von 227 Binton B 220. This was a tight match which included 33s from Chris Green and Steve Hodges (Binton) and Bill Fleming (Avon). Nick Williams, who many years ago shot bell target, decided to take up the sport again and joined Avon this season. He did well but unfortunately just missed out on a possible with 34 points. Binton were in front for the first half of the match but Avon’s seasoned shooters Steve Ray and Alison McMillan snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when they shot 33 and 34 respectively.

Binton A 217 Wilmcote 225. Binton were unlucky on their home target, with Chris Reed having a missed shot so he had only six scoring shots and unusually for the team, a couple of loose threes gave two shooters scores of 30. Scores included Andy Smith 34 and Colin Hayes 33 and the team finished with a respectable score. Shooting only bulls and fours, which included a possible (35) from Jamie Clarke, 34 from Graham East and 33 from Paul Clingan, Wilmcote ended up winning the match despite the handicap of having an A N Other score included in their total.

Home Guard 211 Clifford 215. Clifford found this target to their liking and shooting only fours and bulls they shot solid scores with 32s from Jay Morris and Ian Perkins and 31s from Ben Withers and T J Hooker. Home Guard shooters didn’t do as well and were less accurate, their scores including a handful of threes. Top shots came from the Morris family with Tom scoring 33, Andy and Gareth scoring 32s.

MEB 197 Avenue 208. Neither team got off to a particularly good start but 33 from Steve Garlick, the only member of the League who regularly uses an open sighted rifle gave Avenue an advantage. MEB came back with another 33 from Paul Onions and steady shooting from Derek Powers and new shooter Rob Dipple kept them in touch with the match. Joe Dipple, the youngest shooter in the League started his first competition match well with two bulls followed by a four, only to regain his accuracy hitting the bull with his final shot. Avenue’s Alan Crichton has the highest score in this match though starting with a four six bulls followed for 34 points. Avenue won their first game of the season.

The Stratford Air Gun League (SAGL) has a history dating back to 1910 when air gun shooting was all the rage and thousands of people in hundreds of teams throughout the UK participated in the sport. Local shooters keep the sport alive in this area holding regular practice nights to which all are welcome, at Wilmcote Social Club from about 7.30pm. More information is available on our website www.sagl.co.uk or by phone from Will Cemis on 07825223634

Report by Juana Everett, to be published on 28th September 2017