A crack Australian rifleman who won a coveted English trophy 107 years ago was remembered at the Cootamundra Rifle Range last weekend.
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Dave McAlister, great uncle of Cootamundra-Gundagai mayor Abb McAlister, won the Mackinnon Cup at the famous Bisley range in 1912.
A rifle he won a year later at Bisley was on display at a very special occasion - the cententary of the Riverina District Rifle Association - hosted on Saturday and Sunday by the Cootamundra Rifle Club.
Councillor McAlister and his sisters Marie and Clare awarded badges and trophies at the RDRA's 100th prize meeting.
Adding to the historical nature of the event, Cr McAlister brought with him the rifle that was won by his great uncle, Dave McAlister, who twice represented Australia in international competition at England's famous Bisley National Shooting Centre in 1912 and 1913.
The rifle, carrying a brass plate engraved with Dave's name, was handed in by the family in the 1939 amnesty.
It apparently then went to a private collection of an Australian War Memorial curator, but was retrieved by Cr McAlister and a cousin 12 years ago.
Dave McAlister was killed in September 1917 in the Battle of Polygon Wood in World War I.
One of the RDRA's matches is named after him, and another after James Jamieson of Junee who went to Bisley with Dave.
Perfect autumn weather made for two enjoyable days of shooting and friendship at the Coota Rifle Range.
The meeting embraced the champion of champion competition on Saturday, and the 100th Riverina district prize meeting on Sunday.
The champion of champions event, over 500, 600, 800 and 900 yards, is a competition in which the best shooters from each club in the Riverina vie for the title of Riverina champion.
Winners in this event go on to compete in July in Sydney against champions from other districts for the title of NSW champion.
The winners were: Graham Crowe, Lockhart Explorers (F Standard), Neville Lyons, Lockhart Explorers (F Open), Darren Bradley, Griffith (FTR), Scott Brindley, Lockhart Explorers (target rifle) and Jacinta Bradley, Griffith (under 25).
At Sunday's centenary meeting two Cootamundra shooters, Steve Windsor and Garry Trudgett, took out first prizes, in the target rifle (TR) C and F open categories respectively.
Other firsts were earned by Bill Ballantyne of Hornsby (TRA), Laura Brindley of Lockhart Explorers (TRB), Graham Crowe of Lockhart (F standard A), and Barry Plowman of Lyndhurst (FSB). Bill Ballantyne and Garry Trudgett scored possibles.
The event was the first at which electronic targets, relaying the exact position of the bullet and the score it earns to an iPad, were used.
