03/11/2014
History at Bilson Range
As you are aware, the first ever Humansdorp KO OP Grouping Shoot was held at Bilson Range yesterday. The KO OP sponsored day came about as a result of the huge number of requests for sponsorship laid at the door of the KO OP by the various shooting bodies in the eastern cape which led to a decision being taken for them to rather make a single substantial sponsorship to all shooters in our region by hosting an annual even. They also secured a number of other organisations to display their products and provide sponsorship in the form of prizes for the day. The total prize value for the day was in excess of R50 000. Planning took months and was conducted by an ad hoc committee formed from members of the three local branches of SAHGCA, viz. Grysbok, Kwagga and Koukamma. The format for the day was a grouping competition with the grand prize being a Sabatti 9.3 rifle sponsored by the KO OP!
Huge effort was put into the preparation of the range, targets, eats, entry forms, measurers and range officers. With the host branch being Grysbok this year, the guys from Grysbok came together in an incredible display of unselfish commitment and got stuck into the preparations for the day. For me to mention specific names would be exceptionally dangerous simply because so many people simply put their shoulder to the wheel that I would unintentionally not be able to mention everyone and so I felt is best for us all just to acknowledge the branch as a whole for the outstanding efforts in preparing the range for the day.
As it turned out, one thing that no-one could pre-order was the weather and as dawn broke on Saturday, the sky was heavily overcast and the rain was imminent. Although steps had been taken to try and minimise the effects of rain, we had really hoped it would stay away until after midday. This was not to be and the rain came early and stayed for the rest of the day. As if that was not enough, the wind decided to join in as well and was pushing at a steady 8m/s and gusting up to 12m/s.
Well, this is when history was in the making. Entries opened at 07h00, briefing at 07h45 and shooting started just after 08h00. By just after 14h00, we had had 204 individual entries who had successfully shot a total of 490 targets in a total of 26 details. We do not know how many people turned away as a result of the weather, but those who did take part in spite of the weather made for an all-time record attendance at a shoot in our area. Kwagga and Koukamma branches were there in full support and handled the range officer duties and provided huge support in the measuring office. The range officers did not miss a beat and stuck to their guns in the rain and wind until the bitter end. Altogether, 26 people did range officer duty. The measuring ran like clockwork and those involved must have been able to measure a grouping to the nearest 0,1mm by eye by the end of the day. The kitchen ran to capacity for the entire day and helped to keep the cold and wet out with warm food and, later on, something to warm the blood!
Unbelievably, when the prize giving started, the club house was so full of people that the tent next to the club house was used to accommodate those who could not fit in, and that was full as well! A loud hailer was needed to keep the people up to speed with the prizes and amazing lucky draws provided so generously by the sponsors.
In spite of the appalling conditions, the groupings shot were exceptionally good with the top 15 all being under 12mm. The congratulations go to our overall winner, Retief Ferreria, with an average of two three shot groups of 6.92mm shot with a 308. He was given a good run for his money by none other than his Grade 7 son, Janlo, who led for a good portion of the day with a group of just over 7mm using a 6mm Dasher. The Ladies was won by Antoinette Kritzinger, the Seniors by Willem Grobbelaar, the Junior boys was won by Janlo Ferreria, the Junior girls by Bianca Vermaak, the small bore by Janlo Ferreria, the medium bore by Retief Ferreria and the big bore by Willem Grobbelaar. An excellent effort by all and well deserving of their prizes.
I would be remiss if I did not express, on behalf of all the competitors, our immense thanks to Grysbok for all of the preparation, Kwagga and Koukamma for all of their support on the day, to the sponsors for their huge generosity and most of all, to the Humansdorp KO OP for their initiative and input into making the day a huge success.
We look forward to next year, but it is evident that we will need more tables and a bigger clubhouse by then!! Watch this space……..
Stuart Riddle
