On Thursday morning members of the Veterans rifle club converged at a very sunny Bisley for the annual club championships and the school’s veterans match. It was very pleasing to also welcome a current school team member, Jono Williams, amongst our number. First up was the Sanders memorial cup, shot this year at three hundred yards on electronic targets which were very unforgiving of even the smallest error which combined with the heat made for a difficult shoot. This, and not failing eyesight and lack of skill accounted for the lower than normal scores! It was an extremely tight competition at the top, with Pete Login missing out on the win by 0.1 of a point. Out of a possible 50.10 the scores were as follows,

Dave Pote        43.2

Pete Login        43.1

Jono Williams   38.4

Chris Wilson     30.1

Mark Beckett   28.0

Duncan Gray     25.1

Mat Coombs     17.0

Also up for grabs at this shoot were spot prizes for the best V bull and best first sighter, whoever has the best first sighter trophy, please can we have it back!

Pete Login        Best V bull

Mark Beckett   Best first sighter

After a lazy lunch and a bit of maintenance work on one of the rifles (it’s the rifle’s fault, not mine, honest guv!) it was time for the schools veterans match and Squires Cup at five hundred yards. Unfortunately due to a fire in the danger area the planned practice shoot was cancelled which meant starting the competition with an estimated sight setting. As first to shoot this cost Pete a few points before he was able to zero in on the target. As we were shooting into a setting sun with smoke from the fire blowing past and a tricky gusty wind (am I good at excuses or what!) it was another testing event and the scores were as follows.

Dave Pote        48.5

Mark Beckett   45.1

Jono Williams   44.1

Chris Wilson     44.1

Pete Login        35.0

Duncan Gray     27.0

The combined score from the top five of 213.8 placed the WBSVRC 64th out of the 88 teams in the competition. 

My most sincere thanks to everyone who was able to attend, the date for Bisley 2023 is Thursday 13th July, please put it in your diaries now! The Bisley shoot is open to any member of the OWBA who attended CCF, everyone is welcome, no skill or experience required.