Shooting

At the beginning of this term very few of us had used the No. 8 rifle. This was unfortunate as the "Country Life" rules were changed so that we had to use it. After the initial suspicion of a new, unproved rifle was overcome, we realised that its double trigger pressure and smooth bolt action were a vast improvement over the Mossberg, but there was some difficulty encountered in trying to group on a target. It was discovered that the team consisted of two types : those who could see the foresight but not the target, and those who could see the target but not the foresight. We looked for the cause, finding the aperture of the back sight was too great, but were helpless as the sights were specified by 'Country Life" to be as issued. Three of the rifles were found to be useless without an arrnourer's help since they were not sighted truly and the back sight possesses no latteral adjustment. We could only do one thing, and that was to practice. We had just three weeks to the first match and throughout that time we considered it good shooting if an individual topped 70. However, we persevered and found new points of aim and techniques in aiming, and the first Finch groups began to appear. Almost in dispair, we had our last practice before the first match. Miraculously, so it seemed, we had suddenly improved, and we managed to better 600 in the match.

On the whole, we can be fairly satisfied with the progress made this term. We accepted this season as one of training and discovery, and have succeeded in that fairly well. Our only disappointment was that we could not devote enough time to the "Country Life" landscape targets since we just had to be thoroughly at home with the No. 8. In the "Country Life" competition our lack of practice on the landscape was only too apparent, spoiling a good effort on the straight shoot through.

The matches and results for this term are :-

St. Peter's (601) v. Felsted (615). Lost. v. St. Bartholomew's (614). Lost. St. Peter's (598) v. Rossall (565). Won. St. Peter's (589) v. Ampleforth (677). Lost. St. Peter's (606) v. Leeds G.S. (594). Won. St. Peter's 1(606) v. George Watson's (586). Won. St. Peter's (620) v. King Edward's St. Peter's (643) v. Sutton Valence (677). Lost. St. Peter's (616) v. Denstone

J. Lewis was re-awarded his Shooting Colours, and Shooting Colours were awarded to J. 0. R. Penman, W. R. Ibberson, C. J. Griffiths and T. A. Foy for the 1952-53 season.

Shot Average J. B. Weightman 10 78.70 Christmas Term 1 J. A. E. Wick 4 79.25 only 1 D. J. Bird 4 79.00 J. Lewis 11 75.54 J. 0. R. Penman 11 79.64 W. R. Ibberson 11 75.54 C. J. Griffiths 11 76.36 T. A. Foy 10 74.30

Easter Term P. P. M. Hewson 7 77.00 only t R. D. Beckitt 7 73.57 Reserve : J. B. Huzzard 3 68.33

The team's average score was 12 points better than last season's, standing at 611.3.

Classification. Classification has continued this term, organised by Sgt. Gudgeon, and so far 85 cadets have classified. We now have three Marksmen and 20 First Class Shots among the cadets over 16, while many under this age have "Qualified".

SQUASH

Five matches were played this term of which three were won. The results were as follows :-

1. v. THE STAFF. M. J. Wood beat R. F. Harding, Esq., 3-1. W. G. A. Maxwell lost to A. E. R. Dodds, Esq., 0-3. E. A. M. Reid-Smith beat D. A. C. Blunt, Esq., 3-1. M. Willstrop beat E. S. Jeffs, Esq., 3-0. G. B. Pullan beat D. K. Crews, Esq., 3-0.

2. v. OLD PETERITES. M. J. Wood beat D. J. Oliver, 3-0. E. A. M. Reid-Smith v. D. G. Watson. Stopped owing to injury. W. G. A. Maxwell beat R. M. Garth, 3-0. G. B. Pullan lost to P. V. Leigh, 0-3. M. Willstrop beat I. S. Macpherson, 3-1.

3. v. R.A.F., CRANWELL (Away). M. J. Wood beat M. Lees, 3-0. E. A. M. Reid-Smith lost to A. N. Other, 0-3. W. G. A. Maxwell lost to R. Jones, 1-3. M. Willstrop lost to P. Cock, 2-3. R. Nelson lost to N. Pickersgill, 2-3.

4. v. DONCASTER GRAMMAR SCHOOL (Home). M. J. Wood lost to M. M. Brew, 0-3. E. A. M. Reid-Smith lost to D. G. S. Smith, 0-3. W. G. A. Maxwell lost to M. Norton, 2-3. M. Willstrop beat J. G. Wilkinson, 3-2. R. Nelson lost to P. J. Wormold, 2-3.