Donald and Minyip and District Field & Game, The Buloke Times

Donald Field and Game (DFG) went on a hunt to figure out how long the Day 2 shoot between Donald and Minyip known as Poachers had been running for. The investigation started last year with Sarah O’Brien (DFG member) asking Tanya Clark (M&DFG member) – Tanya’s remark was, “We must be close to twenty-five.”

History of Poachers

After scrolling through old minute books, a post on the DFG Facebook page and a challenge set to the “Buloke Times” it was confirmed the first Poachers Weekend was held in March of 2001.

Donald FG Executive meeting notes dated 5th April 2001.

Four competition shoots to be held in Year 2002. Poachers Weekend to remain 1st Saturday in March.

Moved: Ged McLoughlan.

Second: Paddy Bloomfield.

From Greg Deutscher (Minyip FG) commenting to a FB post: “According to my old cards and from what I remember, in 2001 there was a two day shoot ran on the first weekend of March, 50 tgts each day, about 60 – 70 shooters shot it. The next year 2002 Donald ran 75 tgts and Minyip 50 tgts. And in 2003 the same layout. Then in 2004 both clubs shot 75 tgts. I won the Overall Highgun in 2003 which has Poachers’ Weekend on the trophy”.

Excerpt from the “Buloke Times” Poachers’ Weekend article: Fifty-target shoots were held on Saturday and Sunday, March 3 and 4. This was the first ever “Poachers’ weekend” and a new two-day initiative for Minyip and Donald Field & Game clubs.

Poachers 2025

A brilliant weekend for shooting and socialising. Donald F&G had 179 shooters attend on Saturday 1st March (Day 1) and on Day 2 at Minyip and District F&G there were 196 shooters in attendance. Overall 160 shooters shot both days. 29 different clubs from Victoria, NSW and South Australia were represented.

Prizes

Minyip’s major raffle prize winner of a Companion 45L Fridge was Tim Lardner from Shepparton. The Overall Lucky Door Prize winner of an Engle 40 L Fridge donated by B&G Bulk Haulage was Gavin Pay from Sunraysia.

Donald – Day 1

Shoot offs were held for:

AA Grade for 2nd and 3rd: John Handley, Russell Chaplin, Leigh Norton and Brendon Pearson.

A Grade for 2nd: Phillip Toose and Peter Chase.

B Grade for 2nd and 3rd: James Fritsch, Gene Di Giandomenico and Russell Lardner.

Ladies for 3rd: Brenda Murphy and Shannon Ware.

Vets for 2nd and 3rd: Barry Wentworth, Denis Kell and Tony Barrett.

Juniors for 3rd: Brendan Winter, Joshua Fitzpatrick and Lachlan Clark.

High Gun: Murray Hill (Minyip) 67.

In memory of Wayne “Wog” Lowan, his son Cameron Betts presented the Highgun trophy at Donald. Wog won Highgun at Donald in 2016 and 2017, Minyip in 2018 and 2019 and went on to take out the Overall HIghgun in 2017, 2018 and 2020. He scored a possible (25/25) in 2022 at Donald, and in 2017 at Minyip he scored a double possible (50/50).

AA Grade: Kevin Jacobs 66 (Moe); 2nd Russell Chaplin 63 (Deni); 3rd John Handley 63 (Clunes).

A Grade: 1st Gavin Pay 65 (Sunraysia); 2nd Tim Lardner 63 (Shepparton); 3rd Peter Chace 60 (Ararat-Stawell).

B Grade: 1st Andrew Falla 56 (Donald); 2nd Russell Lardner 52 (Shepparton); 3rd James Fritsch 52 (Donald).

C Grade: 1st Seamus Kilcullen 45 (Sunraysia); 2nd Jarred Newell 42 (Donald); 3rd Ben Clark 40 (Donald).

Ladies: 1st Vicki Norris 50 (Kyabram); 2nd Vicki Chaplin 48 (Mt Wycheproof); 3rd Brenda Murphy 47 (Swan Hill).

Veterans: 1st Chris Charleson 66 (Swan Hill); 2nd Denis Kell 59 (Cranbourne); 3rd Tony Barrett 59 (Morwell).

Under-18 Juniors: 1st Jardy Ellis 56 (Natimuk); 2nd Chase Porter 55 (Natimuk); 3rd Lachlan Clark 45 (Donald).

