I left home in Weston-super-Mare at 7.00am on December 10th, having recommissioned my Pro-T , changed the scope and done my practice ready for this competition. I was aware it was going to be cold but I always have plenty of kit in the car and the weather forecasts for possible snow did not worry my overly, after all I was on the road for the whole of my 40 year career, driving all year round in all weathers.
Half and hour later I was slithering along an unsalted M5 between Tiverton and Cullompton wondering when the car tailgating me at 50 MPH in thick snow was finally going to hit me. 40 years or not, it was time to turn round and head home.
Snow further affected the turnout of West Devon shooters as Bill Hartnoll was not able to attend either and reports from his part of Devon were of a couple of inches of with white stuff overnight. So I have to thank Paul Salmon (once again) for his write up of the match.
The weather was bitterly cold with flurries of snow and sleet, but with only light breezes. This lulled some into a false sense of security – the winds may have been light but the thermal currents were playing havoc with our pellets, producing a number of inexplicably high and low hits on the target. Paul Read suffered gun trouble, due to either a slow leak or a misbehaving regulator, and that wasn’t the end of his troubles as his newly serviced van refused to start when it was time to leave – he and Nigel might still be waiting for the RAC man to arrive.
Despite these difficulties everybody had a great time as usual. Our kind landowner appeared at half time with a pan full of homemade soup – and very welcome it was! Meanwhile Rob Meatyard was kept busy preparing bacon rolls, and Mrs Rob had baked a delicious lemon drizzle cake – so nobody went hungry.
Dartmoor.
Paul Salmon 245:9 246:7 247:7 738:23x
Alistair Teague 240:4 236:2 243:9 719:15x
Mark Whiteway 233:5 243:6 241:8 717:19x
Andy Holcombe 240:8 237:6 240:5 717:19x
Simon Houseman 244:4 245:5 224:1 713:10x
Rob Meatyard 238:7 237:4 236:7 711:18x
West Devon
Nigel Palmer 225:4 235:2 246:10 706:16x
Paul Read 227:3 220:3 235:4 682:10x
Steve 214:1 220:1 218:2 652:4x
Crystal 136:1 117:0 169:1 422:2x
NOTE: This was Crystal’s first ever competition, so I think a little nervousness can be forgiven.
Well done Crystal.
DM 2891:76x WD 2462:32x (Best 4 shooters)
Yes was a Good day , always good to shoot in any weather and everyone got on well together , good inter club comerardery – 2 Call outs , 1 to west devon shooters for braving the terrible road conditions and those who made it and those that tried but couldnt get thru and Rob Meatyard for keeping things ticking along nicely and fresh supply of bacon baps – Mark