A GLOOMY outlook greeted shooters on the first of the multi range B Gurdon Cup and A Pratley Trophy commencing on the 300-yard mound and moving to the 500-yard mound to conclude the day’s shooting.

With just a whisper of rear fishtail breeze and an increasingly darkening sky, scores in the early stage were, not really, up to scratch.

At 300 yards Steve Williams, Graeme Bright, Dennis Lavelle and John Coghill all started well but were unable to sustain the standard.

Williams, after a string of central bullseyes, finished on an inner four and two bullseyes for 49.06. Bright dropped two shots in a 48.04, Lavelle likewise in a 48.03, and Coghill after a triple centre start, lost control of his elevation carding a 46.04.

Ron Gibson started roughly with five inners (two sighting shots) but regrouped to finish on a high for 46.03. Keith Redding found the darkening skies a real deterrent to good scoring and scrambled to a 41.0.

Geoff Eppleston, likewise found it difficult to start, and with three bulls in his first four shots, could only muster a 56/60, whilst Roger Northcott jagged a magpie three before scrambling to a 52/60.

Andrew Lord again encountered trouble with his equipment and retired for the day with a disappointing 43/60 first stage.

The second, 500-yard stage, started with better form as Bright cobbled together a 50.03 but his group used up most of the bullseye. Williams also shot a possible 50.06 a string of five centre bullseyes highlighting a good shoot.

Gibson 47.02 and Coghill 47.06 were just not consistent enough and Coghill’s six centres were interspersed with three wild inner fours, which quite conceivably, could have been magpies. Lavelle 45.01 and Redding 38.0 simply couldn’t handle the dark conditions.

Eppleston also fell foul of the disappearing light with an inner four start, eventually laying on an eight-centre finish for 57/60. Northcott tightened up his group with a 56/60 fading a little after a four-centre start.

Williams, Gibson and Eppleston were the grade winners on the day.

The club season will head into an extended break but next weekend will be the highlight of the year, the Bathurst RSL/ Kenny Springs Solicitors Annual Open Prize Meeting, to be held over the three championship ranges of 300 yards, 500 yards and 600 yards.

SCORES: S Williams 99.11 (1 ½) 100; G Bright 98.07 (2) 100; D Lavelle 93.04 (5 ½); J Eppleston 113 (4 ½) 98; J Coghill 93.10 (4 ¾) 97 ¾; R Northcott 108 (9) 97 ½; R Gibson 93.05 (4 ¼) 97 ¼; K Redding 73.0 (17 ½) 90 ½; A Lord 43/60.