Dorchester Rifle & Pistol Club

Dorchester R&PC v. Bayeux Tir Club at Dorchester

Two All!

The unseasonal weather disrupted two of the four shooting competitions between the shooting clubs of the twin towns of Dorchester and Bayeux at Dorchester this weekend [22 - 24 June 2013]. The 28th set of rifle and pistol competitions began on Friday afternoon at the Sandringham Sports Centre range with the Police Pistol competition, shot against the clock on advancing targets at 20, 15, and 10m with air pistols. Narrowly beaten in Bayeux last year, Dorchester had put in a lot of practice and with all five shooters scoring better than any of the Bayeux team they won convincingly by 1166 to 757. Steve Hubble was top score with 243 out of 300, new shooter Andy Macklin had 236, and the other team members all shot 229. Marco Dal Pont was top scorer for Bayeux with 222.

Bayeux are renown for their high standard of 10 metre precision air pistol shooting and despite a good solid team score from Dorchester [1261], with Gill Carter heading the pack on 262 ex 300, Jean-Jacques Durand [285] and Michel Huart [275] led Bayeux to a clear victory [1314].

With one trophy each the teams and their supporters adjourned for a Friday evening social at the Dorchester clubroom where Gill and Dave Carter had prepared outstanding food and Graham Drake had brought in a portable skittle alley.

The wind and rain on Saturday prevented the teams from shooting on the outdoor range at Piddlehinton so instead of shooting at 50 metres and 100 yards the rifle shooters fired one deliberate target at 25 yards in the Dorchester range followed by a further 10 shots in 90 seconds through single shot rifles. Work commitments had prevented Bayeux bringing two of their selected rifle shooters so Richard Burden, the Dorchester Chairman and Honorary member of the Bayeux club, shot for them and despite being the top score for Bayeux [194 ex 200] Dorchester were clear winners [945 to 909]. They were led by Ian Davison [196] and new shooter Paul Cooke [193], with Jean-Jacques Durand being the highest scoring French shooter [190].

Mike White, previously Dorchester's rifle captain but now living in France, ably organised the target changing and the scoring that allowed everyone to get away to the pre-arranged lunch at the Poachers in the Piddle valley. There was nearly as much interest in the Lions versus the Wallabies rugby match on the television as the meal!

Returning to the range in Dorchester the final match was between the black powder pistol shooters. Most of these pistols are replica historic arms similar to those used by highwaymen or for duelling. The shooters measure their own powder and load the lead ball down the muzzle of the pistol between each shot. Because of the variability that provides they are allowed 13 shots with the best 10 to count for the match. Martin Cake, the Dorchester black powder captain had decided to take the non-shooting role of range officer and scorer whilst Ian Davison [88 ex 100] counted out Dave Carter [88] to register the top score Dorchester's total of 418. However four of the Bayeux team shot 90 or more, with Jean-Jacques Durand shooting an excellent 95, to ensure Bayeux [450] took that trophy home with them.

Arriving to present the trophies, two to each team, the Mayor of Dorchester, Stella Jones, accompanied by Trevor Jones, was met by the President of the Bayeux club [Jacques Lechevallier] who happens also to be the Mayor of Maisons, a commune near the north-west side of Bayeux. Whilst they were exchanging experiences, Trevor Jones toured the club facilities, meeting members. Ian Davison showed both Stella and Trevor Jones how to fire a black powder pistol, and they both secured good hits on the target.

On Saturday evening new and established shooters, along with some older ones and family members joined together for the celebration dinner held at the Octagon on Poundbury. Mementos of the relationship between the Bayeux and Dorchester clubs were exchanged along with personal gifts, including genuine Scottish shortbread from Dorchester shooters Sean and Wendy Thomas who have, due to work, had to migrate to Glasgow.

Richard Burden Chairman
RFB 24 6 13

Score Sheet