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2017 memorial silverdale

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chrisjon65
chrisjon65's picture
2017 memorial silverdale

I was looking at the sSaa calendar and noticed the memorial event in December is still noted
I know many folks seem to have underlying issues with a certain individual who currently managers the range and am I to assume that is the reason the event has been ignored
I was wondering if the event is still going ahead ?
If not , it seems a certain single individual has succeeded in his master plan to rid Silverdale of any future benchrest competitions .
ssaa should hang its head in shame .

robbycar
robbycar's picture
This will be cancelled

Billo asked me if I wanted to run the event. I said no because I am not even a Sydney Branch member anymore.

But it is a pity to lose this event which I originally conceived and sponsored.

Rob.

BB Administrator

chrisjon65
chrisjon65's picture
A pity

I guess I was hoping for a last stand of defiance .
Being very new to comp shooting all I've heard is about the good old days of matches at Silverdale and sadly I've come in a bit late.
Running a business doesn't allow me travel for matches hence me asking about the memorial
I guess I will have to wait till the new range is finished to meet everyone , but looking forward to it . Cheers Chris

wally289
wally289's picture
2017 memorial silverdale

It is sad that one has to read and see this happening and unfortunate that one that started things off can no longer organize and run well others say a certain person has succeeded in getting rid of bench rest from the range I say not the effort of one but combined from the committee as it is they who run it not the one it is also sad to see a new shooter as I am saying he has to weight for another range to open I say to him this was happening where I shoot not that anyone wished to get rid of bench rest but no one willing to run it so I stepped up took on the job and loving every moment of it and getting more shooters interested all the time
All I can say to him is have a go you will get all the help and then some the ones there have all done it before this is some of the reason it does not go ahead there waiting to see if anyone will step up you say you run a business no time bull dust I run my own thing is you find time for the things you love all I can say is step up you won’t regret the decision see comments from others below
and i too say shame on S S A A state and national for letting this happen at such a high profile range the antiygun mob must be loving seeing us rip ourselves apart

For the love of bench rest it’s a drug
Wally

I guess I was hoping for a last stand of defiance .
Being very new to comp shooting all I've heard is about the good old days of matches at Silverdale and sadly I've come in a bit late.
Running a business doesn't allow me travel for matches hence me asking about the memorial
I guess I will have to wait till the new range is finished to meet everyone , but looking forward to it . Cheers Chris

If not , it seems a certain single individual has succeeded in his master plan to rid Silverdale of any future benchrest competitions .
ssaa should hang its head in shame .

But it is a pity to lose this event which I originally conceived and sponsored.

Wombat

chrisjon65
chrisjon65's picture
Numbers

In the case of Silverdale I can safely say it's not the lack of people willing to organise events I think it's more to do with the fact that 90% of benchrest shooters don't want to shoot there anymore.
This is odvious by just looking at the fact no large rimfire comps or centrefire comps are even on the calenders anymore .

wazza
wazza's picture
B/R Silverdale

A lot could be said about Silverdale Range a lot of dam good things, about people, the range, the Committee, Range Management of Silverdale
we all had a lot of fun, had good comps, good friendships, worked hard for the range, people, and Committee, but this all turned sour with politics
of Sydney Branch and the ranges they owned when they the Committee forced Rob Carnell ( the out going President ) and others from Sydney Branch.
I am not going to fight with anyone over this nor will I go into details here, not here where Rob could be held accountable for my actions .
Folks are just sick and tired of even being involved with the range or Committee as they see with their eyes the results of willing people.
We are just normal people that pull a trigger and love just that, although with my health this is getting hard now.
Wombat we have tried and we have fought a good fight, but mate we lost and now you have a range that seasoned shooters will not touch.
I really think Benchrest in the 1970's and on was the strongest we have ever seen and man I had a ball.

Barry

rusty1
Silverdale

I would just like to say, when I shot at Silverdale the first time in 2012 the people running the comps made every one feel part of the BR community. It was great I looked forward to the comps each year. Silverdale is burnet into my memory as I got my first national gold their. Camping was great ,Pork sausages for tea. Those who stayed there would remember. Cards with Billo & Billy J and a drop of red. What else could you wont. When you drive south 500Km to see old friends for three days shooting. All I can say what a bloody shame.

Rusty1

GJF
Silverdale

Just think Silverdale has gone from being the host of the 2013 world benchrest championship to not running a club shoot. That's a hell of a job in four years.
Greg

wally289
wally289's picture
Silverdale

Wow I did not realise that things were or are that bad at Silverdale it is a real shame as I can see the passion the shooter have through this forum and is is some of you that have inspired me to give it a go and I must say I am enjoying it very much the altitude of ranges up the north of Queensland is different and great to be part of I can only say for shame on Silverdale and their committee for buggering things up for the shooters just to turn a profit it seems SSAA NEW SOUTH WALES should be held accountable for what has happened and national should step up and fix this

Sorry all for not understanding how things are
For the love of bench rest it’s a drug
Wally

Wombat

wazza
wazza's picture
Silverdale

Wombat,
You need to understand that State is NOT responsible for the actions of Sydney branch, although after their ( State ) AGM and Mark & Dave were voted off the State board with the help of Sydney branch, this was their own committee people they dumped! State would now realize who they are dealing with I am sure.
Mate there is lot that you don't know, this is just one of them.
No offence meant.