Under-15 Sub Juniors: 1st Mitchell Wilson 51 (Bar-rook); 2nd Peter Fitzpatrick 50 (Ararat-Stawell); 3rd Evie Hendy 36 (Minyip).

Minyip – Day 2

Shoot offs were held for:

AA for 1st and 2nd: Greg Deutscher and Kevin Jacobs

Ladies for 2nd and 3rd: Vicki Norris and Vicki Chaplin.

Vets for 1st and 2nd: Chris Charleson and Neil Campbell.

High Gun- Jackson Welsh 69 (Grampians).

AA Grade: 1st Greg Deutscher 68 (Minyip); 2nd Kevin Jacobs 68 (Moe); 3rd Russell Chaplin 68 (Deni).

A Grade: 1st Shaun Thomas 65 (Bar-rook); 2nd Tim Lardner 64 (Sheparton); 3rd Ryan Milgate 63 (Minyip).

B Grade: 1st Boof Lorenzen 58 (Clunes); 2nd Peter Bridley 55 (Sunraysia); 3rd Ross Tyben 54 (Bendigo).

C Grade: 1st Kelvin Tyler 50 (Minyip); 2nd Craig Durand 47 (Ballarat); 3rd Daniel Brullo 46 (Bar-rook).

Ladies: 1st Vicki Chaplin 51 (Mt Wycheproof); 2nd Vicki Norris 51 (Kyabram); 3rd Michaela Shirley 50 (Clunes).

Veterans: 1st Chris Charleson 67 (Swan Hill); 2nd Neil Campbell 67 (Benalla); 3rd Jim Wood 65 (Morwell).

Under-18 Juniors: 1st Chase Porter 58 (Natimuk); 2nd Jardy Ellis 61 (Natimuk); 3rd Joshua Fitzpatrick 50 (Ararat-Stawell).

Under-15 Juniors: 1st Mitchell Wilson 63 (Bar-rook); 2nd Peter Fitzpatrick 50 (Ararat-Stawell); 3rd Evie Hendy 34 (Minyip).

Overall winners

(combined 2 days)

Off the Gun High Gun: Kevin Jacobs (Moe).

All remaining winners include handicap on count back.

Highgun Handicap: Boof Lorenzen (Clunes).

AA Grade: 1st Russell Chaplin (Deni); 2nd Brendon Pearson (MCC); 3rd Leigh Norton (Sunraysia).

A Grade: 1st Murray Hill (Minyip); 2nd Tim Lardner (Shepparton); 3rd Jackson Welsh (Grampians).

B Grade: 1st Ross Tyben (Bendigo); 2nd Andrew Falla (Donald); 3rd Gene Di Giandomenico (Clunes).

C Grade: 1st Daniel Brullo (Bar-rook); 2nd Wayne Hendy (Minyip); 3rd Rebecca Close (Ballarat).

Ladies: 1st Shannon Ware (Benalla); 2nd Mihalya Pay (Sunraysia); 3rd Vicki Chaplin (Mt Wycheproof).

Veterans: 1st Chris Charleson (Swan Hill); 2nd Tony Barrett (Morwell); 3rd Barry Wentworth (Geelong).

Junior: 1st Joshua Fitzpatick (Ararat-Stawell); 2nd Brendan Winter (Donald); 3rd Chase Porter (Natimuk).

Sub Junior: 1st Mitchell Wilson (Bar-rook); 2nd Peter Fitzpatrick (Ararat-Stawell); 3rd Evie Hendy (Minyip).

Sponsors

Donald: Donald Timber Yard, Dunstan Wool, Donald Hotel, Customised Spreading, Brunt Truck Repairs, B&G Bulk Haulage, Spuds Café, SA Coffee and LoveShack Giftwares.

Minyip: J&A Shooting Supplies, TUFF Equipment, C&R Sheet Metal (Maryborough), Water Tech Solutions and Nutrien Ag (Murtoa & Rupanyup).

Overall: Outdoor Trading Company (OTC).

A massive thank you to all the volunteers who worked in the kitchen, these people are an invaluable asset in running these days. Big thank you to all office workers, set up crew, number crunches and anyone else who helped make the day a great success. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes to make this weekend happen.

Next F&G shoot is Donald Sunday, April 6, and Minyip Sunday, April 20.

An absolutely SMASHING weekend with an amazing bunch of people from three different states. There were lots of old and new faces supporting the sport of shooting. Both clubs hope to see you all again and more at Poachers in 2026.

See all the pictures in the issue.
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 7 March 2025.