The OM Rifle Club took part in the Veterans Match on Thursday 17th July. After heavy rain earlier in the day, the team were very relieved that the weather had settled down by the start time of 5.15pm – following the last Ashburton meeting in its current form, as the MOD are withdrawing the Cadet 7.62 rifle.
In the absence (due to pressing farming duties) of Andy Symonds (5.78-83), Tom Harrison (6.80-84) stepped in to run the show, with the squadding organised by Frank Harriss, who has tried to herd these particular cats before. If anything they are rather more tractable now than they were at school!
Tom shot first, coached by Rupert Clark (SH.73-77) and produced a score of 50.6, a true captain’s score which led the way and was not beaten – well done Tom for winning the strange little cup for this. Then Charlie Sykes (5.81-86) stepped up, again coached by Rupert, and managed 50.5, so spirits were high. The other A team scores were most respectable but not as great: Rupert Clark with 48.5, Malcolm John (8.93-98) – fresh from shooting long-range for Wales – 48.4 and Matty Kerfoot (SH.78-83) 47.5. Matty does not shoot that often and I sympathise with his comment “I know it’s lowest score but all the rest are internationals!” However, Andy’s deft team selection was correct as details below show. This gave an A team total of 243.25, better than in many years. With it we came 16th out of 44, not a bad position at all and credit to the team.
Then the B team shot. 44 seemed the par score and was achieved by Chris Marlow (5.80-84), Al Lidster (2.79-84) and James Glover (3.89-94). James Creed (7.80-84) shone with 46.2. The fifth member was Issy Wilson (3.19-24), who had recently left Malvern and not shot under these conditions before. This was very much like throwing her in at the deep end of a swimming pool but she responded nobly, scoring 14 with one V-bull. She was coached by Dorothy Harrison, who made the mistake of not going to Malvern, but is very much ‘one of us’. It was great to see Issy and we hope that she will encourage some of her friends from the Malvern Rifle club to come on other occasions to receive coaching and build up the club, lowering the average age.
At the other end of the age scale, it was great to have a visit from Tim Charrington (6.51-55), who shot with us until recently as well as attendance by Tony Clayton (5.57-61) and Philip Vicars (2.63-68), our redoubtable Chairman. Oh, and of course the 80 year old ex-master in charge who can’t quite give up, was also there, though he has now stopped shooting.
Eight of us, including Issy I’m delighted to say, had a most convivial dinner at the North London RC and so the spirit of OM shooting was well and truly kept alive.
Report by Frank Harriss (Staff 1967-2005)