The 2013 Benchrest Nationals for Experimental, Sporter, Light and Heavy were held at Silverdale Range over the Easter weekend.

We were blessed with good weather for the whole event, for which competitors and target crew alike were extremely grateful! The Nationals is the one event where the whole Benchrest fraternity can meet annually, and enjoy the social side of shooting, as well as the competition. As usual, we enjoyed a large contingent of campers, as well as daily visitors, and the evenings are always good fun. However, once the starters bell rings in the morning, all alliances are put to one side, as the serious competition begins. This was particularly so this year, as this was the final selection for our National Teams for WBC 2013, which will also be held at Silverdale in October. Some high points of the competition included seeing father and son, Ean and Darren Parsons, win a yardage each in Sporter (honours equal), a feat that was almost equalled by the Foates in Heavy, and Anthony Foate qualifying for the Hall Of Fame. Good sportsmanship was a feature of the entire competition, and those who qualified to represent us at the WBC go with our congratulations and best wishes, as they try to wrest the championship from the current holders (USA), and keep it here in OZ. We look forward to seeing you back here, and you have our total support. Good luck, fella’s! To all the organisers , crew, girls in the canteen, and competitors, we thank you, and look forward to seeing you again soon.

RESULTS:

Experimental. 100 1.Craig Whittleton 2.Ron Sinclair 3.Rob Carnell 200 1.David Kerr 2.Craig White 3.Andrew Schaeffer . Grand 1.Craig White 2.David Kerr 3.Brendan Atkinson

Sporter 100. 1.Ean Parsons 2.Rob Carnell 3.Anthony Foate 200. 1.Darren Parsons 2.Graham Keppie 3.Roger Marshall . Grand. 1.Graham Keppie 2.Darren Parsons 3.Brendan Atkinson

Light 100. 1.Jim McKinnie 2. Michael Huebner 3. Murray Hicks 200. 1.Craig Whittleton 2. David Kerr 3. Les Fraser. Grand 1. Thomas Spang 2. Craig Whittleton 3.Murray Hicks

Heavy 100. 1.Ralph Garlick 2. Stuart Foate 3.Milan Morrell 200. 1.Anthony Foate 2.Paul Sullivan 3. W Greer Grand 1. Anthony Foate 2. Paul Sullivan 3. Darren Parsons

Two-Gun 1.Anthony Foate 2. Paul Sullivan 3. Murray Hicks

Four- Gun 1. Craig Whittleton 2. Anthony Foate 3.David Kerr

Mark Worrad,

Silverdale Range.