~ Derby Invitation Competition ~
23/04/2008
On Sunday
April 20th, Derby Rifle & Pistol Club invited Llandudno & Colwyn Bay Marksmen to
take part in a friendly competition at their superb ranges in Derby.
The competition consisted of the Shorts matches: Precision & Timed & Multi
Target and a 1500 match all shot in smallbore calibre.
We accepted their kind invitation and 6 of our members made the 2 hour trip to Derby, setting off on a drizzly and cold winter morning.
The journey was uneventful and we arrived at approx 9.30am hoping the weather might have been dryer and warmer in Derby but it wasn't to be.
The 6 members that travelled to shoot were: Clive Ferguson, Jim Jones, Geoff Seymour, Mark Jones, Dave Meaby & myself Mike Shields.
On our arrival we were greeted by Keith Mepham their Competition Secretary, with whom I had been liaising with by e-mail to set the meeting up and Jim Smith who first laid down the Gauntlet. I have to say at this stage that there is always a friendly rivalry and light-hearted banter between our two clubs as we field approx the same amount of shooters to Competition meetings and the results at these comps are always very close between their shooters and ours.
After settling in and
slurping the first brew of the day, Clive, Jim, Dave, Geoff & Mark set up to
shoot the 1500-SB.
I resisted the urge as I've recently pulled a muscle in my shoulder and needed
to rest it,
which gave me the opportunity to take lots of photo’s which you can now see on
this website.
When the 1500 finished we took a break for lunch then shot the Precision & Timed closely followed by the Multi Target ( which I did shoot.. and to my astonishment achieved 2nd place in the P&T :-D )
The ranges were kept open
for us to use once the details had ended, mainly for anyone who needed to zero
their rifles in at 50 metres or try out any new loads etc...
Clive took advantage of this generous offer to try some different loads for his
Marlin .38 underlever and to zero in his new Long Barrelled Pistol.
After the shooting had finished for the day Keith Mepham presented the Winners of each event with some etched glassware to record the meeting.
Derby's Rob Hufton won the 1500 and the Precision & Timed 1 with LCBM's Clive Ferguson winning the Multi Target event ( but I think we whupped them overall... )
The camaraderie, ribbing & general banter
between the two clubs, and within each club, made for a very relaxed day's
shooting.
The affability of the members of Derby R&PC put us at ease and because it was a
friendly competition there was no pressure to perform.
The LCBM members who were visiting the Derby ranges for the first time, commented on how good the ranges were, the clearly marked distances, the flatness of the ground and they were particularly impressed with the clubhouse facilities, commenting that we may be able to make some improvements to our club... see what you've started :-)
We have
been invited back again next year and I suspect it may become an annual event,
which would be great.
Anytime we need to use a 50 meter range for zeroing or testing new loads we can
give them a call and they will arrange for us to attend one Sunday.
All our members that attended said the Derby lads were helpful and friendly and that in spite of the weather, they thoroughly enjoyed the day.
On behalf of LCBM I would like to extent our thanks to Derby R&PC, to Keith Metham and Jim Smith for organising it and to all the guys that took their time out to RO.
See you on the Range.
Mike
Shields.
Chairman:
LCB Marksmen