The Golden Grain Open Shoot was a hit as shooters from across the state came to Coonamble to have a shot at taking home the winning title on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 April.
The annual competition brought together over 40 people from far and wide, some even trekking as far as Bega and Sydney.
Ultimately, there could only be one winner of the competition.
Over the six events, the overall Open High Gun Winner was Douglas Ferguson from Warren, scoring 259 out of 280 clay targets.
Ben Fairman from Dubbo placed first of the eleven AA competitors, shooting 259 targets of 280.
Coonamble’s Scott Moody won first place in the A Grade, shooting 254 out of 280.
The B Grade prize went to Mendooran’s Scott Burrell, who shot 234 clays, while Christopher Peters from Coonamble won the C Grade ribbon after shooting 209.
Hayley Alho from Western Sydney won the Junior high Gun competition, shooting 214 targets, while Sandy Sullivan from Orange went home with the Ladies High Gun ribbon.
Coonamble local Steve Walker won the Veteran over 65 year old High Gun competition, hitting 255 clays.
On Saturday Barry Heaslip (Canowindra) was on fire, shooting 75/75 in the 25T point Score event, and 50/50 in the 50T Double Barrel shoot.
Douglas Ferguson (Warren) hit 25/25 clays in the 25T Single Barrel event, and on Sunday 23/30 from the Pair Double Ride event.
Coonamble Gun Club secretary Kim Peters said the wind let a lot of shooters down on the Sunday.
“Shots were a bit more unpredictable, and the wind affected the line of the shot,” Mrs Peters said.
She said it affected the 100% shooting scores on the second day.
“The wind is why we had no red on Sunday on the board.”
Luckily, the competitors did not let a little breeze get them down.
“It was a good two days.
“I think everyone enjoyed themselves.”
While the Golden Grain Open Shoot event normally attracts around 60 competitors, the Coonamble club’s secretary said there are a few reasons the 2026 shoot was down in numbers.
Mrs Peters said she believes recent increases in fuel and ammunition prices affected attendance.
The 2026 National Trap Championships also began on Sunday 12 April, which drove down the Golden Grain’s participation.