F-Open Diary

[AlanF]

Hello F-Open shooters,

Time for another Queens diary, this time from the Nationals in Brisbane. We had the first day of the leadup today - conditions varied from perfect to a little tricky, with a bit of rain thrown in. Ken Larkin is in the lead, closely followed by John Tracey and Mark Hamersley. Also here are Kel Bell and Barry Lewis. There were 2 100 possibles, Ken at 500 and me at 600. Weather is supposed to be wet again tomorrow for the longs. Will give you equipment details then.

Catch tomorrow night, probably late again - I'm doing all my reloading here.

Alan

[Cameron Mc]

G Day Al.

Thanks for the update. There is nothing showing on the NRAA site which does not surprise me.

I hope the rain stays away for the shoot.

Good luck,

Cameron

[John E]

No doubt about the NRAA website --- don't bother going there if you are interested in the results of the National Queens, because there are none.
The leadup finished today, and you would think that the results would be posted by now.
John

[AlanF]

Hello people,

My apologies for the lack of reporting from here. I understand that Geoff Roberts is very unwell, so that's the reason for the NRAA delays. My excuse is that I don't have my own web access and haven't had the time to scrounge it or drive to an "internet cafe". Anyway, I have a little time now (morning of day 2 of the Queens).

I'll do F-Open first. Leadup went to John Tracey who improved as the ranges got longer to finish on 673. I had a see-saw ride to finish second with 667, and Ken Larkin was third on 664. In the Queens we have only one additional shooter, making 7 total. Anthony Lee is using a tactical type rifle weighing about 6.5 KG in 300 Win Mag!! And he is shooting very well.
Other calibres : John Tracey 284, me 6.5-284, Ken Larkin 6.5 similar to HI, Mark Hamersley 6.5x55AI, Kelvin Bell 6x47, 6.5-284, Barry Lewis 6.5x47, 284. Day 1, and no-one got away. Kelvin Bell is leading on 378 from Ken Larkin on 377, and several bunched up not far behind. Ken got another 100, this time at 300, I had a disaster with a fouled barrel at 500, and am sharing the tail end with Barry Lewis, who struck bad patches at 2 ranges. However we're only about 10 behind, so there is plenty of time to claw back.

In standard, Ben Curley is blitzing the field , only dropping one point yesterday (he also won the leadup easily). Peter Drew is in a clear second place, having dropped 5 yesterday. BTW Geoff Grenfell won A Grade in the leadup, and there are about 6 with all possibles after day 1 of the Queens with Mark Buchanan and Geoff Grenfell 1 and 2 on centre count.

I'll try to get back to you tonight, no reloading and no outings so should be okay. Catch you then.

Alan

[RAVEN]

Good Luck AL

[AlanF]

Hello again from Belmont. I'm writing this on the morning of the final day. The NRAA website has no results yet, so here are a few details. Wind was stronger on day 2. In F-Open Ken Larkin had a good day and leads the field. After finishing last on day 1 I got the barrel fouling problem sorted (thanks to some valuable advice from other shooters) plus had a very nice patch at 800 and finished today only 1 point behind Ken in the progressive agg. Kel Bell had a disaster at 900 but held onto 3rd place about 10 points adrift of the leader, and a few in front of John Tracey and Mark Hamersley. Expecting another fine day today for the last 2 ranges, 900 and 1000. I always say this, and will keep saying it - it ain't over until the longs are over - if Ken and I have a bad range the others will be right there.

Ben Curley won F-Std again - seems to be unstoppable - if he finishes well tomorrow, it will be a huge win. Peter Drew is on his own in second, and Ben Farrawell leads Barb Moritz for 3rd.

All of the A-graders have now dropped at least 1 point. Mark Buchanan and Colin Cole are both on 398.

Catch you again when the fat lady has sung.

Alan

[AlanF]

She's all over Rover.

Weather was fine and wind stronger again, with most of the top A graders losing a point or 2. In Open, Ken Larkin increased his lead by 1 at the 900, but I managed to haul him in at the 1000 and won by 5, with Kelvin Bell about 15 points adrift.

In standard Ben Curley and Peter Drew each kept their 1st and second places easily, and Ben Farraway hung onto 3rd just in front of Barb Moritz.

Mark Buchanan won A-Grade with Geoff Grenfell second.

Now for the long drive home....

Alan

[Cameron Mc]

Well done Alan.

Like you said it is never over until that last range.

Cameron

[Chopper]

And smiling all the way,well done.Chop.

[agro]

Congratulations Alan.
It will make the long drive back feel worthwhile.

Cheers,

Wayne

[John E]

Congratulations to Alan and Ben. Very well done.
John

[AlanF]

Thanks for the kind words. Actually I have a few thanks to say to a few people who helped me out with various problems encountered due to my own mistakes (is this what retirement does to you?). Firstly my preparations ran out of time so had to get the use of a set of scales to do it at Belmont - thanks to Paul Read, John Gaeffer(?) and the Pacific club. Then I lost a tiny part of the Barnard in the mud when changing barrels - thanks to Ken Larkin for a workaround there, then some serious barrel fouling problems were solved with advice from John Tracey and David Rich. And thanks to John Kielly for rescuing my front and rear rests when I decided to leave them on the 800 mound! Hmmm, sounds pretty bad when you put them all together. But any amount of embarrassment will not remove the smile from face for at least a week!!!

Just dropped into an internet cafe in coonabarabran - another 12 hours to drive

Alan

[mick l]

Alan,
Well done!!



hey alan...........do i detect "oldtimers" disease creeping in


mick

[Chopper]

Alan could you please tell everyone about the prickley pear bush on you travels home ,Chop

[agro]

I want to hear about this, I'm all ears!!!!

Wayne