Castlemaine Rifle Club celebrated its 165th anniversary on the weekend.
Although shooting commenced on the land in the 1850s it wasn’t officially recognised until Colonel John Edward Newell donated the land to the Volunteer Rifles and it was officially gazetted as a rifle range in 1861.
So, last weekend the club celebrated 165 years of military and civilian tradition on our local range. The range has served our nation and the Castlemaine community in both times of peace and war. Members have trained on this range and gone to war giving their lives for the freedoms we enjoy today.
The club has had many great leaders such as Sir Henry Lawson who was the President of the club from 1904 and the President from 1912 to 1946 during which time he was also Premier of Victoria.
Castlemaine was selected as the back up range for the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
The club has a long list of exceptional shooters who have been representatives of State and Australian teams. Of the six members of the National Rifle Association of Australia Team to Bisley, United Kingdom in 2024, five were Castlemaine Rifle Club past members.
Castlemaine is the home of the Victorian Precision Service Rifle Series.
Celebrations started with the ‘Vintage Service Rifle’ competition. A good number of shooters attended coming from all parts of Victoria as well as Sydney and Canberra and as far as Brisbane. Most rifles used were .303 Lee Enfields with a mix of Mausers and other military rifles.
Castlemaine members shot well.
The next competition was the ‘Service Optical’. Again there was a good number of entries, with many local members excelling.
The final stage was the third round of the Victorian Precision Service Rifle. The event was contested from the 600 yard mound to 200 yards.
The course of fire varies at each distance with 10 serials shot in different positions with different target exposure times at both static and moving targets. It takes about three hours for a competitor to complete the course of fire. It was a very high class of competition. With Castlemaine members achieving excellent results.
The club’s best results were in ‘NATO Class’, with scores being unbelievably close. The winner was Stuart Elam with a score of 311, followed by Max Elson on 310 and James Dolphin third with 310.
In the ‘Open Class’ Dan McColl had a good win scoring 324 in a class dominated by interstate shooters.
The ‘Pairs Event’ was won by Dan McColl and Jamie Griffin, with Stuart Elam and Tony Strong second. Other Castlemaine members placed well.
It was a great series hosted by Castlemaine being one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia.
It was very pleasing to have so many shooters travelling long distances and spending time in Castlemaine and Maldon, staying in local hotels, motels and B&Bs and dining at local hotels and cafes. Colonel Bull would be pleased.
This week a practice will be held on the local range. For more on the sport of big bore rifle shooting call the captain on 5474 2552 or see Max at Castlemaine Fresh.