Stawell Rifle Club once again hosted the 2019 Victoria Match Rifle Championship with the best long range shooters within Australia attending the annual two-day event
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With summer on the doorstep the weather for practice on the Friday could not have been better, with shooters applying their skills to some very tricky wind conditions.
Saturday's weather took a complete about-face with strong rain and heavy wind gusts, which shooters also had to adapt too.
Range one, 1000 yards Match Rifle Open: It was once again last year's winner Paul Monagahan, from Tasmania, who took the first lead in the match rifle open, with Owen Henry, from Victoria, leading in match rifle reserve. Newccomer to long range shooting, Jono Muljoatmodjo, from Victoria, took out the lead in F/TR, and Stawell Rifle Club's, Dave Hillier, in F-Open.
Range two, 1100 yards Top shooters were Paul Monagahan in open, Owen Henry, reserve and Jono Muljoatmodjo, again in F/TR. But Alwyn Beetham from Queensland took the range with F-Open.
Range three, 1200 yards Leading the way were Stawell Rifle Club's Lew Horwood in open and Owen Henry, in reserve. But National F/TR champion, Marty Kelly, took the prize and Alwyn Beetham again won in F-open.
Day One Results Match Rifle Open: Paul Monaghan 246.29; Reserve: Owen Henry 229.7. F/TR: Marty Kelly 278.8. F-Open: Dave Hillier 265.4.
Day two started with light rain and a mild wind coming from the north.
Range four 1000 Yards: Phillip Bain, from NSW, took out match rifle open and again Owen Henry won in reserve. Mike Halloran, from NSW, won in F/TR and Dave Hillier in F-Open.
Range Five 1100 Yards Lew Horwood gave us all an impressive score, and Victoria's Wayne Skinner opened his account in reserve. Marty Kelly was coming back with a good lead in F/TR, and Dave Hillier was just holding his own in F-open.
Range six 1200 Yards: The last range of the event and this is where it came down to the wire. Paul Monaghan took the range in open, Wayne Skinner in reserve, Marty Kelly F/TR and Dave Hillier F-Open.
Grand aggravate: Paul Monahan, Tasmania, Match Rifle Open, 466.49. Owen Henry, Victoria, Match Rifle Reserve, 434.19. Marty Kelly, Victoria, F/TR, 517.12. Dave Hillier, Victoria, F-Open, 482.7.
Lew Horwood, chairman of the Victorian Match Rifle and Long Range Championship, said that a wonderful time was spent at the event and he looked forward to next year.
