Shooting

SCOUT TROOP

Promotion in School troops usually follows the academic pattern. In September of each year there is generally a wholesale transfer of Scouts into the Senior Troop and an equivalent intake from St. Olave's or outside. This is inevitable, but it may give rise to a certain rigidity unless the door to advancement is kept ajar. With this danger in mind, a series of promotions has taken place within the two Senior School Troops which should benefit all concerned.

First we were pleased to welcome to the Troop this term R. Baldwin, G. Parkin, and Steel as Acting A.S.M.s : they will now have a chance to gain their Warrants before the end of the year. Secondly, three of our Patrol Leaders (Beckitt, Hardman, and R. A. B. Wood) move up into the Senior Troop next term, to be replaced by their Seconds (Anfield, Burton, and Williams). Perhaps it would be fitting, as we bid farewell to the former, to add that Wood's patrol (Seals) has headed the inter-Patrol Competition chart from its inception last September.

The weather confined our activities to the Scout Hut for most of the term, though the snow did provide us with ample opportunities for elaborate tracking exercises. Nevertheless, this meant that training and testing have proceeded more quickly than we anticipated and a number of Scouts now only need to complete their Journey in the summer to become First Class. Also an encouraging number of Scouts has been gaining Proficiency Badges, the largest group preparing for the Weatherman Badge under Parkin. The opportunity was seized on one dry, frosty afternoon to stage an exacting obstacle race : swarming over a high wall by rope net did not appeal to the more elephantine Scouts, however. Another successful outdoor activity was a York Quest, each patrol being set a series of tasks requiring enterprise and initiative in a limited time.

We now look forward to the Summer Camp in Strathtay, a site Gaelic enough even for Mr. Montgomery. Parents will be sent full details in good time.

The end of this term brings another season of .22 shooting to a close. In postal matches it has been quite a successful one, with only two defeats in the 10 matches shot. The "Country Life" results are not yet available, but our estimated score is some 12 points lower than last year's, as the Rapid was not as good as it should have been. Groups which alter position have cost us a good many points this season in both rapid and snap. Grouping, however, has been on the whole very good and it is rare for any 1st VIII member to be outside the inch. As this is in some ways the best test of good shooting, it provides an encouraging omen for next term. The 2nd VIII has

probably been rather better than last year's, but there has been difficulty in finding fixtures. The number of boys taking .22 shooting is higher than ever before, and some promising shots are emerging. As nearly all the 1st VIII and many of the 2nd will be leaving this year, we shall need some good new members next year if our standard is to be maintained.

The 1st VIII were all re-awarded or awarded their minor colours.

Results and individual averages are given below.

1sT VIII.

Match MATCH RESULTS

Opponent's St. Peter's Score Score Result v. Welbeck College 743 750 Won v. King's College School 748 743 Lost v. Shrewsbury School 674 745 Won v. Denstone College 724 757 Won v. Dean Close School 741 754 Won v. St. Bee's School 717 754 Won v. Giggleswick School 726 761 Won v. Rossall School 756 749 Lost

2ND VIII.

v. Welbeck College 642 699 Won v. Rossall School 743 722 Lost

INDIVIDUAL AVERAGES

1ST VIII.

B. C. R. Butler ...

S. H. Newbigging

R. Baxter ...

J. M. Lennox ...

G. P. Lowley

M. G. Garbutt

D. E. Rayner

D. A. Wilson

F. N. Parkin

2ND VIII.

A. 0. Sutcliffe

J. K. Hick

P. A: Crossley

S. D. Baker

R. A. Hodgson

J. D. Fox

A. C. Wilson

M. K. Oldham 95.00 94.42 96.57 94.42 91.05 91.14 95.42 93.85 93.02

87.05 91.00 87.00 91.00 83.05 87.00 92.00 88.00

The nine names under the heading "1st VIII" is explained by the fact that we lost our Captain, Butler, for a part of the second half of term through illness. There is, however, every reason to believe that he will be quite fit again next term.