Barry

chrisjon65
chrisjon65's picture
Bad to Good

Fortunately , a dedicated family has stepped up in response to the demise of benchrest competition in the Sydney area and has begun construction of a new privately owned and run benchrest range.
The range yardages are 50,100,200 and 300with 25 benches
The range will cater for all forms of benchrest shooting of both centrefire and rimfire catergories .
Knowing these folks personally I can tell you the work they are putting into this massive project is huge and I encourage everyone to lend support and encouragement totem as the push to create a world class facility for everyone to enjoy .
So folks ,this time next year the good old days of BBQ pork sausages , a few beers and cards after matches will return and with it a whole new era fond memories . Cheers Chris

robbycar
robbycar's picture
Amazing really

The current Sydney Branch committee spent a small fortune using consultants to help find them an alternate range site in the Sydney basin. They even had the consultants give a waste of time presentation during an AGM. Long and the short of it was that none of them were able to find anything.

But, Peter Armstrong was able to find a suitable spot with only 2 days searching!

I'm not sure if this speaks for the quality of the Committee, the consultant, or both!

Rob.

BB Administrator

chrisjon65
chrisjon65's picture
Good question

Once again it shows the folks who love the sport play the sport encourage people to play their sport are the ones who get things done .
Remove egos, political agenda and personal gain from a project and this happen for the better . Something Ssaa and its voting members need to consider and stop embarrassing themselves in front of others who know better

michaeljp
I wonder if they approached

I wonder if they approached the ADF regarding the 6 ranges at Holsworthy?

LJ Fraser
Silverdale

I was going to remain silent on this issue but here are some facts. Two years ago i was elected as NSW delegate for short range and then overturned by Mr Billinghurst who stated that i was elected as the fly delegate i advocated that shoots should not be moved from Silverdale, I even made a verbal presentation to the Chair of the Sydney branch for the possibility of doing a verbal presentation to the entire committee. This was granted and i learnt that SSAA Sydney were prepared to put money into benchrest at Silverdale and that infact they had tried many times before but information from Mr Billinghurst who is represented on that committee was that the shooters didn't want to comply with range rules and were being obstructive you may read my submission to SSAA Sydney on this forum. The same Mr Billinghurst who is the National Chair of short range also moved the shoots from Silverdale to Coffs Harbour with no regard to shooters from the country or the Sydney basin who now have to travel 10 hours to get to a shoot. The hypocrisy of this is Mr Billinghurst is supposed to represent the sport as the national Chair and NSW as the Delegated elected representative of the NSW Benchrest community but what has he done in his tenor moved shoots away from Silverdale not been transparent about meetings of SSAA Sydney and moved all shoots to Coffs Harbour for what reason ? . Mr Billinghurst is the national chair of this discipline and also your elected NSW representative if there is any form representation to National about this issue it is Mr Billinghurst who has to do this.

The sport is declining and whilst people move things around to suit their own agenda's the sport loses momentum and shooters look to other shooting disciplines and their is the problem less numbers. Sooner rather than later the only people shooting the sport will be those from the 70's who started the sport and now look like finishing it......

Les Fraser

michaeljp
Silverdale

What about a rebel BR comp?

wazza
wazza's picture
Silverdale

Rob,
Mate it is not the quality of the committee or consultant of Sydney branch, but the quality of Peter Armstrong who so far
has performed unbelievably, with the help of John, folks would remember John, who was the guy that would cook you a pork dinner for free and help
on the range with targets and so on, yes that's the guy who was security on the range after hrs for around 13 years that done an outstanding job for us
who was KICKED off the range, by the new committee and range manager.

Barry

michaeljp
Silverdale

Im a newbie to benchrest aswell. I go to silverdale for practice and load development. Every time i go, I'm usually the only one with a BR rifle. Its a bit hard to learn things not knowing if I'm doing something wrong and looking for answers on forums. Its a shame not to use the range to its full potential, SSAA Sydney needs to pull its finger out. Ive had a few heated emails with the Sydney president regarding range fees, but he doesn't want to change things there.

chrisjon65
chrisjon65's picture
Answer

Simple question really?
If a registered centrefire match was being held in say February at Silverdale would you shoot there ???
If a registered IRB match was held in Silverdale a week later would you go there and shoot ??? Simple yes or no answer .
My answer is yes to both

robbycar
robbycar's picture
Yes and no

I don't have a rimfire rifle, but I am seriously thinking of getting one.

But unfortunately, the chances of Sydney Branch allowing matches 2 weekends in a row is zero.

Rob.

BB Administrator

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