REDFEARNS FRANK PEAKMAN MEMORIAL SHOOT
FRANK PEAKMAN MEMORIAL SHOOT It’s always a sad day when a fellow shooter passes away, I’d only met Frank Peakmen once at Redfearns, he was a bit of a character by all accounts but todays memorial shoot seems fitting for a popular fella from Redfearns to be remembered. Rest in peace Frank and my condolences to your family.
but hey a shoot is a shoot right? I was up early to pick up Phil “The Bear” Green. I decided on some ambient tunes for the journey and turned the heat up in the car. Phil usually gets in the car in one of two modes, chatty or half asleep. When he’s half asleep I like to send him to sleep with the warmth and soothing music. Then spend my time driving over cats eyes etc. to make his head wobble for my own amusement as he tries to nod off. Well, if you’re not going to keep me company I’ve always figured I’d best make my own entertainment.
rifles more than most men change their pants. He’d give Wagger a run for his money that’s for sure. He’s back on the Ripper after we spent all last week setting the Steyr up! I’ll never figure him out but it keeps him out of trouble.
We arrive at Redfearns early hoping it may kick off a bit earlier than 10am Last time I turned up at as the weather report Redfearns for an off the looked pretty grim for the card shoot (not graded) I afternoon. I really didn’t managed to get my lowest fancy heavy rain and score ever, along with 45mph winds again. We getting absolutely soaked book in and catch up with to the skin shooting a a few of the lads in the course that would have shed. Loads of people broke me on a sunny had elected to shoot their windless day. The weather springs as Frank was a was so bad I think my gun big fan of springer’s, very bag is still moist 3 months brave I think to myself. later. I’ve never given up on Dang! He’s chatty. I turn I checked the zero and a course before but I’d had the heat down with a little wind before heading out enough after 5 lanes and disappointed and we to check out to the course couldn’t range anything kick off with “what you with a sense of trepidation. given the conditions. The shooting today Phil?” Phil’s The thing about NEFTA weather report for this one got more guns than most courses is that they are looked about the same gun shops and swaps his never easy. Even on a “fun
shoot” they’ll still be hard as nails and knowing Dave Thomo this one wouldn’t have any gimmies on it either. I think our Andy’s and Dave definition of fun must read the same. fun: fʌn/ Noun. Long, hard, or very testing but not devoid of pleasure. “the shooters were having fun shaking their heads and tutting“
We start at Lane 1 for a couple of real testers, 53 yards in 19mph wind, left to right. I drop the mag and aim just on the edge of the target: dink, 40mm right of the kill. I console myself with “well the height was right”. Phil nails them both and continues to do so around most of the course. Dave Lawrence and I struggle like troopers with the wind until we hit the bottom left hand corner where there’s a couple of targets under 45 yards. This doesn’t feel right, so much so that Dave elects to miss both of them! After the corner we hit what we think are the last of the standers, then a 51 yards and 45 yard lollipop. This is hard work, I miss both standers but get the next two. Last lane before heading up the hill are two reducers, my chuffing nemesis of late but I get
both. At last the plan is coming together. Phil is on fire though, not only does he put in his best score this winter season, he hits all his standers including the ones after a long walk up
the hill, cheers for that Dave. I missed both, even though the distance wasn’t that hard, I really need to up my standing game. Last lane is a 50 yard rat that’s taking more wind than bus seat after an Anston outing to the curry house. Last
target is a 12 yard 8mm Phoenix, from a distance it doesn’t even look like it’s got a hole in it! I spent most of the day chasing the wind again, while Dave amusingly spent most of it hitting the
Phil “The Bear� Green testing out the new Aloon 3000 Windicator, must have worked as he scored a massive 31!
Dave Lawrenson with his thing on a spring, he didn’t think he’d done that well either, turns out he won!
great turn out for Frank, I reckon he would have been hard targets while missing I was just happy not to chuffed. The shoot raised the close ones, but he equal my worst score £490 and kept a load of was shooting his springer ever and walk away with blokes out of trouble for the and those things as we all a C Grade Score of 24. morning. As we head down know have a mind of their There was still the raffle the M1 the weather breaks own. to go though, maybe I’d get lucky on that. I get my and grey turns to black before the skies open and it That said Dave did win tickets out and give them the golden walking stick a lucky rub. This was a big starts pissing it down. Phil manages to counter point with his score of 22. Phil mistake, Trev Ryan spots this with a big daft grin on thought he was in with the tickets and zooms his face. I try to wipe it off a chance with 31 before off to buy some, he can’t Neil Hague wobbled back believe there’s a raffle and his face by saying “it’s a into the shed with a 37 but he’s not selling the tickets! shame it wasn’t graded, that score would have he was up there with the He’s no need to worry taken you up to B Grade” top lads for once and it though; he walks off with but I don’t think he heard was good to see him 3 of the top prizes, the me over his grin. doing well. He’s going to jammy git! be so gutted if he ends the season in C Grade. I really enjoyed the course See you all at the Champs and Inters, Phil might have though, great practice for stopped grinning by then. the GP’s and there was a
Mark Mike Dave Trev
37 33 33 32 31
Top Five Springer Lawrenson Dave Lee John Thomlinson Dave Hebby Steve Cleugh Ernie
22 22 19 16 12
Stenton Trowman Mitchell Ryan
Dave Thomo taking a break from planning course’s that would break even the most seasoned shooter.
Trev Ryan fills his boots with all the raffle wins, can’t believe it, he won 3 times, the jammy git!