SKEET SHOOTERS NEWS DATE: August 2009

Welcome to the August addition of skeet shooters news on behalf of the Brisbane Gun Club. There have been both some great results and exciting events ahead since we last spoke. Our Queensland representatives have travelled to England and done us more than proud and the layouts are congested with potential state title winners tuning their skills for next month’s trip to Roma.

WORLD SKEET IN THE UK
With SE Qld very well represented in our travelling Australian team, nobody could question the commitment and effort displayed by our teams. Our open team put together a great all around effort to finish 3rd overall with a very well shot 730/750. The veterans and ladies also held their end of the bargain both finishing 2nd overall with 436/450 and 427/450 in that order. We can say however we had the best juniors in the competition taking the gold with a 442/450, great effort and very comforting to see the future of our sport in such good stead. It must be said that Nigel Hughes and Laurie Chelepy were definite standouts making the finals on 198 & 199 out of a possible 200 giving Laurie both a second overall in veterans and 3rd AA for the event. With Nigel headed into the competition battling both illness and a death in the family could have been excused for not being at his best, however stood up and lead the team like a true champion and for that deserves absolute congratulations, we all should be very proud.

ROMA STATE TITLES
We are now only weeks away from the Qld state titles to be held in Roma. With the multigauge championships starting on the Thursday the 17th of September, it’s important to get there and compete in this one before the “real deal” starts on the Friday. If you’ve never had the privilege of wearing the state colours at the nationals or you’re keen to retain your position, make the effort, you won’t be sorry. I was at the Roma club for the trap nationals in March and Rob Nugent and the boys have done a lot of work around the club therefore I’m sure you’ll be suitably impressed. If that’s not enough incentive, our title was taken by NSW last year so I for one will hopefully stop that from happening again this year.

UPGRADES TO THE BGC SKEET LAYOUTS
If you haven’t been to the Brisbane Gun club for a bit, you wouldn’t have noticed the two new skeet layouts are well under way. We have two new houses close to completion and pads concreted into place. It must be noted that Frank Cooper and Mark Fanning have done an amazing job in getting this up in such a short period of time. This will enable Brisbane to hold much larger events in the future including state titles and what you’re about to read about next. So next time you see Frank and Mark be sure to acknowledge their efforts as clubs need guys like this, and as we know they are few and far between.

BGC NSSA 500 X 500
This to me is the most exciting event I can think of outside a trip to the worlds in San Antonio, Texas. It is planned for March next year we will be up and registered as a NSSA approved ground enabling us to run Queensland’s, if not Australia’s first registered, pre-nominated 500 x 500 shoot over three days. This will include 100 of each gauge and doubles for not only great prizes through sponsors, but a change of cash winnings through our world zone pool through the NSSA in the USA. It will be important you are a registered member of the NSSA, if not already and with a cut off of 60 shooters only, you need to be in early. It’s also in the pipeline that we will incorporate training courses around the country with Todd Bender who will finish his trip to Australia by competing in this first event. We have not ruled out, possibly getting a few more well recognised US shooters to bite the bullet and make the trip for this event, just to keep Bender honest. Will keep you posted as the year draws to an end but if you’re not an NSSA member as yet, do it, as worst case you will receive the monthly magazine which is a great read and a very well put together publication. Go to www.nssa-nsca.com/Webforms/NSSAMbrNew/ for application and processing.

AMAZING FEATS
There are so many things we could recognise this month, but to me the standout is the tireless work put in by Mark and Frank on the layouts. To see the progress and time these guys have dedicated out of their days to keep this rolling is quiet and feet. To add to this, they also somehow, nobody knows how, managed to put Dave Dundon to work rendering him too tied to complain. This to me is truly amazing, but it must be recognised these guys, including Dave have done a great job and again guys, many thanks.
Like always, if there is something or someone who deserves recognition or a good solid ribbing, send me an email to glenn@650straightskeet.com.au or take your credit card to the website www.650straightskeet.com and click on the purchase icon.

Good shooting and see you on the podium.

Glenn Walker
BGC Skeet Captain
Email: glenn@650straightskeet.com.au