Shooting

Sunday was a day of rest : some stayed in the vicinity of Keswick and Derwentwater most of the day and then went by bus by Bassenthwaite Lake to Higham Hostel. A few energetic ones (including both Scouters !) climbed Skiddaw (3,053 feet). The weather had changed again; there was a gale blowing, but no rain, and the views in all directions were magnificent.

Monday was wet; all went by bus to Wythburn on Thirlmere and from there climbed Helvellyn (3,118 feet) by the pony track. There was thick cloud on top and nothing could be seen. The compass was again needed. At three o'clock the weather suddenly cleared. One party went down to Greenside Hostel by the Sticks Pass and the other climbed down the steep slope to Kepplecove Tarn and so to the hostel.

The last day's journey was by Ullswater, Brothers' Water and the Scandale Pass to Ambleside. The weather was bad at first but soon improved and on the descent to Ambleside Hostel there was a final view of the Langdale Pikes, Bow Fell and Wetherlam.

The Easter Term is always considered the most important period in the School shooting season, since we have both the "Country Life" Competition and the most important matches this term. As was the case last term, most of our poor scores have been the results of bad luck in the form of I inch groups missed by hairs-breadths, but in the main the shooting has not been of a high standard, being unsteady in the extreme.

Forgetting for the moment that a bad workman blames his tools, we have had considerable trouble with our rifles. At the beginning of term there was but one reliable rifle, the others having either broken striker pins, or pieces of sights missing. Later on, after much changing of bolts and modifying of sights, one more rifle emerged to take the strain, and the majority of our matches were shot with these two rifles. It was then that the need for a reliable sight was fully realised, and two Parker-Hale models were ordered. Much to our annoyance they did not arrive in time for the "Country Life".

Our results this term have been as follows :-

St. Peter's Results

611 610 599 586 627 612 604 St. Bartholomew's 595 Won Yelstead Bridlington Rossal 593 Won 548 Won 643 Lost King Edward's 609 Won Sutton Vallence 639 Lost George Watson's 626 Lost 51