ilmcote Social Club hosted the annual competition for the Roderick Baker trophy last Thursday in which a representative from each of the league's teams took part, together with the previous year's holder and runner up to make eight shooters. Unfortunately Home Guard’s representative was absent which gave Alan Brookes who represented Wilmcote a place in the semi final without him having to fire a shot.

Fred Williams representing MEB was drawn against last year’s winner Paul Clingan. Both shooters proved to be evenly matched with Williams shooting 31.2 which Clingan equalled. In the re-shoot, Paul Clingan shot first with a four followed by four bulls then another four and finally a bull for a total of 33.4pts. Fred Williams also started with a four which was followed with a bull then two more fours. At this point he knew he could not out shoot Clingan and conceded the match giving Clingan a place in the semi final. Ben Chamberlain, shooting for Binton B, shot two bulls and five fours for a solid 30pts. His opponent Will Cemis made the same shots but in a different order but both his bulls were clean which gave him a win by just 0.2pts. Last year’s runner up, Andy Morris drew Steve Ray representing Avenue-RBL in the last of the first round matches. Morris shot five bulls and two fours for 33.2pts. Steve Ray got off to a great start with three bulls followed by a four and a clean bull which totalled 24.1pts needing two bulls to win, he unfortunately hit two fours which gave Andy Morris the last place in the semi final round.

In a close match Paul Clingan and Will Cemis both shot 33.1 which meant another re-shoot for Clingan. Second time around, Clingan who has not been as accurate of late as he can be, started with a bull but somewhat surprisingly settled into a run of four healthy fours before disaster struck when he touched the trigger by mistake and scored only a 2 to give him 23 from his first six pellets. Undeterred he went on to hit a bull with his last pellet which brought his score to 28. Will Cemis also shot two bulls separated by fours. With 30pts, he secured his place in the final. Alan Brookes met Andy Morris in the second semi final. Brookes started with fours then two bulls before finishing with three fours for 30.1pts. Andy Morris shot another of his famed scores missing the bull with only his third pellet but with three clean bulls he finished on 34.3pts.

Both Will Cemis and Andy Morris gave an excellent demonstration of their marksmanship with bells ringing throughout. Andy Morris shot 34.3 again. This time it was his third pellet which hit the four. Will Cemis just couldn’t miss and he shot his second possible of the season and of his career with three clean bulls to total 35.3pts. League records do not state the age of shooters but it is believed that Will is the youngest shooter to ever win the Roderick Baker Cup..

St Patrick’s Day fixtures (17 March) Binton B vs MEB; Home Guard vs Avenue-RBL and Wilmcote vs Binton A in Webley League matches.