Castlemaine Rifle Club members contested the fifth stage of the Club Championship on Saturday. The club also had special medals struck to commemorate life member Stan Smith’s 90th birthday.
It was a hot day with a mild breeze and some mirage. The day consisted of shooting over the ‘short’ ranges of 300, 500 and 600 yards with seven scoring shots at each distance giving a total score from 21 shots.
At the first range Max Elson scoring 34.3 got off to a good start followed by Richard Ruddick with 32.2. In ‘F Class’ Greg Brown scored 41.4 to lead from Darren Trevena with 41.3. In ‘F Open’ the top score was Jamie Griffin with 41.3 followed by Mick Goritchan with 40.1.
Shooters then moved back to 500 yards with the wind and mirage increasing. Max Elson shot a possible, being 35.3, the only one for the day, with Richard Ruddick scoring 32.2 to be next in target rifle. Darren Trevena scored 39.1 to lead Greg Brown with 39.1 in ‘F Class’. In ‘F Open’ Mick Goritchan scored 37.2 to lead Phil Smith 37.1
It was still hot for the 600 yard range. Max Elson again stop scored in ‘Target Rifle’ with 35.2, followed by Chris Jolme and Richard Ruddick both with 32.2.
Tom Christie was the best shooter in ‘F Class’ with 38.2 followed by Sam Swagemakers with 37.1. Dan McColl scored 37.1 to lead in ‘F Open’ from Mick Goritchan with 35.1.
Final results saw Max Elson win Target Rifle with 102.7 from Richard Ruddick with 96.6. Richard won the handicap from Chris Jolme. Greg Brown won ‘F Class’ with 112.5 narrowly from Darren Trevena with 112.4. James Dolphin won the handicap from Tom Christie. The winner in ‘F Open’ was Mick Goritchan with 112.4. Jamie Griffin with 109.3. Jamie won the handicap from Dan McColl.
The next presentation was the medals for Stan Smith’s 90th birthday celebrations. The clubhouse was filled to capacity with Stan’s wife Mal, their sons David and Colin and four generations of their family in attendance. There were a lot of Stan’s Castlemaine clubmates, and friends from Kyneton and Bendigo Rifle Clubs.
Stan commenced his shooting career in 1984 at the Williamston Rifle Range. After retiring and moving to Welshman’s Reef he started shooting with Castlemaine.
In 1995 Stan became president of Castlemaine Rifle Club, helping to build it into one of the biggest and strongest clubs in Australia.
After stepping down as president in 2018 Stan became an honorary vice president, a position he still holds.
Stan is one of only two life members at Castlemaine. Stan and Mal are both still actively involved in the club with Stan helping with scoring and running shoots at Castlemaine. Members presented Stan with a suitably engraved pewter tankard to mark the occasion.
The winners of the very unique medals were Max Elson in Target Rifle, with Richard Ruddick winning handicap. Greg Brown won the ‘F Class’ medal with James Dolphin winning the handicap. The ‘F Open’ medal was won by Mick Goritchan and the handicap medal went to Jamie Griffin. The winners were very proud to receive the impressive medals which were a fitting tribute to Stan who has achieved so much in rifle shooting as a marksman and administrator. A gentleman of the sport and a true legend.
This Saturday a practice will be held starting at 1pm. For more on this sport call the captain on 5474 2552 or see Max at Castlemaine Fresh.