I thought this might be of interest to some ??
Recently I had the honor of attending the 2014 African Regional Benchrest Championships in Cape Town South Africa.
Below is a report of the match written by Steve Williams. I'm sorry that the pictures didn't copy, but I've been told by a friend that he will add some pics after I get this report posted. ??
All I can say is you should have been there!!! -- truly one of the most interesting and well run matches that I've ever been to -- and what a setting Shirt sleeve weather with snow caped mountains in the background simply beautiful
This shoot happens every two years -- I believe that the next one will be in Namibia in 2016??
I would like to thank Jan Hemmes, Kobus Visser, and all the other great people that were there for making this a real hoot!! it was a blast !!
Gene Bukys
The 2014 African Regional Benchrest Shooting Championship
09 July to 12 July 2014
Riebeek Valley Range on DuToits Farm
Hosted by Western Province Benchrest Shooting Federation
Report by Steve Williams
Photos property of Steve Williams
A lightly misted shrouded valley, crisp blue skies, surrounded by snowy peaks and the smell of wet black earth, was this spring in the Alps, no it was the Riebeek Kasteel Valley, mid-winter, at its best.
We could not have asked for more as the week before the Cape was soaked to the bone with torrential rains and high on shore winds. A better advert to show to our cross border and overseas visiting teams what the Swartland has to offer could not have been planned by any advertising company.
The African Regional Shoot is the gap filler between each World Championship Shoot which takes place every two years, and this year the Cape was to host this prestigious event.
Top Guns from all over the USA, Namibia and Zimbabwe were invited to partake in the Three day shootout.
Benchrest shooting is the Formula One of shooting, it is the pinnacle of precision shooting and extreme reloading. The shooting takes place while been seated next to a bench, hence the name, Bench Rest Shooting. The Holy Grail for any casual shooter is to shoot another bullet through the hole he just shot. Do that five times in seven minutes, 10 times a day for three days, then you will have an idea of what this activity is about. Chuck in a mixture of switching winds, temperature deviation, humidity, experienced shooters then it becomes very difficult game.
Figure 1 Benches on the Riebeek Valley Range
Figure 2 WP Member Johan van Reenen hard at work
After long flights and many hours on the road, Teams started to arrive in the Valley a few days before to start the shoot, to practice, boosting the local economy for a few days through hotel and B&B bookings, restaurant visits, using local catering suppliers and a Gala Prize giving at the Travellers in. This all added to the quality time spent by the visiting families. As always the Valley Community went out of their way to accommodate us.
Figure 3 Setting up the range
Figure 4 Wind indicators in place on the range
The Shooting began in earnest on Wednesday with official practice and then all the nerves were finally settled as the first shots went off for real on Thursday morning.
Figure 5 the Hardware - 6mm PPC Calibre
Figure 6 An example of the portable reloading equipment used on the range by competitors.
The Shoot was divided into “Bull’s-eye” type target competition and then the smallest average Group Shoot Competition was calculated over the Friday and Saturday Shoots. Distances shot were 100m and 200m. In the Bulls–eye competition just to be in the running you would have to shoot a full score of 250 out of 250 and then have the most “x’s” (centre of bull shot out) to win.
So when the first scores were posted it was our own WP Member Johan van Reenen that took the overall with an incredible score and new record of 500 x23
1. Johan van Reenen 500 23X RSA
2. Neil Hyneke 500 17X RSA
3. Gene Bukys 449 19X USA
Figure 7 Samples of 200m and 100m Bull’s-eye competition targets.
Then it was the start of the Group Shooting Competition.
Two days of very trying conditions with winds swapping throughout the day causing some major upsets in the ranks. One small mistake and you tumbled way down the score board. Been careful was the name of the game. When the two days were over and all the scores were added up and averaged, it was an USA one and two with RSA in third. The scores indicated are in thousands of an inch - 0.040” = 1mm and matches have been lost and one by 0.001”
1. Bart Sauter USA 0.242”
2. Billy Stevens USA 0.285”
3. Mario Coetzer RSA 0.302”
4. Steve Williams RSA 0.307”
5. Gert Coetzer RSA 0.311”
Figure 8 Examples of 200m and 100m five shot groups, bottom targets are used for testing the wind, top is for score. Centre ring at 200m is 19mm and 9mm at 100m
A real schooling in consistency was handed out by the Americans with all the masses of knowledge and experience. After hours, while socializing, they freely and patiently handed over as much information and tips that time allowed. A Fine display of great sportsmanship.
Figure 9 Socializing after the day’s work.
Figure 10 centre three shooters are the USA Team been educated in local customs.
Figure 11 A few of the Namibian and Zimbabwean members.
The event was closed with the usual good food and wine, great service and awesome hospitality as always provided for us by the Travellers Rest Inn. Thanks guys. We will be back next year.
And so after many handshakes and farewells the teams began the long trips home. The USA team continued their hunting trip in South Africa and Namibia.
