2021 saw a changed format of the Spring Meeting due to COVID restrictions. This allowed competitors travelling from afar (and unable to stay overnight) to shoot the main event on a single day only and so still be eligible to win prizes. Saturday therefore consisted of a practice period in the morning, with a handicaped teams competition in the afternoon. A Spoon Shoot took place on Sunday followed by a shortened version of the usual individual competition.
Teams Competition
A very wet practice session took place on the Saturday morning. Many competitors decided, that having not shot for 8 months, another few hours would not make much difference.
By the Team Competition in the afternoon, the rain eased but there were strong winds with gusts up to 50mph. Each team consisted of 4 shooters, each firing two sighters and twenty rounds to count at 1100 and 1200 yards. There were no external coaches but a handicap system was put in place to increase the competition. If you would like to understand the details of the handicap system, the England Captain will gladly explain it for the 156th time.
Despite the lowest handicap of all, the Scots Free team destroyed all other teams winning by a clear 15 points over second place English Eight Squareheads. Despite challenging conditions there were some notable individual performances; Jon Sweet topped the individual results with a 187.13v (ex 200.40v), top gun from the winning team was Angus McLeod (3rd, 184.17v), and Rob Lygoe occupied the place between with 186.13v. Tying with Angus as top lady and (surely soon not to be a) Tyro was Hattie Mansell, only separated in placing based on 1200yd score.
Spoon Shoot
The Sunday morning started with a Spoon Shoot at 1000yds in slightly more benign conditions than the previous day. This proved useful for some to confirm wind zeros and to practice, whilst other used it as an opportunity to prove that training is overrated. Mike Spencer pitched up on Sunday morning and won with a 51.6v ex. 50.10v. Yes, another handicap (157th explanation available) rather than poor arithmetic is involved. A particularly impressive performance saw Aled James in second place with 50.9v, without the benefit of a handicap.
Individual Competition
Late morning saw the main individual competition start, with a full 20 scoring shots to test the mettle at 1000yds. This is considered short range in MR terms, where scores are expected to be high and those extra shots are a dangerous opportunity to drop a late clanger. No-one managed to get a possible 100 points but there were 8 shooters scoring 99. Nick Tremlett lead the pack on 99.15, with Gareth James also starting a high-performing day only 1 V behind.
Five fewer shots after lunch at 1100yds provided the opportunity for a single possible in tricky conditions. Alex Cargill-Thompson put in the only 75(.8v), with “Trem” only a point off that on 74.8v, so holding onto the overall lead. 1200yds followed shortly after, with Gareth returning to (literally) top form, this time taking the “only 75” crown with 9 V-bulls. Angus McLeod stepped up to 2nd place behind him, only one point behind on 74.9v.
In doing so, both secure the same spots overall, Gareth finishing up 1st on 246.28v (ex. 250.50v) and Angus 2nd, 245.24. Nick Tremlett was close in 3rd on 244, but with the top V score of the day with an impressive 31. Top lady was Sophie Wentges, her 74.8 at 1200yds securing 12th place overall. Top Tyro (and Under 25) was Cory Flanagan, with 235.18 placing him 21st and only 2 V’s (one place) behind his brother, Fergus. This made the handover of the Under 25 trophy surprisingly easy, if not actually conducted at prizegiving due to a small omission in terms of returning it…
Full Results of the Spring Meeting 2021
As always, thanks go out to those who made it happen, be it in planning, organising, running the range, marking the targets or managing the stats. For full results and the various concurrent trophies, please do visit the English VIII Club website.
With the shooting season now in full swing, there are many more events for your diaries. The National Rifle Club of Scotland will be holding their Spring Meeting at Blair Atholl at the end of the month.