he Roderick Baker Cup, a competition held between the best shooter from each of the seven teams within the League and the previous seasons winner of the Cup, was held on Tuesday 24 March at Binton Club. Unfortunately neither Binton B nor Guards were able to put forward shooters which meant that Colin Fulford representing Home Guard and Steve Everett from Avenue-RBL went through to the semi finals without firing a pellet!

Paul Clingan shooting for MEB took the opportunity to take two sighter shots, both of which were clean bulls. He went on to shoot a further seven clean bulls to give him an absolute possible of 35.7pts. The last time an absolute possible was recorded in the League was in 1998 when coincidentally in the Roderick Baker Cup, Peter Mole eliminated Michelle Dale in a semi final round. His opponent Steve Ray, who was last year's runner up was standing in for Andy Morris, 2007/08 winner, shot well with six bulls and a four for 34.4pts. Paul went to the semi finals to meet Colin Fulford.

The next match was between Andy Smith for Binton A and John Maycock representing Wilmcote, who shot a possible on his last outing on 5 March. Andy was on form shooting four bulls and three fours for 32pts. John just could not repeat his earlier performance and was eliminated when he scored 29 leaving Andy with a place in the semi final.

Paul returned to the range for his semi final. Colin Fulford was not intimidated and rose to the challenge shooting four clean bulls, two dirty bulls and a four for 34.4pts. It may have been enough on any other night but not on this occasion. Paul Clingan, once more taking the chance to have a sighter which was also a bull then went on to shoot his second possible of the evening with a score of 35.4pts. With such accuracy who could deny him a place in the final?

Steve Everett was shooting without his own left handed gun and although he started well with a borrowed gun and three bulls, he slipped into the fours and ended on a three for 30pts. Andy Smith just missed out on a possible when his third pellet slipped into the fours but his score of 34.3 took him to the final against Paul Clingan where he was marginally less accurate. With four bulls and three fours he had to settle for 32.2pts.

Having given an excellent display of marksmanship, all eyes were on Paul as he came to the mark for the last time in this competition. Yet again he took his sighter and recorded another bull then with seven shots he scored his third possible of the night with 35.3pts. He was of course a worthy winner having shot 25 pellets and scored 25 bulls. League records show the like has not been seen since Peter Mole won the same competition in the 1997/98 season when he shot an absolute possible which knocked Jimmy Wallace out of the competition then two further possibles which saw off challenges from Ray Warnock and Steve Ray.

In the Webley Shield Competition on Thursday 26 March Paul Clingan continued to display his accuracy when he shot yet another possible, his fourth within a week and his fourth in four matches in this season's Webley. However he was not on the winning side this time. Avenue who shot 215 and benefited by MEB's handicap of 11 to total 226pts took the match when MEB shot a total of 223pts.

Binton A were shooting with a handicap of 9 against Home Guard who in the event did not need the points. Home Guard won this match 225 to Binton's 216. The other Binton team were matched against Guards who struggled with only five shooters and two A N Other scores. Notwithstanding the Binton B handicap of 8pts, Guards were defeated 204 to 213.

The Thompson Knock Out Cup will be shot to its conclusion tonight (2 April) The remaining teams in the competition are Wilmcote, Binton A, Home Guard and MEB.