THE State’s top in-form rifle shooter Ashley Bidgood continued on his winning way at the Ipswich Annual Prize Meeting on Sunday.
He missed just one bullseye in the 30 shot match to beat a strong field in the popular event hosted by Ipswich and District Rifle Club.
There were more than 80 competitors from around south east Queensland and northern NSW, almost half of them scope rifle shooters.
The match was shot over 600 metres twice and 800 metres in challenging conditions with flukey winds and target mirage early in the day.
Ashley, from Crows Nest-Goombungee Rifle Club, won the last competition event at Beaudesert with a possible 150 score. His 149 with 20 centre bulls at Ipswich made him a clear winner from Mirko Teglasi of Brisbane who finished on 147.16, ahead of Ipswich member Rob Rush on 147.11.
Tony Logan from Ipswich won B Grade ahead of Jandowae’s Brett Harling.
Craig Meldrum from Natives Rifle Club won C Grade from Craig England of Ipswich.
In the F Standard scope class, top young Ipswich shooter Josh Reid finished one shot ahead of the fast finishing Brian Pickles from Natives in A Grade.
Beaudesert’s Eric Dudley was a convincing B Grade winner from Albert District’s Mal Lubach.
In the F Open class Mark Fairbairn from Cannon Hill and Dalby Tara’s Julie McEwan both finished two shots down on 178, with Mark shooting 14 centres to Julie’s 7.
Shooters are now gearing up for the Queensland Rifle Association Queens’s Prize which will be contested at Belmont in Brisbane from August 14 to 16.
