Our return to shooting after the three plus months break due to Covid19 turned into a bit of a "fizzer" with only 5 members attending the Club for our first day back, however, the cold conditions were far less than inviting with the temperature ranging from 5 degrees at 10 am and climbing to a mighty 8 degrees by about 1 pm but the cold winds kept the "feels like" temperature below 2 degrees all day.
Bob, Trevor and Ian contested a Standard Pistol Match while Bruce undertook some Air Pistol Practice and Wayne acted as Range Officer.
The scores returned certainly reflected the fact that no one had fired a shot for over three months but scores should improve over coming weeks with more practice now that we can now enjoy our sport and facilities again.
The Standard Pistol Scores have now been added to the Match Results page
The matches next weekend are Rapid Fire and Black Powder although it is now highly unlikely that Black Powder will proceed. 

SCORES FOR 2020
I have finally tracked down all the scores for matches contested so far this year at the Club and entered them on the Match Results page of this site. There are a few gaps but on those days, members either worked on various projects around the facility or undertook a practice session rather than contest a full match.
Scores from the February Open have not been entered on the Results page but a full list of all resulkts for the Open are published in a file attached to a Blog entry in February

COVID19
We received advice early in the week from NSWAPA stating that we could recommence shooting on outdoor ranges under very strict conditions set down by the Health Department.
As we are situated on Crown Land and the Crown Lands Department had previously issued a directive that no sport activities were permitted on Crown Lands, I sort and gained approval from our Local Crown Lands Office to recommence shooting on our facility provided we followed the very strict conditions set out in the advice from NSW APA.
Unfortunately, at about 5.15pm yesterday (Friday), a further advice was sent out by NSWAPA advising that on receipt of further advices, we could not recommence shooting as the Health Department had deemed that a Range with a roof and either partial or full back and side walls was deemed to be an indoor range under the act and accordingly, this club cannot recommence shooting until this ruling is changed. As I understand the position, the ruling is in the process of being challenged and we should no more shortly.

RANGE STANDARDS - MEETING FIREARMS REGISTRY REQUIREMENTS
I had been working on several of the matters requiring attention following our Range Inspection last October and forwarded the information to FAR last Tuesday.
As a result of discussions during the inspection, the Club Executive in attendance was aware that there were a number of issues on Ranges 1,2 & 3 (mostly the need to reshape the impact are in the rear stop butts on those ranges, reshape the side Bank on Range 1 and a little work on the Range 3 target Frames) needing rectification but understood that we should correct the more pressing issues with Range 5 and then attend to the matters on Ranges 1,2 & 3
We received an email late yesterday afternoon confirming that we had satisfactorily addressed the major issue on Range 5 but we should not recommence shooting on Ranges 1,2 & 3 until the matters raised had been corrected.
As a result, we have hired a small excavator to correct the impact areas on those 3 ranges to commence at 8am on Saturday 30/5/2020. Those members not immediately involved in the earthworks project may be able to help in other areas tidying up around our facility. 
Any help from members, even if only for an hour or two, will be greatly appreciated. Many hands make light work.
Once the earthworks on Range 2 are completed we will be in a position to recommence shooting on that Range as the Health Department restrictions are relaxed
Hopefully, will also be able to use the Air Range in the near future as well. 

Due to the ever changing position with the Corona Virus Pandemic, all non-essential sport in NSW has been shut down at the direction of the Acting Minister for Sport.
As with most Sporting Bodies in NSW, this Club has been directed to shut down all sporting operations (which includes weekly competitions, private practice or sighting in of firearms) as of 25th March, 2020 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
However, there will be restricted numbers of Club Members on the premises from time to undertake maintenance, mow ranges and surrounds etc. and generally keeping an eye on everything but non members will not be permitted entry at any time in the interests of the health and well being of our members looking after the facility.
Range 5 which is used under Licence by Highlanders Hunting and Target Club has also been closed to all sporting activities (including sighting in of rifles and private practice). Highlanders will also have limited numbers of members on site from time to time on Range 5 to maintain that area and keep an eye on their property secured in that area. Non members are also prohibited from visiting that Range in the interests of the health and well being of members of Highlanders Hunting and Target Club.
There is presently no indication of when this suspension of all sporting activities will be lifted, however, activities will resume as soon as that suspension order is lifted 

The February Open proved another great success for the Club with quite a number of shooters attending for the first time or coming back after quite a few years absence. 
The much needed and consistent rain made it very difficult to prepare the facilities but held off for the weekend of the Open.
We had a strong entry list and surprisingly, entries for Air Pistol was only one less than the number of entries received.
Jean-Marie and Valarie have kindly sent me a file of 70 photos taken over the weekend which I will add shortly -  after I have removed the photos of those people who have requested that their images be not published.
We now look forward to those who attended as well as the regulars who could not make this Open next September
Scores for the weekend are attached below

A good turnout last weekend with 9 members in attendance.

