After the weather cancelled shooting on Thursday we arrived at Stawell rifle range on Friday morning hoping for good news. Fortunately the weather was on our side, or at least enough to allow us to shoot under gazebos that were not going to blow away. The Team matches were on.
Now here’s where things get a little complicated. There were five different competitions being shot for concurrently with various levels of participation in each of them. Starting with the simplest bit, all of the teams, which included three Australian state teams (Victoria, New South Wales and a combined team of Tasmania and Northern Territory), a team from Scotland (and two Irish members) and two teams from England, competed over 1000, 1100 and 1200 yards (2 sighters & 15 to count at each range). Additionally, the Australian state teams and Scotland completed the rain delayed 1200 yard shoot from Thursday (0 sighters & 16 to count).
The competitions being decided were: Rowlands Match (1000, 1100, 1200 yard aggregate), Maloney Match (1200 yards only), Mincham Aggregate (Rowlands and Maloney aggregate), McEachran Aggregate (1000, 1100, 2 x 1200 yards aggregate) and the Phil Cole Match (1000,1100, 1200 yard aggregate). The Australian state teams took part in all team competitions, team Scotland competed in the McEachran and Phil Cole aggregates and the two England teams competed in the Phil Cole aggregate.
The weather conditions were changeable and heavy showers occurred throughout the day creating tricky conditions for the wind coaches and shooters. Although made considerably more pleasant with the addition of the gazebos.
And so to the results. In the State competitions (Rowlands, Maloney and Mincham) Victoria swept the board. In the Rowlands they finished on 871.69v (ex 900.180v) six points ahead of New South Wales and Tasmania & Northern Territory. The Maloney they won by 8 points (308.25v ex 320.64v) and subsequently took the Mincham aggregate on 1179.94v (ex 1220.244v)
In the International matches Scotland were the front runners. Scotland began their successful day taking the Phil Cole with 880.86v (ex 900.180v), England Blue took second spot (874.78v) and England Red in third (873.73v). In the McEachran stage one (1200 yards 0+16) they were run very close by Victoria with only 3 Vs separating the two teams. However, as the McEachran was run in reverse this year Scotland had built up a healthy lead over the first three ranges to seal victory with 1188.114v (ex 1220.244v) ahead of Victoria and New South Wales. This was a particularly poignant win for the Scottish team due to the untimely passing of the competition’s namesake Colin McEachran in May, no doubt he would have been very proud.
With shooting completed it was time to get ready for the big one. Captains and main coaches had their teams to announce and everyone else was hoping for some dry weather.