he bells rang out last Thursday as shooters reached a number of achievements. The Wilmcote team won their fifth match in a row with the highest team score this season, 223 points. Avenue, Avon and Binton B teams had their highest team scores this season with 226, 226 and 221 respectively. Andy Smith, captain of the Binton A team, shot another possible, his fourth this season and he has only missed two bulls from his 35 shots over five weeks. He now tops the averages for the Baildham Cup with an average of 34.60 points. Lester Langford who joined the Wilmcote team following an open evening held at Wilmcote Club just before the season started, and who is proving to be a consistent and competent shooter, having shot only 31s and 32s, to give him the highest average for a shooter under 21 years of age and of all this season’s new (rookie) shooters. Season best shots were made by Steve Everett (Avenue) Benn Chamberlain and Steve Hodges (Binton B) with 33s and Rachael Brookes (Clifford) and Ken Masters (Binton B) with 32s.

The biggest surprise of the evening was the win by Avenue who had not won a match this season against Home Guard who had not lost a match this season. Avenue kept their shots tight and kept pace with the visiting team but it was the 34s from James Wilby, Steve Parrack and Paul Lowe which sealed Home Guard’s fate. They suffered their first defeat 226 to 221 points.

Though Avon pressed Binton A hard, with both Andy Smith and Steve Ray getting possibles, Binton hit more bulls to come out winners 229 to 226 points.

Clifford had a few loose shots but won their match with 210 points against a weakened MEB side who all but Tim Onions failed to keep out of the threes.

Wilmcote remain undefeated though Binton B raised their game to score 221 points but two possibles from Adam Clarke and Paul Clingan and 34 from Andrew Clingan was more than Binton could withstand.

Matches this week Avon vs Clifford; Binton B vs Avenue; Home Guard vs Wilmcote and MEB vs Binton A

Report by Juana Everett, to be published on 8th October 2015