Shooting

Christmas Good Turn, are deserving of note. They represent the work of the Group as a whole, the joint effort of Pack and Troop, and reflect a very strong co-operative spirit and a live Group.

At the same time the general standard of training is being maintained at a satisfactory level. Many of the Otter and Beaver patrols are approaching the final tests for the 1st Class badge, and five members of the Junior School Patrols have completed their 2nd Class Badge tests during the term.

Eight members of the Junior School Patrols have been attending a course of six lectures on Firefighting, organised for Scouts by the York City Fire Service. At the conclusion of the course all of them passed the necessary tests for the Firefighter Badge.

After a rather shaky start the 1st VIII settled down to make some of its best scores since the introduction of the new "Country Life" rules in January, 1949, and out of a full programme of seven matches we managed to win four. Unfortunately there have been no 2nd VIII matches this term, as, after last term's scores, it was deemed better to concentrate on training of the 1st VIII. It is also necessary to husband our remainingMossbergs as far as possible. Four members of the 2nd VIII, however, were tried in the 1st VIII, and two were remarkably successful. In fact they retained their places and on several occasions shot better than some of the "old hands". "Country Life" conditions were again slightly altered this term— an extra five points are now awarded for a half-inch group on the snap target, bringing the possible individual score up to 90. This was universally welcomed as it gave one a much better chance of getting the "bogey" score, which we set ourselves, of 75, i.e., the score which must be attained before a shoot can be considered satisfactory.

The 1st VIII was entered for the annual "Country Life" competition, and the scores in the Snap and the Landscape were quite good. H. H. Hunter's personal score of 89 was exceeded by only 2 competitors in the whole competition. In the final placing we were 18th out of over 100 entrants, the highest we have achieved since competing in Division A. 1st VIII results :-

St. Peter's 579—Rossall School, 575. Won. George Watson's College, 642. Lost. St. Peter's 627—King Edward's School, 628. Lost. St. Peter's 587—St. Bartholomews' Grammar School, 624. Lost. St. Peter's 627—St. Edmund's School, Cantebury, 584. Won. St. Peter's 633—Victoria College, 607. Won. St. Peter's 625—Trent College, 571. Won.

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