SSAA Queensland Junior Championships
7-8 August 2015 - SSAA Ipswich Branch
On August 7 and 8, Ipswich Branch hosted the SSAA Queensland Junior Championships. The event included Rimfire Field Rifle and Rimfire Rifle Metallic Silhouette matches, as well as an introduction to Big Game Rifle shooting with a Pot Rifle match.
While attendance numbers were down, shooting on the whole was good across the board, with vastly differing experience levels shown in the scores and knowledge displayed by some of the juniors. The enthusiasm of volunteers who helped run the day was overwhelming and special mention needs to be made for Steve Lynch, Gary Riek and Todd Knight and to Dennis Cooper who conducted the Big Game Rifle shoot.
Field Rifle was the first match contested and some creditable scores were shot in the Under 15 group. Michael Price led the way in the Over 15 group and sadly, this was his last year in juniors.
After a lunch break, Rifle Metallic Silhouette was contested. Lots of effort and several bar hits made the scores look very good to the spectators and parents who were scoring. The encouragement given by them to the juniors was fantastic. First place in the Under 15 group was decided, but a shoot-off was needed to determine second and third place. Rohan Tonkin eventually knocked over a pig to narrowly win second place from Jack Oderici who finished in third place. The Over 15 group win went to Michael Price again.
Sunday morning saw us shoot the Pot Rifle event under the guidance of Dennis Cooper. While only three juniors attended due to other commitments and some illness, good fun was had by all. It was a special treat to shoot a .375H&H with reduced lead loads. It was the most comfortable .375H&H I have personally ever fired. Rohan Tonkin was once again successful in taking first place with 100 points. Dylan Schmidtchen won second with 82 points and Jack Oderici placed third with 82 points.
Special thanks to the Historical Arms Collectors who donated $250 towards prizes, SSAA Queensland who donated a Vortex scope won by Dylan Schmidtchen, and SSAA National who donated merchandise.
by Dale Quant