Saturday was the final of the Castlemaine Rifle Club Championship for the 2025–2026 season.
The club has a very long and proud history of competitive rifle shooting at Castlemaine. The range was first gazetted in 1861 with the Volunteer Corps under Colonel J.E.N. Bull practising there.
With Federation in 1901 the club became the Castlemaine Rifle Club. The championship then commenced in 1917 with I Gibson being the first champion.
109 years later the club will be adding new names to its Championship Boards.
Saturday was the eighth and final stage of the competition that has been running for the last 12 months. To win the event you have to be a skilled marksman able to handle all conditions. Whether it is hot or cold, wet or dry, windy or still, and above all you need to be the best.
The event started at the 800 yard mound in fairly pleasant conditions. Greg Brown started with 47.3 in ‘Target Rifle’ to lead Chris Jolme with 47.2.
In ‘F Class’ Darren Trevena scored 57.3 to lead Kerri Neven with 57.2. Tony Skinner shot an excellent 60.5 to lead Shannon King with 57.2 in ‘F Open’.
The final round was shot from the long distance of 900 yards. Conditions were still pretty good except for the failing light.
In Target Rifle Greg Brown with 47.3 again led Chris Jolme with 46.0.
In F Class James Dolphin scored 59.2 to lead Damien Trevena with 58.2.
In F Open Tony Skinner again shot very well scoring 66.4 with Shannon King next with 60.3.
Daily results saw Greg Brown win Target Rifle with 99.6 with Chris Jolme next with 93.2. Chris won the handicap from Richard Ruddick. Darren Trevena was the winner in F Class scoring 115.5 followed by James Dolphin with 114.5. James won the handicap from Kerri Neven.
In F Open Tony Skinner had an exceptional shoot scoring a possible being 126.9, followed by Shannon King with 111.5. Shannon won the handicap from Tom Christie.
Next was the big presentation for Club Champions, Target Rifle was won by Greg Brown from Richard Ruddick and Chris Jolme. Richard won the handicap from Chris.
Darren Trevena won in F Class from Kerri Neven and Bradley Knox. Kerri won the handicap from Bradley.
In F Open the winner was Tony Skinner from Shannon King and Tom Christie. Shannon won the handicap from Tom.
The winners can be justifiably proud of their achievements with their names to be added to the lists of previous Club Champions, and recorded for history.
This week a practice will be held to commence at 1pm. For more on this sport call the Captain on 5474 2552 or see Max at Castlemaine Fresh.