Dorchester Rifle & Pistol Club

Dorchester R&PC v. Bayeux Tir Club at Dorchester

The sea was mirror calm as the Dorchester shooters set out from Poole early on Friday morning for the 27th set of rifle and pistol competitions between the shooting clubs of the Twin Towns at Bayeux last weekend [7th - 9th September 2012]. This is believed to be the longest established regular cross Channel competition of its type.

The journey, however, had taken its toll at the end of the afternoon when Dorchester's 10 metre precision air pistol shooters performed a little below par at the indoor range adjacent to the Clubroom where Bayeux's many trophies for this type of shooting were on display. Over the course of 30 shots for each shooter [maximum 300 points] Jean-Jacques Durand [267] and Michel Huart [267] led the home team to victory by 1309 to 1207. Dorchester's Steve Maros was fourth highest score with 259.

After a splendid evening meal at the Clubhouse the Dorchester rifle shooters were a little bleary eyed as the early mist gave way to bright sunshine on Saturday morning. The rifle competition is quite long, involving each of the 5 shooters in both teams having 40 shots at 4 targets; 20 at 50m and 20 at 100m. Nevertheless, a solid team performance saw Dorchester win 50m by 941 to 906. The 100m shoot was particularly impressive, with both Ian Davison and Richard Burden scoring a highest possible 100 on one of their cards, and Dorchester scored 978 ahead of Bayeux's 952. Dorchester retained the rifle trophy by 1919 to 1858, with Ian Davison [393] and Wendy Thomas [387] top scoring.

Before a leisurely lunch Bernard Hamel initiated Martin Cake into the arts and crafts of loading and firing miniature cannons. These are scaled down versions of those used in naval battles two centuries ago, requiring gunpowder to be rammed in from the muzzle, a ball pushed in on top, and powder carefully introduced to the breech before being ignited with a glowing slow match. The results were quite effective but dramatic.

After lunch the Black Powder pistol competition, at 25m using replica historic arms similar to those used by highwaymen or for duelling, was keenly contested. The shooters measure their own powder and load the lead ball between each shot and because of the variability that provides they are allowed 13 shots with the best 10 to count for the match. Fabrice Goulet [90, Bayeux] was top scorer, leading Ian Davison, Michel Huart, and Francoise Huart by just one point. Nevertheless, Dorchester produced one of their better team scores [427] whilst Bayeux produced a very steady team score of 444 to win.

The final Police Pistol competition, shot against the clock on the advancing terrorist target at 25, 15, and 10m with American style cartridge pistols that are not available in Britain, is particularly exciting as spectators can see the holes as they appear in the targets. This year the match was very close with Marco Dal Pont [Bayeux 189 ex 216] leading the way from Francoise Huart [183] and Ian Davison [182], enabling Bayeux to win by 854 to 840.

The Dorchester team were entertained with typical French generosity in the homes of Bayeux Club members, and at the celebration dinner Jacques Lechevallier, the President of the Bayeux Club, presented a framed print of 17th century Bayeux to the Dorchester Club who reciprocated with a British Olympic flag.

Richard Burden Chairman
RFB 12 9 12

Score Sheet