Jim Blackmore won the handicap event with an off-rifle score of 99.8.

The conditions were unusually tricky for Wingham with strong winds picking up and dropping off on aim.

With half the season completed, Chris Burdette has already qualified, as have Bev and Mike Rogerson.

They will now be trying to get better scores and eliminate any lower ones for the championship year.

The club’s three Australian squad members – Peter Thurtell, Steve Southwell and Wendy Moon – travelled to Brisbane and shot at 1000 yards over three long days to try to secure a position in the Australian rifle team.

This is for the prestigious Palma match on that range in 2011 and is equivalent to the Olympic Games in rifle shooting.

The team will be selected in late November with five shooters being cut from the current squad of 25.

Steve finished fourth in the trials, Wendy was fifth and Peter came in 18th.

Although Peter might have a nervous wait, his top score for Australia in the United States in 2008 will hold him in good stead for the final selection process.

Back at home, Wingham Rifle Club’s up and coming F-class star, Phil Costa, won the handicap event at 800 yards with his personal best score of 113.

He defeated Bev Rogerson by 0.3 per cent when she scored 110, a great achievement for her as well.

The other outstanding shoot of the day was from club captain Jim Blackmore who has been in outstanding form. He shot a perfect score of 100 to win the off-rifle event.