Should/could the dates be changed for some state queens?

[Tim N]

Hi All,
At the risk of upsetting the apple cart(something the tasmanians will understand, and the queenslanders after last night )
As a shooter in NSW my calendar looks like:
Nat queens-Belmont: June
QLD queens-Belmont: August
NSW queens-Malabar: September
ACT queens-Madjura: November

Would it be worthwhile spacing things out a bit?

[Barry Davies]

We have 8 Queens per year( fixed ) and additionally two others every 2nd year
Allowing two months per year ( Dec and Jan ) for other activities that is 8 Queens in 10 months and every 2nd year 9 or 10 in ten months.
How would you like to rearrange them Tim?

[bsouthernau]

Space things out by going to Campbell Town or Bendigo or Lower Light.

[Brad Y]

Ive just looked at the calendar:

Jan: No queens
Feb: No queens
Mar: Tasmania
Apr: Victoria and South Australia
May: North Queensland
Jun: Nationals and Northern Territory
Jul: No queens
Aug: Queensland
Sep: New South Wales and Western Australia
Oct: No queens
Nov: Australian Capital Territory
Dec: No queens

Dont see anything wrong with them to be honest. Just have to pick and choose which ones you can go to, so it fits in with your personal commitments. With Tas/Vic/SA close together you will probably find people travelling to all 3. Maybe the nats, queensland and NSW and even ACT could all be closer together so people could do the same and not have to take too much time off work?

[Tim N]

Hi All,
I'll take that as a resounding NO
Turns out it's not all about me after all

[Brad Y]

Tim- you lucky to have plenty of choice of a few over there and travel isnt too far. We get one over here and its a big drive or an annoying flight to get to any others. Looking forward to a few years down the track when a bit more time for shooting will be possible.

[bsouthernau]

...and not have to take too much time off work?

Work? You poor sod!

[Brad Y]

Shooting seems to really be for the retired Barry! Young children and work get in the way of alot of shooting but we live with our choices.

[bsouthernau]

As I know all too well!! Gave it up completely for a couple of years due to financial constraints but making the most of it now - and rubbing it in.

Cheers

[AlanF]

There are several factors that influence Queens dates, probably the main one being climate. You'll notice for example that the 3 held in Queensland are in their more pleasant months. Another factor which does actually take into account younger shooters with work commitments is that several Queens series are (or have been) aligned with their State public holidays on the Monday. One thing that has irked me in the past is that WARA and SARA Queens have coincided. This is a lose-lose situation for them, not to mention eastern state shooters who would like to attend both.

[Brad Y]

Its good they changed SA to a bit nicer time of year too Alan. It makes it a little more attractive overall. Never been but read reports that the last ranges were diabolical at times. And as you say it opens up the possibility to shoot both. The Tas/Vic/SA circuit looks to be a good month or so of shooting. This year WA queens is in Albany as Swanbourne is closed. Hopefully our mild winter continues and its not too rough down there this year. It can get nasty down there- had many a fishing competition coming back in rain and gale forced winds!