Dick again shot a Personal Best (5th in a row) which will see his handicap reduced by a further 30 odd points while Kim also returned a Personal Best and will see her handicap reduced by approx. 35 points.

Michelle shot a half Air Match as Practice and was well on course to record a Personal Best by at least 20 points but withdrew from the match to undertake some painting in the Club House in preparation for the Open next month

Matches of the day this Saturday will be Centre Fire/Sports Pistol commencing at 1pm

The first event for 2020 was contested this afternoon but in view of the extreme heat, it was decided to shoot an Air Pistol Match with the revamped Air Range proving to be the coolest place in the complex.

It would have been nothing short of miserable contesting the advertised Standard Pistol Match of the day.

Even in the Air Range, it became quite uncomfortable by the end of the match with the well above normal Temperatures we are enduring at present but still much cooler than in the Club House. The purchase of a couple of fans for the Air Range now looks highly likely.

I would hate to think what the temperature in the Range would have been if we had not spent the extra money to insulate the entire roof and all three walls at the firing line when we undertook the Range refurbishment last year.

Wayne acted as Range Officer with Michelle, Dick and Trevor contesting their Air Pistol Match and Bruce fired a half match of Air Pistol Practice. Both Dick and Michelle recorded new Personal Best Scores in their matches.

During the match, we also had a visit from a newly arrived resident of Glen Innes who appears keen to take up the sport of Pistol Shooting and join the club.

Next weekend, 25 m Black Powder and Rapid Fire are the scheduled matches of the day commencing at 1 pm

The Club Calendar for 2020 has now been completed and has been placed on this site under the "Club Calendar Banner"
As the year progresses, there may be times were it is necessary to change the scheduled match of the day or to call for a working bee, however, members will be advised by email in advance where possible when this does occur.
Happy new year to all members, their families, friends of the Club and anyone just having a look at this site 

Another good attendance yesterday considering the time of the year, the heat and the ongoing drought.
Seven members attended the facility yesterday, with three contesting Air Pistol, 2 Contesting 25 m Black Powder, one seeking some Administrative help and one acting as Range Officer
Michelle returned a score of 479 (in her 4th Air Match proving that he break into "C" grade 3 weeks ago was no fluke while Dick improved his previous best score by 44 points to return a score of 354 for Men's Air Pistol.
After Lunch, Wayne acted as Range Officer for 25 Metre Black Powder with Bob and Daniel contesting the Match. Bob's scores are coming back up after changing from Right handed to Left handed and Daniel returned a reasonable score considering that he had never previously contested the match.
Next Saturday will be the last Competition Day for 2019 with Centre Fire/Sport Pistol being the matches of the day commencing at 1 pm
The facility will then be closed to competition and reopening on 4/1/2020 with Standard Pistol being the Match of the Day

Another small turnout at the Club yesterday with 5 members in attendance. No doubt the significantly higher than average temperatures for this time of the year and the ongoing drought does impact on attendances by some of our members, particularly those on the land.
Scores for yesterday are now on the Match Results page.
I suspect that we will see a massive increase in Air Pistol Matches contested over summer. With all the insulation installed in the roof and walls while completing the final stage of the Air Range upgrade, the range yesterday was so much cooler than anywhere else at the complex and would have been up to 5 degrees cooler than in the Club House. 
This bodes well for the comfort of Competitors during our February Open where the weather is traditionally quite hot.
Matches of the day next Saturday are 25 metre Black Powder and Rapid Fire with the Air Range obviously available to members wishing to contest and Air Pistol Match

A welcome drop in temperature and some decent shows of rain over the past week enticed eight members to the Club yesterday.
Bruce, Dick and Michelle contested an Air Pistol Match with Wayne as Range Officer. Dick improved on his personal best from last week by 22 points while Michelle improved by 6 points. Bruce shot to his handicap.
Margaret contested 25 m Ladies Pistol while Jim and Daniel fired a Centre Fire Match. Daniel improved markedly on previous scores shot at this Range and will see his handicap reduced by 120 points as a result.
Match of the day next weekend is Standard Pistol, however, we do have a small job to do on the recently completed Air Range to re-fix one of the gutters which was dislodged in one of the recent storms. That repair should take no more than 30 minutes providing we have 5 or 6 members available to complete the work