OzFclass

I see on the Home page of the VRA web site that the winners of the 138th SYME and QUEENS are shown.

No mention of any F-Class winners.

That's alright Norm.....we know we are always winners

Norm,

Looks like we're going to have legalised gay marriage soon. But F-Class equality with TR? No bloody way !

Alan

TR just can't accept that we have to work harder for a good score

But it's amazing how many who come across find out how hard it is and they say they would never shoot F-Class.....

I remember back in the early days of F class , A TR shooter could not work out why we didn"t shoot perfect scores on every range because how could you miss with a scope on your rifle

At Bacchus Marsh yesterday -- where TR and FC are treated equally - there were 15 TR and 39 FC-- bide your time people, bide your time.

This is a good opportunity for the Vic F Class Assoc to stand up for their membership and do a bit of a demand--how about it Pete?

I remember back in the early days of F class , A TR shooter could not work out why we didn"t shoot perfect scores on every range because how could you miss with a scope on your rifle Rolling Eyes

Well Brett, I was one of those people too. Having come from TR, when I rejoined the ranks in 2007?

Having shot both Open and Std class for a few years now, IT IS NOT THAT EASY!!!

At Bacchus Marsh yesterday -- where TR and FC are treated equally - there were 15 TR and 39 FC

That really is great news!

Great to see that the VRA had the 3 Champions sitting together at the Queens presentations. I think it is time that we developed our State Championships further, and came up with a competition run in parallel. We could use one side of the range, and TR could use the other side, and alternate as we go back. As for trophies and medals, we could arrange something different to the Pens and Queens badges that were on offer this year.

We have 12 months now, it may be time to talk to the VRA about a committee to investigate and propose a F Class State Championship.

At my club, we have more F-Class then TR on the mound usually. But only 3 of us are FO but I think that's the most out off every club at swanbourne i think, FO wise that is.

I think that a state champs for F-Class would be good in all states.

Regards,

Shaun

I often think that we as F classers should get up and develop our own prize meets, state champs etc etc. The only trouble being that if we do that without running it through WARA, SARA, VRA etc and ultimately through NRAA then the mentality may still be there for them to say the f class tribe is too hard to please so we arent going cater for them until they get back into line. We all know that would be a stupid move due to decreasing TR shooters and increasing FC numbers. As Barry says, it wont be long until we consistently outnumber TR shooters at state and national level and our voices will be stronger at that point.

Until then, we still need to develop numbers of grass roots shooters, develop them and get our numbers of OPM and queens entrances up, work out our own club prize shoots for FC and follow the appropriate channels towards making it bigger and better on a state and national level.

I for one will not support any move that will see a return to the old us & them days, we do not need a separate or divided event.
Mixed squadding at the Queens works well, ok some work could be done to ensure the ratio of F Class to TR was about the same on each target, to help with time balance.
If you want to force change you need to increase the number of F Class shooters attending, yes the numbers were up this year but the fact is we were outnumbered 2:1 by the TR shooters.
If we attend in force, change will happen, look at the number of clubs now giving F Open badges & prizes since your attendances have increased.

VRA Queens facts:
128 TR Shooters - 41 badges awarded.
64 F Class shooters – 21 badges awarded.

I think the VRA got the balance right.

Alan

Alan W,

I agree that mixed squadding has on the whole been a positive thing particularly for F-Open, and that F-Class shouldn't be deserting TR, now or in the future.

The badges concern was that F-Open was a little light - we got 3 for 14 shooters (21%). The F-Stds got 18 for 50 shooters (36%). If F-Open had 5 badges that would be 36% also. I mentioned it to Peter Doig early in the Queens - I think we might do better next year.

Alan F

To get more badges in F Open, we need to make sure that more shooters CONSISTANTLY turn up, not 5 one year, then 15 the next. Things are starting to look good though with general numbers increasing.

If F Class wants more equality, it is in the management and running of events where F Class needs more representation. I think it is only natural that with the vast majority of organizing of these events being done by ex or current TR shooters, that they will see things slightly more from their point of view.
With Bob Pederson on the board, we will be getting more of a voice, are there any other retirees out there with the time, skills and experience to become an organizer?

One way to get higher attendance at a Queens could be to keep the association Calender up to date.
Not everyone is retired and has a life of leisure! Shift workers in particular need to get their leave applications approved well in advance. Its common to require leave to be place 12 months in advance now days with skeleton crews on most shifts.

I for one will not support any move that will see a return to the old us & them days, we do not need a separate or divided event.

AlanW, I see where you are coming from. I agree that it is good for the mixing to occur, as F Class assists in speeding up the event and continues the friendly banter between shooters.

I was coming from another stand point, where there has been some talk of Championships instead of Queens for F Class. There has also been talk of not chairing in the F Class shooter, as that is a TR tradition, and that we should introduce our own tradition.

By potentially having one organising committee, with two Prize selectors in the mix (TR and FC), we may be able to change the rewards given out to F Class shooters. As a suggestion would we consider the following:

Winner of FA: Gets their name engraved on a large Championship Belt.
Gets a sash similar to the State Champions, that they can take home.

Winner of FB: Gets a sash similar to the State Champions.

Winner of FO: Gets their name engraved on a smaller Championship Belt.
Gets a sash similar to the State Champions, that they can take home.

Each daily Agg could be presented with a Medalian for 1st 2nd and 3rd.

3 day Aggregate winners from 2nd down to 1/3rd of the entry could get medalians.

The leadup could be treated similar to the main event.

The medals could be a special struck one with a bit of weight to it.