N.Z. sharpshooter coliecis $25,000

Press, 26 April 1988, Page 56

N.Z. sharpshooter coliecis $25,000

NZPA-AAP Sydney A New Zealand farmer, John Dodson, won a tense 10-man shootoff for the Bicentennial points prize at the Anzac Rifle J Range at the week-end. Dodson, aged SS, in \spite of admitting to jierves )in the final stages, beat home a 1000strong international field to collect the $25,000 first prize land a $lO,OOO trophy. I His final aggregate of 472, including 40 central bullseyes, from a possible 475, made him a clear-cut winner by two points, j Second on 470.46 was Mosman-Neutral Bay’s outstanding rifleman, Andrew Powell, with the Canadian John Paton in third place with 469,42. Foiiowing shooting from eight ranges this week, the leading 10 competitors were forced into a 15-shot shootoff to determine the winner of Australia’s most lucrative prize meeting.

U ■ ■ ; Dodson was placed second in the final 10 with 398.35, a single central behind Rob Rush, from Ipswich. Rush, who had led the field on ; Saturday evening, ran into rifle problems halfway through the final 600 m mound yesterday. A faulty trigger forced Rush to swap rifles for the shootoff and he managed dnly 70 from a possible 75 with two centrals to finish in ninth position. Dodson, who has only won at provincial level in New Zealand, said he felt enormous pressure approaching the shootoff. “I would have thought it wad a lot easier coming from behind than having to lead from the front,” he said. Dodson recorded 13 straight bullseyes including five central. Powell, who went into the shootoff in sixth position with 396.38 decided to employ bold tactics to

try and unsettle Dodson. , The winner of the 1979 N.S.W. Queen’s! Prize and five! lathers around Australta, Powell was the first )rifleman) to get a shot away and complete yesterday’s shootoff. Shooting I extremely rapidly, Powell recorded bullseyes with his signers and only dropped a single point with his eighth business shok ! in carding a remarkable 74.8, Raton moved from seventh place ) before the shdotoff to finish third, returning a final 73.6 after inner fours with his fifth) and sixth business shots. The top woman was another New. Zealander, Diane Collings, whos 392.39 earned her nineteenth place over all. "he B Grade Queen’s Prize went to Great Britain’s Carol Beecher wi:h) 462.31 while New Zealand’s Janet Oliver captured the C section with 456.35. 1 1