JUNE 13, 2016 - NEW BRUNSWICK TEAM TO THE INTERMARITIME AND BRITISH TEAM MATCHES

BEST WISHES TO TEAM NEW BRUNSWICK

The New Brunswick Team that will be competing for the Intermaritime Trophy at the Beaverbank Ranges in Nova Scotia will be composed of the following shooters:

Ron Mason
FTR Shooter

Don Coleman
TR Shooter
Team Captain
Wind Coach

Ron Surette
TR Shooter
Wind Coach

                      

Ken Kyle
FTR Shooter

                

Gordon Holloway
TR Shooter
Shot Plotter

Paul Bastarache
FTR Shooter

Francis Bezeau
FTR Shooter

Michelle Cormier
Scorer and Alternate
TR Shooter

Mark McMullen

(no picture available)

TR Shooter

Shot Plotter 

JUNE 5, 2016 - INTERMARITIME/BRITISH TEAM MATCH TRIALS - RESULTS

The Intermaritime Match and British Team Match trials were held at the St. Antoine Ranges last Sunday with Ron Surette as Match Director and RO. Michelle Cormier did the score and stats tabulation as well as the photography.  Many thanks to both of you.

RESULTS - TR:
Don Coleman - 50V8   49V4  48V5  = 147V17
Ron Surette - 48V5   50V2   49V5 = 147V12
Mark McMullin - 46V3   48V5   46V2 = 140V10
Gord Holloway - 46V5   49V3   44V2 = 139V10
Michelle Cormier - 48V1   44V1   47V4 = 139V6
Ken Geddes - 44V2   45V1   48V3   = 137V6
Edgar Poirier - 41V1   45V2   44V2 = 130V5

RESULTS - FTR:
Ron Mason - 46V5   49V3   48V5 = 143V13
Harrison Brown - 47V2   45V1   49V6 = 141V9
Francis Bezeau - 47V3   45V1   48V2 = 140V6
Ken Kyle - 44V0   48V2   46V3 = 138V5
Paul Bastarache - 47V1   44V1   45V2 = 136V4

MAY 29, 2016 - RCR MATCH - SAINT ANTOINE

The RCR Match was shot at 300m, 500m, and 600m in Saint Antoine under the direction of Ron Surette. Michelle Cormier reports that the weather was awful - especially during the 600m relay - but cleared at the end of the match.

RESULTS - TR:       300m      500m      600m    Total
Don Coleman -         50V6       50V6      49V5    149V17  
Ron Surette -           50V1       46V2      46V3     142V6
Michelle Cormier -    45V3        44V1      47V1    136V5
Gordon Holloway -    47V2        47V2      41V0    135V4

RESULTS - FTR:     300m       500m     600m    Total
Harrison Brown -       49V3       47V4     42V1    138V8
Paul Bastarache -     48V4       45V1     45V0    138V5
Maurice Bennett -     47V4       46V4      44V1    137V9
Francis Bezeau -      49V3       41v2       45V3    135V8
Ken Kyle -                46V3       44V3      44V2    134V8
Conrad Leroux -        47V4       42V0      43V1    132V5

MAY 21, 2016 - THE SAINT GABRIEL 600 - RESULTS

Paul Bastarache, the Match Director for this event sends the following report:
"We had a great day of shooting with 12 shooters attending. 
Twelve year old Julien Gautreau shot a match for first time and Mike Connell was also a first time FTR shooter and I think he's hooked on the sport. We want to thank Peter Dobson (http://www.hirschprecision.com/) again for his generous donation of a shooting prize which we opted to give out as a draw prize. The winner of the scope by draw was Julien Gautreau.

RESULTS - FTR CLASS:

Ron Mason - 215V25
Paul Bastarache - 209V20
Francis Bezeau - 206V12
Maurice Bennett - 205V16
Ken Kyle - 205V12
Harrison Brown - 203V18
Mike Connell - 202V10
J.C. Gautreau - 191V7
Conrad Leroux - 190V11
Julien Gautreau - 181V8

RESULTS - FO CLASS:
Hermel Duguay - 205V10

RESULTS - TR CLASS:

Edgar Poirier - 199V10 

MAY 18, 2016 - RAMBLINGS OF A SHOOTING BUM

It's mid May and the RNBRA outdoor shooting season is well underway. I had the pleasure of working with a few of the guys from the Fullbore section a couple weekends ago at our target maintenance day on Batouche range at CFB Gagetown. This dedicated group did a much needed cleanup of our target storage and prepped targets for our upcoming  summer. Their hard work was rewarded with a good afternoon of shooting at 600 and 900m.    

