Bairnsdale Clay Target Club recently claimed the coveted 2024 Budge Shield at the Morwell Gun Club, which hosted the fourth and final round.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Budge Shield series. The format, selection and clubs may have changed over this time, but the fierce friendly competition between the Gippsland clubs still remains.
Another impressive constant since the very first series in 1954 is the Morwell Gun Club, the only Gippsland club to have participated in every series.
While the weather was challenging, some impressive scores were produced by the 61 competitors who partook in the prestigious 25-target handicap event.
The major award of the series is the coveted Budge Shield and it was Bairnsdale who again proved too strong, coming from behind to take the win on 353/375, finishing two points clear of Korumburra Gun Club.
It was a well-deserved win for the Bairnsdale club, whose members made an effort to turn up in numbers at every round of the competition.
Three shooters shot the final round of the series clean with Josh Brown from the Korumburra Gun Club victorious after a shootoff, with Scott Chandler (Morwell GC) claiming second and Steve Russell (Morwell GC) taking third.
Jasper Carstein (Korumburra Gun Club) was the best junior front marker shooting 20/25, while Todd Malone (Morwell Gun Club) and Adam Beechey (Bairnsdale) were best back markers shooting 23/25.
Morwell Gun Club claimed the round win with a score of 116/125, followed by Bairnsdale (115/125), Korumburra Gun Club (112/125) and Wonthaggi Gun Club (107/112).
This year saw several initiatives introduced to enhance the already popular series. The McMillan Shield was established to run in conjunction with the Budge Shield but purely for junior teams.
The inaugural recipient of the McMillan Shield was Korumburra Gun Club with a score of 128/150.
Also new to the series are section high guns in addition to overall high gun.
The overall winner was Jarrod O’Reilly 91/100 (Bairnsdale), with the juniors taken out by Kate Perry 81/100 (Bairnsdale).
Victory in the ladies went to Alicia McGrath 80/100, while Bernie Stokes’ 78/100 (Morwell Gun Club) claimed the veterans.
