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SHOOTING
Veteran John McLaren did the best in tricky conditions to win his 10th Wairarapa Open rifle championship on a countback on Sunday.
After being held at Trentham in recent years, the championship returned to Wairarapa and was held on the Masterton Rifle Club’s new range at Long Ridge, near Wainuioru.
Twenty shooters from the lower North Island competed in hot, windy conditions, with a constant northeasterly wind making for difficult shooting.
McLaren needed all his 50 years’ experience to take the major spoils on a countback from Amy Hatcher [Cheltenham], after their scores were tied at 147.12 after 10 shots each over 800, 900, and 1000 yards.
McLaren also won several other matches while dropping only one point at each of the three ranges.
He also won the FG Maunsell Cup – first presented in 1893 – for the aggregate over 800 and 1000 yards, the Nix Memorial Tray for highest scorer at longest range, and the Alfredton Bowl for highest aggregate shooter over the past three years.
Ian Buick celebrated his return to fullbore competition by winning the B grade Bidwell Shield. New club member Eric Holmwood won the F class Precision Rifle class from Mike Savage for shooters with hunting rifles.
Results
F-Target rifle champion – Peter Kynoch; FTR classic champion – Conal Richardson; F-PR champion badge – Eric Holmwood; F-Open champion [“Bush Cup”] – Craig Hunt; B Grade [Bidwell Shield] – Ian Buick; A Grade Champion [the Bidwell Belt] – John McLaren; Grade 800-1000 aggregate [Maunsell Cup] – John McLaren; Nix Memorial Tray [open to highest longest-range score] – John McLaren; Athol Rhodes Memorial [highest aggregate score for the Spring Championship and Wairarapa Championship] – Amy Hatcher; Alfredton Bowl [three-year aggregate] – John McLaren