Al Much, a Maritime shooting pioneer, trailblazer and friend recently shared a story that describes what motivates many of us who tinker with accurate firearms. ( I'll share it below ). 

May 14, 2016 - MEMORIAL/MACGILLIVRAY MATCH - RESULTS

.Despite some cool and wet weather we went ahead with the match under the direction of Adam MacDonald. 

On Saturday individual shooting took place at 900 meters. It was decided to cancel the team shooting scheduled for the following day

RESULTS - TARGET RIFLE:

Don Coleman - 196V18

RESULTS FTR CLASS:

Maurice Bennett - 184V10

Adam MacDonald - 184V9

Matt Wolf - 183V6

Gord Holloway - 177V10

Conrad Leroux - 169V3

SEE YOU IN SAINT GABRIEL !

MAY 7, 2016 - FREDERICTON CENTENNIAL MATCH - RESULTS

Thanks to Adam MacD.  for sending these results.

It was a good day today, good weather and just enough wind to make things interesting. Eight shooters were able to make it to the match - all of them F-class. Today no paper scorecards were used at all - all electronic for the first time. A big welcome to Reade Branch who came to shoot Fullbore for the first time.

RESULTS - FTR (HPS=150V30):

Paul Bastarache - 144V11

Harrison Brown - 142V14

Gord Holloway - 142V11

Adam MacDonald - 142V9

Ron Mason - 140V8

Ken Kyle - 132V3

Nick Munn - 130V5

Reade Branch - 103V2

APRIL 30, 2016 - SEASON OPENER AND RANGE MAINTENANCE

It was a gorgeous day for being at the range. 
Seven shooters - Harrison B., Gordon H., Don C., Nick M. and a friend, (didn't get his name - hopefully someone can provide it), Mark McM. and Mike L.  turned out, cleaned up the RNBRA club house and re-faced 6 targets until about 12:00. This was a great crew who really jumped in and got a lot of work done. The mice won't recognize the place.  
Gord left with a trailer full of junk for the dump.  
In the afternoon, they even got a few shots in to sight their rifles and work the bugs out of their equipment, (there was no registration taken or money collected as these folks certainly earned their afternoon on the range).
Mike left before the shooting began in the early afternoon.  Shooting was enjoyable, sun, no bugs and up to 5 minutes in wind correction at 600 with a good mirage. 

FEBRUARY 20, 2016 - FULLBORE EXECUTIVE MEETING

MEETING OF THE FULLBORE SECTION EXECUTIVE

A meeting of the Fullbore Executive took place on Saturday, February 20, 2016 with Chairman Bert deVink, Vice-Chairman Gord Holloway, Treasurer Daniel Chisholm, Secretary Don Coleman, Electronic Target Trustee and DCRA Representative Adam MacDonald, and RNBRA Past-president Michael Lutes in attendance.

AGENDA: (* denotes action item completed)
1.     RNBRA 150th Anniversary
After a discussion about the 150th Anniversary of the RNBRA, and based on a suggestion made by Ken Kyle at the AGM, it was decided that the Fullbore Section would strike a special commemorative pin and present this to all shooters at the APM and the "Any Rifle/Any Sights" match. 
It was decided that Adam MacDonald would arrange for a special "Any Rifle/Any Sights" match at Springfield.
*Bert deVink will price this item and forward a proposal to Conrad Leroux and members of the Fullbore Executive.

2.     Conflict in Dates - RNBRA APM and Eastern F-Class Championships
As the Eastern F-Class Championships are to be shot on July 1-3, 2016, it was decided to move our APM to the July 9 and 10, 2016. This will necessitate moving the Military Rifle match to July 2, 2016 and the Precision Rifle rain date to July 3, 2016.
*Bert deVink will change the schedule and advise Paul McIlveen of these changes.
*Bert deVink will also book Batouche Range for Thursday July 7th and Friday July 8th for range preparation.

3.     Course of Fire at the APM
A number of changes to the course of fire at the APM were proposed, and after much discussion it was decided that the following course of fire be adopted:

Saturday - Day 1
John Gibson Memorial - 2+10 at 300m
Prince of Wales - stage 1 - 2+7 at 300m
Prince of Wales - stage 2 - 2+10 at 600m
Alban Emery Match - 2+15 at 600m
Governor General's - stage 1 - 2+15 at 600m

Sunday - Day 2
Prince of Wales - stage 3 - 2+15 at 800m
Governor General's - stage 2 - 2+15 at 900m
Governor General's - stage 3 - 2+15 at 900m
(118 rounds, not including shoot-offs)

4.     PEI - APM
*Mike Lutes will book a large cabin at "The Birches" for the nights of August 5th and 6th, 2016
*This was not available but has been booked for the "Atlantics".

