High quality league launch

The first shots have been fired in the Montgomeryshire and District Airgun League as teams showed no signs of early season rust with a high quality round of action.

Two teams recorded scores higher than 200 points and 35 of the evening’s 65 shooters recorded scores of 33 or more.

There were five possibles (scores of 35.0 or over) shot by Jane Thomas (35.5) and Paul Gwilliam (35.2) of Churchstoke, Paul Phillips (35.3) of Guilsfield A and Martin Pearce (35.0) and Richard Lewis (35.4) of Arddleen.

Bell target shooting may not be a recognised spectator sport but this week’s results show clearly that the home teams dominated proceedings in every match that was shot.

Arddleen outshot Forden in an encounter that left the visitors bruised to the tune of 205.5 points to 189.5, the hosts shooting the highest score of the evening by a small margin.

Churchstoke overcame Guilsfield B 204.8-189.9 and Crew Green A triumphed comfortably over Llanfair Caereinion, 196.8-192.0.

Guilsfield A defeated Newtown 199.4-195.4; however Newtown can be forgiven for having their minds on other things, as their captain Jess Corbett was not present due to the birth of her third son.

Finally, Castle Caereinion held their nerve to beat a hard-fighting Crew Green B by just 0.1 point, 199.5 to 199.4.

Although early in the season, the top three individual averages stand at 35.5, 35.4 and 35.3 for Jane Thomas, Richard Lewis and Paul Phillips respectively.

Close scrutiny of these standings is a given and there is a lot of shooting to be done between now and the end of the season – expect a tight contest for the top spots in the Individual league table

Shooter of the week: As it’s the first week of the season I feel it only fair that those shooters who shot in their first matches receive congratulations for doing so.

Match of the week: This can only be the nail-biter of a contest between Castle Caereinion and Crew Green B.