Narrabri Clay Target Club hosted its annual Christmas shoot on Sunday, December 20, which was the last event for the year for the local club.
The action-packed event was made even more memorable when club stalwart Graham Baylis was honoured with a club life membership.
Baylis has been a long-standing member who has fulfilled many roles within the club.
He was president and secretary for many years as well as providing tireless, on-going service in maintaining the grounds and facilities and conducting shooting carnivals and events.
He has also enjoyed significant success, achieving Commonwealth, State and Zone titles. These include the Commonwealth Tower Championship and NSW Double Rise Championship.
He has represented and been a member of the NSW team, twice for skeet and once for down the line events, and has been a member of the Western Zone team five times.
Locally, Baylis has excelled at shooting with a personal best of 426 targets at Inverell in wet conditions. His achievements also include overall, and high gun wins at Narrabri, Coonamble, Cessnock, Tamworth, Inverell, Glen Innes, Guyra, Brewarrina, Warren and NSW Veterans Single Barrel events.
The Narrabri Clay Target Club and its members congratulated Baylis and thanked him for his contribution to the club and the sport of clay target shooting.
The Christmas shoot was well-attended with 40 shooters competing for cash and prizes on the day.
Narrabri shooters were joined by those who travelled from Wee Waa, Rowena, Gunnedah, Moree, Toogoolawah, Wagga Wagga, Barellan and Tamworth.
The rain held off until after the first two events and at 11.30am the heavens opened and down it poured.
As a result, a complimentary lunch was served early. Everyone enjoyed the salads, ham, chicken and dessert.
A well-supported raffle was drawn and presentations followed. The lucky score prize was taken home by Lloyd Finlay.
The program managed to bring out the best and at times the worst in everyone, but in the true spirit of Christmas a few good laughs were shared as well.
The results for the day are as follows.
High Guns: Open – Brian Kneipp (Moree), junior – Tom Vanderstock (Moree), ladies – Louise Wilson (Toogoolawah), veteran – Stuart Boydell (Moree).
Event one – 25-Target Single Barrel Continental off 11m:
AA-grade: First – Brian Kneipp, second – John Gemmill, third – Ian Schwartz.
A-grade: First – Stuart Boydell, second – Grant Lowien, third – Barry Thomson.
B-grade: First – Hugh Faris, second – Joshua Knappman, third – Bruce Ping-Kee.
C-grade: First – Bradley Irvin, second – Lloyd Finlay, third – Louise Wilson.
Event Two – 25-Target Reverse Point Score Continental off 16m:
AA-grade: First – John Harris, second – Brian Kneipp, third – Anthony Gray.
A-grade: First – Grant Lowien, second – Douglas Smith, third – Mark Barden.
B-grade: First – Joshua Knappmen, second – David Lemmon, third – Bruce Ping-Kee.
C-grade: First – Tom Vanderstock, second – Louise Wilson, third – Johan Ras.
Event Three – 25-Target Mixed Metres Double Barrel Continental:
AA-grade: First – Brian Kneipp, second – Trevor Atkinson, third – John Sleightholme.
A-grade: First – Douglas Smith, second – Stuart Boydell, third – Bert Wise.
B-grade: First – Joshua Knappman, second – Hugh Faris, third – Dave Lemmon.
C-grade: First – Andrew Vanderstock, second – Bradley Irvin, third – Louise Wilson.
Event Four – 30-Target Champion of Champions Continental off 17m:
AA-grade: First – Will Abbott, second – John Sleightholme, third – Brian Kneipp.
A-grade: First – Blake Schwartz, second – Douglas Smith, third – Grant Lowien.
B-grade: First – Joshua Knappman, second – David Lemmon, third – Hugh Faris.
C-grade: First – Andrew Vanderstock, second – Janet Barden, third – Louise Wilson.