5.     Financial Matters
           i)     Balance: Treasurer Daniel Chisholm, reports that we have about $5600 at this point in time. This also includes the Amortization Fund to replace the electronic target system when it becomes necessary (at the rate of $10 per match/per shooter). This sum also includes an Emergency Fund. No funding has been received yet from the RNBRA.
*Daniel to search out the actual amount for the Amortization Fund in 2015. ($1860)
*          ii)     Electronic Target Markers: It was decided that the purchase of one more electronic target marking system is necessary for the efficient scoring of most of our matches. For a larger shoot such as the APM we have an arrangement with PEI to borrow their 2 target marking systems. Daniel suggested that we should test and eventually obtain a "Repeater Unit" which would elliminate some of the reception problems with the current unit. This would also allow us to operate without the large server unit. The purchase of an additional (refurbished) target marker and the Repeater Unit would be $1860US. It was decided we would go ahead with this purchase. Bert deVink will prepare a proposal to be submitted to Conrad Leroux and the Board of the RNBRA requesting the funding for this equipment and also for improvements to the target frames.
*         iii)     Budget: A budget related to Fullbore Shooters' activities during 2016 is to be submitted to the RNBRA for discussions with the Province of New Brunswick. Mike Lutes will review our previous submissions, adjust for activities during 2016 and circulate this to the Executive before submitting it to the RNBRA.
           iv)     Match Fee: It was moved  by Daniel Chisholm and seconded by Mike Lutes that Match Directors be exempt from paying the $25 match fee for any match that they are the Match Director. Carried.
            v)     Targets: Gord Holloway will make a tally of the target  bed-sheets and target faces that will be needed. Daniel Chisholm will order these from the DCRA. 
*          vi)     High Performance/Out of Province Shooters: The costs of representing the Province of New Brunswick at various matches across the Maritmes and in Ottawa as well as at Bisley is increasing. We believe that shooters who shoot in out-of-province matches should be given financial assistance. Promoting this high performance shooting is a mandate of the RNBRA and so Bert deVink will prepare a proposal for funding assistance for these shooters.
*          vii)     Plaques; Two small plaques will be purchased for the "All-Comer's" Match (TR and FTR); 3 plaques are required for the "Alban Emery" match (TR, FTR, F-Open) and 2 plaques are needed for the RNBRA Smallbore TR and MTR matches (Junior TR and Junior MTR). In addition $50 will be withdrawn from the Burge/Snow Fund, $50 from the Lockett Prize Fund and $75 from the Alban Emery Prize Fund. This to be funded by the interest generated by these funds.

6.     Promotion of Fullbore Shooting in New Brunswick
After much discussion, it became clear that Fullbore Shooters generally begin shooting this discipline a bit later in life - between 30 and 40 years of age when they are a bit more established in their work and family. This is a bit different from years ago when cadets would begin shooting at an early age and move up to target rifle as a natural progression. In our opinion, our efforts to recruit new Fullbore shooters should be directed towards this demographic.
We think that holding Fullbore Matches at different ranges across the province, with a slight emphasis on the Northern half of New Brunswick, will increase this province's shooters' exposure to Fullbore shooting and may result in some new shooters. 
Gord Holloway and Mike Lutes will work on a proposal to hold Fullbore shoots across the province and will cost it. As the RNBRA's mandate is to promote shooting, this proposal will be submitted to the RNBRA Board for funding support.

7.     Victoria Day Matches in Ottawa
*Don Coleman will obtain the correct dates for these matches and the schedule will be amended.

8.     Precision/BP/Military Shoots
There was some discussion about these shoots which are booked at Batouche on Base Gagetown under the auspices of the RNBRA. There was some concern expressed that the shooters who take part in these matches be RNBRA members so that our insurance will cover them - a requirement of shooting on the base. Even if a shooting fee is not collected at these matches, any guest must pay $5 for insurance and the names of these guests must be forwarded to the RNBRA for payment to the NFA. 
*Bert deVink to send a note to Paul, Mike, Brian and Wayne who are the Match Directors for these shoots.

9.     Adjournment
Mike Lutes moved adjournment of the meeting. Unanimous.

FEBRUARY 10, 2016 - RAMBLING OF A SHOOTING BUM - MIKE LUTES

RAMBLINGS OF A SHOOTING BUM

COMPETITION = TESTING = SUCCESS

Or why we choke under pressure. 

I'm going to ramble about competition and why I think it's important to our  community.  

Shooting has been promoted as a competitive sport over its long history for several reasons which are as relevant  today as they were 150 years ago. Canada has produced many high level shooters that  have historically had significant success in international events. These matches test skill and preparation in