My Weekend at Kempsey
or(Those EFFEN BEARS)
By Wes Bull
It was to a clear and early start heading off from Taree, only to be greeted 45 minutes later to a line of grey rainy looking clouds that seemed to be right over the top of the area where Macleay Valleys range sits, it was. So rain was to be the order of the day, OK for some, not so for others. On arriving, Karl and I were surprised to see that the place was virtually full of caravans, tents and cars. A really good turnout with over eighty competitors set to tackle the 3D layout on two ranges. Cunningly set out by the Range Captain, (Shane Fuit), who takes wicked delight in having difficult stances, awkward obstructions, deceptive distances and all manner of things that go into making it a great and challenging shoot. Well done Shane.
With the sighted shooters on the Goanna range and the unsighted shooters on the Anthill range, following the official welcome speech by Peter Fairhall and with it still raining, groups assembled and made their way out into the Collombatti countryside.
Little more than an hour later the rain let-up and stayed that way for the rest of the weekend.
On the course the resounding thwump of rubber animals being whacked by arrows , could be heard in all directions as well as cheers, chuckles and the occasional odd sounds that is usually associated with a stray arrow or two into butts.
With a lot of familiar faces and quite a few new ones as well, it would be interesting to see how everyone went.
It’s great to see so many people coming a long way to these branch shoots with a really big contingent coming from Gunnedah, Singleton, Central Coast. Taree was also well represented with 10 participating.
Some targets of note would have to be a long downhill elk, ably surrounded by scarred trees and those EFFEN BEARS must be something about man-eating predators, I can’t hit them.
In my group the undoubted shot of the day was to Shirley, from 3DAAA, who put her first arrow dead centre in the pro-ring on the 45 odd metre, very small zone, all white caribou or reindeer or what ever it was, big animal, big antlers, very small target zone.
It was beautiful to watch though the Bino’s, the arrow in flight all the way to the centre and never even looked like missing. A great shot and had her smiling a big wide smile for the rest of the round.
The targets shot were:Turkey, Crocogator, Coyote, Wolf, 3 different Bears, Pigs, Goats, Warthog, Javelina, Fox, Elk, Caribou, Deer, Mountain Lion and Cat.
After lunch it was swap ranges and out again we went in much more pleasant conditions for the one arrow round, Quite amazing the difference in terrain the two ranges offer and how quickly it changes. Some of the trickier shots were the climbing bear, not much leeway to be low, the quartering on warthogs that was nearly running straight at ya and the alligator, tucked away on the creek bed, and the infamous gully shot that is so hard to guess distance.
No lost arrows and had a great time trying to go shot to shot with Gary Nicholls, in my group, unfortunately for Gary, he was learning a brand new bow and had a couple get away on him..With four freestyle shooters in your group, things can get a bit tight in the shorter targets and a fair bit of arrow slapping was to be expected.
With the round over, it was down to the serious business of relaxing and telling tall tales of the shot that could have been and having a well earned coldie.
Thank you Karl, as I forgot to go to the bottlo, but I did remember to bring something that topped off the night that was loosely described as metho with bourbon flavouring.
Kempsey’s dinners, with three to choose from, were just what the doctor ordered for the evening and well done to all the folks in the canteen, and followed by a very pleasant full moonlit night, sitting around the mozzie candle till all hours, saw out the end of day one.
On rising Sunday morning to the chipper faces of some who had retired early and some slightly blearier eyes, clear but humid weather seemed to be the outlook. Must have coffee was the chant and yes the canteen crew were already at it.
Checking the standing sheet was a bit confusing as apparently the computer was having a bit of a moment. I was leading flight 2, funny I thought I was in Flight 1. Lots of pen scrawls and corrections as some people didn’t know what class they were shooting in. Anyway, Rob, Lyn, Lou and Cathie were able to wring it’s neck and get it all sorted out in the end. I’m sure I saw Rob behind the caravan pulling his hair out and mumbling incoherently.
Two arrow round and same groups as yesterday and an earlier muster saw everyone out on the range and slapping arrows again, eight arrows in in the A, gets really tight!
When we got to the EFFEN BEARS, shortly after the elk quartering on and hiding behind the tree, both bears were reversed and looking like they were taking a pee on the butt behind them. Bear one missed, bear two missed, second arrow got him, finally.
Everyone in my group seemed to be having a better round, particularly young Ben who shot 70 points better than the day before, more relaxed perhaps, as I think he said he hadn’t shot 3D before.
Gary was a couple of arrows shorter in his quiver and I was just grateful to not have to make more arrows.
With the two arrow round over, scores in and most packing up done, the general tough but fun as well and with leech bites aside all escaped unscathed.
My personal highlight was seeing my daughter and granddaughter waiting to greet me coming off the range.
Then it was presentations with the Manning Shooters doing very well:
Mick Brett 1st
Mark Fotheringham 1st
Karl Peck 1st
James Dowson 1st
Myself, doing a Bradbury 1st
John Thoroughgood 6th
Ray Thoroughgood 1st
James Fotheringham 2nd
Unfortunately equipment failure keeping Andrew Jennings from beating his old man, something I believe he’s keen to do.
All over a great weekend, great turnout and well done Macleay Valley Archers, a top shoot.
One last point of note goes to young Jacob Fuit who’s first days scores of 398 and 398 was a great effort. God help us all when he makes seniors.
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