regional Shooting Championships – Scoped rifle 3P

by Graeme Smith, NZDA

Following the success of the World Benchrest Championships held at Nelsons Packer Creek Range, then NZDA National President Bill O’Leary invited Nelson Branch to conduct the 2018 PRSC on behalf of the Association.

PRSC is an event conducted 2 yearly between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia, with the option of other Pacific Nations to participate.  There are 5 disciplines in the program, conducted by 3 separate organisations.

 Benchrest Centrefire and Rimfire being conducted at the NZDA Nelson Range and Scoped Rifle (Centrefire and Rimfire) at the Tokoroa Shooting Complex by NZDA Members.  Metallic Silhouette (Rimfire, Hunter and Air) conducted by NZ Metallic Silhouette Association at Tokoroa and Service Rifle, a 300 Meter event hosted by NZ Service Rifle Association at NZDA Rotorua.

NZDA in conjunction with Sporting Shooters Association of Australia co-ordinates the events with Rules of Competition either the World Benchrest Federation, NRA of America and Sporting Shooters Association of Australia.

Graeme Smith from Nelson was requested to undertake the Administrative task of working with all concerned to deliver a Championship that the Association could be proud, but more importantly continue the close relationship between NZDA and SSAA.

Two weekends in November were reserved for the events, starting with Scoped Rifle – 3P, Metallic Silhouette and Service Rifle on the first weekend followed by the Benchrest Matches the second weekend.

Scoped Rifle, with a disappointing number of shooters, was first off with their matches held on the Tokoroa Shooting Complex. Day One was the Teams Match in Rimfire NRA using the well-established 3 Position format.

 

Scoped Rifle Rimfire 3P NRA – Teams

		Prone	Prone	Tot PR	Stand	Stand	Tot ST	Kneel	Kneel	Tot KN	Total
Brenda Perry	NZ A	198.15	198.09	396.24	187.06	186.05	373.11	195.11	195.06	390.17	1159.52
Bryn Blythen	NZ	200.13	196.1	396.23	182.03	192.05	374.08	192.02	193.06	385.08	1155.39
	A
Alex Payne	AUS A	193.06	193.06	386.12	181.02	185.02	366.04	180.02	179.03	359.05	1111.21
Matthew Boots	AUS	200.1	198.14	398.24	197.11	196.06	393.17	196.08	197.07	393.15	1184.56
	A
Matt Rogaloff	AUS	198.08	196.06	394.14	177.02	180.03	357.05	172.01	178.05	350.06	1101.25
	B
Andrew King	AUS	191.01	198.08	389.09	167	184.02	351.02	188.06	194.1	382.16	1122.27
	B

NZ Team of Brenda Perry and Bryn Blythen took Gold with Total of 2314.91 ahead of Australia A on 2295.77 and B on 2223.52

Day Two was a repeat of Day One but for the individual Medals. In conditions that were perfect for good shooting, sunny, warm and calm with the pressure was really on. The lead in the match was never certain, with the lead changing throughout the contest.

 

Scoped Rifle Rimfire 3P NRA – Individuals

		Prone	Prone	Tot PR	Stand	Stand	Tot SD	Kneel	Kneel	Tot KN	Total
Brenda Perry	NZL	200.18	200.15	400.33	180.02	183.02	363.04	198.08	198.08	396.16	1159.53
Ian McFetridge	NZL	198.12	200.11	398.23	180.03	189.03	369.06	195.03	187.02	382.05	1149.34
Bryn Blythen	NZL	198.12	200.16	398.28	187.04	188.02	375.06	193.08	197.09	390.17	1163.51
Alex Payne	AUS	188.02	196.07	384.09	180.02	178	358.02	182.02	188.05	370.07	1112.18
Matthew Boots	AUS	199.13	200.08	399.21	194.06	195.06	389.12	193.03	193.06	386.09	1174.42
Matt Rogaloff	AUS	194.06	195.09	389.15	183.03	172.01	355.04	182.04	186.04	368.08	1112.27
Andrew King	AUS	197.06	198.09	395.15	172.01	173.01	345.02	183	184.03	367.03	1107.2

PRSC Record holder Matthew Boots of Perth WA, lead home the pack with a top rank score of 1174.42. He was on to break his record but two below par Kneeling scores put paid to that.

The Final Day was for Centrefire 3 Position, with 20 shots in the Prone, Standing and Kneeling disciplines at 100 yards

Again, the weather conditions were near perfect for shooting and some great results were expected. Local top line shooter Brenda Perry was probably considered the favourite and certainly started with a superb Prone finishing on 200.11 – maximum being 200.20. Matt Boots of Australia was hard on her heals but Brenda,s 3-point lead disappeared after the standing, both going into the kneeling on equal score. The Aussie shot an excellent 195 to take Gold, with Brenda 3 points back for Silver.

The position was reversed in the Teams Championship with New Zealand’s Brenda Perry and Bryn Blythen dominating with an 18-point win over the leading Aussie Team

 

Scoped Rifle – 3P – Centrefire, 12 November 2018

	Country		Prone		Stand	Kneel	Total
Brenda Perry	NZ	A	200.11		188.01	192.04	580.16
Ian Mc Fetridge	NZ		193.03		167.01	181.01	541.05
Bryn Blythen	NZ	A	200.1		173	185.03	558.13
Alex Payne	AUS	A	197.02		171.01	169	537.03
Matthew Boots	AUS	A	197.04		191.01	195.03	583.08
Matt Rogaloff	AUS	B	182.01		159.01	164	505.02
Andrew King	AUS	B	191		162	169.01	522.01

The final medals awarded were for the much sort after 2 Gun award – a combination of both the Rimfire and Centrefire scores. Matt Boots proved throughout the 3 days he was the most consistent shooter, however the NZ Team of Perry / Blythen as a combination were way too strong with a win by 54 points

Scoped Rifle – 3P – 2 GUN

Brenda Perry	NZ A	1159.53	580.16		1740
Ian Mc Fetridge	NZ	1149.34	541.05		1690
Bryn Blythen	NZ A	1163.51	558.13		1722
Alex Payne	AUS A	1112.18	537.03		1649
Matthew Boots	AUS A	1174.42	583.08		1758
Matt Rogaloff	AUS B	1112.27	505.02		1617
Andrew King	AUS B	1107.2	522.01		1629

So overall a great weekend was had by all, with a high standard of shooting, but more importantly great comradery amongst the shooters.  The Next event will again be held in New Zealand in 2020 – more to come.

3 POSITION – 2 GUN – INDIVIDUALS

	Individual		Rimfire	Centrefire		Total
1st	Matthew Boots	AUS	1174.42	583.08		1757.5		GOLD
2nd	Brenda Perry	NZ	1159.53	580.16		1739.69		SILVER
3rd	Bryn Blythen	NZ	1163.51	558.13		1721.64		BRONZE
	Ian Mc Fetridge	NZ	1149.34	541.05		1690.39
	Alex Payne	AUS	1112.18	537.03		1649.21
	Andrew King	AUS	1107.2	522.01		1629.21
	Matt Rogaloff	AUS	1112.27	505.02		1617.29