Top class shooting at EP champs, medals for locals
Rhodes University Rifle Club hosted the 2017 Eastern Province Small-Bore Rifle Championships on Saturday 6 May.
The event was held at the Rhodes University Rifle Range, with competitors from as far afield as Durban and Victoria West in the Northern Cape descending on the Rhodes campus for the annual championship event.
Grahamstown was well represented, with eight competitors from the Rhodes University Rifle Club and seven competitors from the PJ Olivier Club participating. The competitors were divided into three classes, a combined A&B class, a combined C&D class and F class.
The weather was excellent on the day and the scores high. Grahamstown locals William Reed (PJ) and Basil Human (PJ) finished first and second overall in class A&B, with Reed winning both matches and Human finishing second in both. Mart-Mari de Bruyn (Rhodes), with a third place finish in Match 1, finished fourth overall in this class.
In class C&D, James Connan (Rhodes) and Michael Bertasso (Rhodes) finished second and third respectively. Connan placed second in Match 1 and won Match 2. Bertasso placed third in both matches. The class was won by Julia Wilson from Victoria West, with only 1 point separating the top two.
Victoria West again pipped Grahamstown in class F. Gerrit Vlok (PJ) and Geoff BagshaweSmith (Rhodes) finished second and third respectively.
First place went to Calvyn Vlok (Victoria West), who placed second in Match 1 and won Match 2. Gerrit Vlok (PJO) won Match 1, but a third place in Match 2 cost him overall. Bagshawe-Smith (Rhodes) picked up the third place in Match 1.
James Connan, chairperson of the Rhodes University Rifle Club, thanked the organisers and officials