Recently I had the honor of attending the 2014 African Regional Benchrest Championships in Cape Town South Africa.
Below is a report of the match written by Steve Williams. I'm sorry that the pictures didn't copy, but I've been told by a friend that he will add some pics after I get this report posted. ??
All I can say is you should have been there!!! -- truly one of the most interesting and well run matches that I've ever been to -- and what a setting Shirt sleeve weather with snow caped mountains in the background simply beautiful
This shoot happens every two years -- I believe that the next one will be in Namibia in 2016??
I would like to thank Jan Hemmes, Kobus Visser, and all the other great people that were there for making this a real hoot!! it was a blast !!
Gene Bukys
The 2014 African Regional Benchrest Shooting Championship
09 July to 12 July 2014
Riebeek Valley Range on DuToits Farm
Hosted by Western Province Benchrest Shooting Federation
Report by Steve Williams
Photos property of Steve Williams
A lightly misted shrouded valley, crisp blue skies, surrounded by snowy peaks and the smell of wet black earth, was this spring in the Alps, no it was the Riebeek Kasteel Valley, mid-winter, at its best.
We could not have asked for more as the week before the Cape was soaked to the bone with torrential rains and high on shore winds. A better advert to show to our cross border and overseas visiting teams what the Swartland has to offer could not have been planned by any advertising company.
The African Regional Shoot is the gap filler between each World Championship Shoot which takes place every two years, and this year the Cape was to host this prestigious event.
Top Guns from all over the USA, Namibia and Zimbabwe were invited to partake in the Three day shootout.
Benchrest shooting is the Formula One of shooting, it is the pinnacle of precision shooting and extreme reloading. The shooting takes place while been seated next to a bench, hence the name, Bench Rest Shooting. The Holy Grail for any casual shooter is to shoot another bullet through the hole he just shot. Do that five times in seven minutes, 10 times a day for three days, then you will have an idea of what this activity is about. Chuck in a mixture of switching winds, temperature deviation, humidity, experienced shooters then it becomes very difficult game.
Figure 1 Benches on the Riebeek Valley Range
Figure 2 WP Member Johan van Reenen hard at work
After long flights and many hours on the road, Teams started to arrive in the Valley a few days before to start the shoot, to practice, boosting the local economy for a few days through hotel and B&B bookings, restaurant visits, using local catering suppliers and a Gala Prize giving at the Travellers in. This all added to the quality time spent by the visiting families. As always the Valley Community went out of their way to accommodate us.
Figure 3 Setting up the range
Figure 4 Wind indicators in place on the range
The Shooting began in earnest on Wednesday with official practice and then all the nerves were finally settled as the first shots went off for real on Thursday morning.
Figure 5 the Hardware - 6mm PPC Calibre
Figure 6 An example of the portable reloading equipment used on the range by competitors.
The Shoot was divided into “Bull’s-eye” type target competition and then the smallest average Group Shoot Competition was calculated over the Friday and Saturday Shoots. Distances shot were 100m and 200m. In the Bulls–eye competition just to be in the running you would have to shoot a full score of 250 out of 250 and then have the most “x’s” (centre of bull shot out) to win.
So when the first scores were posted it was our own WP Member Johan van Reenen that took the overall with an incredible score and new record of 500 x23
1. Johan van Reenen 500 23X RSA
2. Neil Hyneke 500 17X RSA
3. Gene Bukys 449 19X USA
Figure 7 Samples of 200m and 100m Bull’s-eye competition targets.
Then it was the start of the Group Shooting Competition.
Two days of very trying conditions with winds swapping throughout the day causing some major upsets in the ranks. One small mistake and you tumbled way down the score board. Been careful was the name of the game. When the two days were over and all the scores were added up and averaged, it was an USA one and two with RSA in third. The scores indicated are in thousands of an inch - 0.040” = 1mm and matches have been lost and one by 0.001”
1. Bart Sauter USA 0.242”
2. Billy Stevens USA 0.285”
3. Mario Coetzer RSA 0.302”
4. Steve Williams RSA 0.307”
5. Gert Coetzer RSA 0.311”
Figure 8 Examples of 200m and 100m five shot groups, bottom targets are used for testing the wind, top is for score. Centre ring at 200m is 19mm and 9mm at 100m
A real schooling in consistency was handed out by the Americans with all the masses of knowledge and experience. After hours, while socializing, they freely and patiently handed over as much information and tips that time allowed. A Fine display of great sportsmanship.
Figure 9 Socializing after the day’s work.
Figure 10 centre three shooters are the USA Team been educated in local customs.
Figure 11 A few of the Namibian and Zimbabwean members.
The event was closed with the usual good food and wine, great service and awesome hospitality as always provided for us by the Travellers Rest Inn. Thanks guys. We will be back next year.
And so after many handshakes and farewells the teams began the long trips home. The USA team continued their hunting trip in South Africa and Namibia.
