Sport
30 October, 2023
Central Victorian Grand Prix a success
A strong contingent made their way to the Maryborough Gun Club on Saturday morning as the club held its 44th edition of the Central Victorian Grand Prix in overcast, but tricky conditions. A strong breeze meant that successful shots were at...

A strong contingent made their way to the Maryborough Gun Club on Saturday morning as the club held its 44th edition of the Central Victorian Grand Prix in overcast, but tricky conditions.
A strong breeze meant that successful shots were at a premium for the 77 participants, with a $10,000 prize pool on offer.
Three events were held which made up a total portion of the 150 points on offer — the 25-target single barrel competition, the 50-target double barrel competition and the 25-target points score.
In event one, MCC-ACTA’s Nathan McDonnell made all his shots count as he scored a perfect 25 to take the first event to win from Wonthaggi’s Cooper Goodwin in the open class.
In A grade, a shootout was needed to separate WVCTC’s David Nielsen and Colac’s Warren Williamson, eventually going the way of the former, while B grade saw Frankston’s Mick Rocca score 23 points to win. In C grade, WVCTC’s Craig Hesse won in a shootout with Castlemaine’s David Mannix.
A shootout was also needed in the 50-target competition, with Cohuna’s Greg Hipwell and Echuca’s Steve Haberman engaged in a thrilling battle.
Both shooters finished perfect with 50 shots apiece, before Hipwell won on the 11th shot of the shootout.
Similarly, a shootout was needed to separate McDonnell and Maryborough local Darren Watts, with both shooters going at it for an addition 26 shots, before McDonnell finished second.
In A grade, WVCTC’s Peter Arbaci’s perfect score helped him win from Kyneton’s Brian Matthews.
There was local success in B grade, with Maryborough’s Garry Cassells taking the win with 49 shots from Rocca.
In C grade, Kyneton’s Jamie Burrows won from Echuca’s Graeme Ludbrook.
In the final event, Morwell’s Brendan Grimes was the winner, scoring a perfect 75 points to win from WVCTC’s Ben O’Halloran.
Adrian O’Connell gave Maryborough a local win in A grade, scoring 74 points to win from Loddon District’s Matthew Appleby, while Rocca took his second win in B grade from Colac’s Graham Menhennet. In C grade, WVCTC’s Grace Hesse took the win from Maryborough local Craig Jennings.
In the overall standings, McDonnell took the open category with a score of 146 out of 150, while in AA class, Hipwell took the win with 145.
O’Connell took the overall A grade class with 144 points, as did Rocca in B grade, scoring 142. Mannix took the C grade category with 126.
In the junior class, Metro CTC’s Daniel Burzomi took the win with a score of 131, while Beaufort’s Kate Edwards took the ladies’ competition with 132. Ararat’s Gary Hargreaves took the veteran class with a score of 139.