ver
100 years ago, there was a meeting chaired by W Davis, the Captain of the One
Elm Shooting team at which it was decided to form a combination with the title,
Stratford and District Air Gun League. A number of delegates attended
representing teams from both Stratford town including the Workingmens’ Club and
from surrounding villages including Loxley and Welford with matches beginning in
early 1911. To mark the hundredth anniversary season of the Stratford and District Air Gun League, the first matches in a new competition took place last Thursday where shooters used early Webley Mk III type rifles fitted with “simple” vee rear or backsight and a blade or ball foresight. A number of league members have used this type of gun before on an occasional basis as they are used in the annual the Christmas Shoot competition but last December the competition was cancelled due to the bad weather conditions. However, to present day league members, how to shoot accurately with these guns and sights remains a complete mystery. The results showed how much more difficult it was in the early days of the league.
Home Guard shot against Binton B with a gun provided by Derek Powers. Binton shooters were able to hit 8 bulls with three from Chris Green, who had the highest score 29pts. However the rest of the team were far less consistent with 12 fours, 19 threes, 5 twos and 5 pellets which did not score. Home Guard struggled to find the bull but did better with 18 fours, 21 threes and 8 twos. Steve Hodges also shot 29pts which was the highest score in the match. Home Guard came out winners with 161pts to Binton’s 155pts.
In the match between Binton A and MEB only three shooters from each team were able to hit the bull which did not include Paul Clingan who provided the gun. John Parrott was the only individual to hit it twice! The more accurate Binton team were better at keeping their pellets tight on the target shooting 27 fours to MEB’s 16. Binton’s shooters seldom shoot a stray three with their usual guns but they put 17 on the target and a two last week. MEB shot 24 threes, three twos and unluckily had three pellets which scored no points. Simon Dale had the highest individual score for Binton 28 and Fred Williams 27 for MEB. Binton came out winners with 181pts to MEB’s 157pts.
Brian Adshead provided the gun used in the match between Wilmcote and Avenue-RBL. There were more bulls in this match, 5 from Wilmcote and 9 from Avenue-RBL but Wilmcote were able to keep their pellets from straying and spreading over the target better than the visitors They shot 24 fours, 19 threes and one two to give them a total counting score of 180 with Andy Morris shooting the highest individual score 29 for Wilmcote. Avenue-RBL were less consistent, their pellets spreading all over the target. They shot 17 fours, 16 threes, 4 twos and had three no score pellets. Steve Everett put his three bulls down to more luck than judgement. Steve Ray also shot three bulls and with only one three had 30, the highest score in the match. Wilmcote came out winners with 180pts to Avenue-RBL’s 169pts.
Matches this week, in the Webley League Competition are Avenue-RBL vs MEB; Binton B vs Binton A and Wilmcote vs Home Guard. For more information please visit our website www.sagl.co.uk.
[REPORT ENDS]