ix weeks into the season and air gun shooters are still after the illusive seven bulls to score a possible. This time last year there had been four possibles but Bill Fleming from Binton B, Will Cemis from Binton A and Steve Hodges from Home Guard all came close when they shot 34 in their matches last week. The two Binton teams shot against each other in a high scoring match where shooters kept their shots tight. Binton B took an early lead which the first team chipped away at when Andy Smith shot 33, and Neil Beningfield and Neil Bragg scoring 32 each, all shot more bulls than fours for their scores. Simon Dale shot 31 and 30’s from Gary Hooper, John Parrott and Alan Dyer gave the team their second highest score this season 222 points. Binton B kept the pressure on though with 31 from Jon Packard and 30 from Chris Green, Joe Powell – a personal best - and Rob Johnson. Gordon O’nions shot 29 and when the lowest of their eight scores was discounted they totalled 216 points.

In the match between Home Guard and Wilmcote, Paul Clingan started well with 33 for the visitors. Andy Morris scored bulls and fours for his 32. Andrea Norris is proving to be one of the more consistent shooters this season with 31. Paul Boazman and Alan Brookes shot 30s and 29 was scored by John Maycock and Tim Stephens which gave Wilmcote a total of 214. Richard Mills was the first to shoot for Home Guard and scored 30. He was followed by Jackie mills who shot 29 then Bill Gately and Derek Powers scored 28. Joshua Bridge unfortunately started with a stray 2 but put that out of his mind going on to shoot fours and a bull for 27. Haydn Taplin slipped a three but he too put this from his mind as he went on to ring the bell four times and with two fours ended with a personal best score of 31. The lowest of Home Guard’s eight scores was discounted to give them a total of 207 points.

Six shooters from Avenue-RBL went to Wilmcote to shoot against MEB’s team of eight. Avenue-RBL managed to keep pace with MEB, keeping two points ahead for most of the match but the lack of a seventh shooter meant they had to accept an A N Other score of 28 which gave them 204 points. MEB dropped their lowest score to finish on 207. The best scores were from Steve Ray and Fred Williams – 32 then 31 from Guy Ganderton and Sheila Clarke, 30 from Paul Nixon-Barron, Kath Williams and Richard Groom. Par 28 was shot by Peter Mole, Jo Everett, Gordon Spencer, Karl McMillan and Paul Workman. Oscar Thornton was unlucky to have his score scratched.

League placings – Wilmcote 10 points from 5 matches, average score 214; Binton A 8 points from 5 matches, average score 217; Binton B 8 points from 6 matches, average score 209; MEB 6 points from 5 matches, average score 206; Home Guard 2 points from 5 matches, average score 202; Avenue-RBL 2 points from 5 matches, average score 201 and Clifford average score 182 points.

Matches this week 20 October – Avenue-RBL vs Binton A; Clifford vs Home Guard; MEB vs Wilmcote and Binton B have a bye. The Whitbread Individual Competition will be held on 27 October at Wilmcote Social Club. Details of the draw can be found on our web site www.sagl.co.uk. Use the link on the home page to view the BBC Article featuring the Walton Lions Air Rifle Club Bell Target Shooting open evening.