Framlinghamian 2019 - Single Pages 72dpi - Flipbook - Page 157
OF SPORT
AND SO TO…
Eleven successive days of long-range
shooting, roistering and eating barbequed
meat. Savage rainstorm-soakings and 37C
degree heat. Tears of horror and many
more of sheer joy and triumph.
Even for the shooting nuts of the OFRC
the 150th Imperial Meeting left us…
Featuring…
Nigel ‘Gandalf’ Burnip
Sandy ‘Aragorn’ Walkson-Walker
Kim ‘Galadriel’ Pope
James ‘Bilbo’ Mehta
John ‘Gimli’ Halahan
Jon ‘Elrond’ Ford,
Jonathan ‘Gollum’ Thorp
BORED OF
THE RINGS
possess. I love it.”
It beats talking to the trees.
Which he does. Frequently.
“I guessed the wind right – 1 ½ minutes
left – but left the sights alone. Why?”
The usual liaisons gather at Hedgehog
HQ as both the Chairman – Gandalf –
and Gimli Halahan have acquired golf
buggies for the duration. Shame they
aren’t road legal to get to the off-licence
and back.
Steve ‘Legolas’ McDowell
and introducing
Jim ‘Frodo’ Overbury
The year was a special year. Not only
the 150th Imperial Meeting where top
shooters from all over the world have
descended on Bisley camp. Australians,
Kiwis, South Africans and, for the first time
in many years, the welcome sight of the
United States Rifle Team.
But it is also special because the OFRC
have found a new Bisley home – in
the glade on the edge of the magical
kingdom of Stickledown range.
It is called the Hedgehog Hut, a colonial
style shed with a cool and shady
verandah. In its cramped but comfortable
innards live Bilbo Mehta, Legless
McDowell and Frodoverbury, five rifles
and a case of a very creditable Australian
Merlot.
The trio venture forth on to the ranges,
with Frodoverbury making his Imperial
Meeting debut at the tender age of 56.
Frodoverbury’s diary for the 18TH JULY
reads: “Totally overwhelmed with the
occasion. In OF shooting someone else
reads the wind and does the scorebook.
This demands abilities I don’t think I
FRIDAY 19 JULY
These were mad slightly complicated
by severe rain, in which McDowell,
the fool, was required to shoot the
Astor county championship for the
West Suffolk Rifle Club – being as he
is a member of both them and the
OFRC. Mehta shoots in the Hospitals
Cup for London, on the basis that he
once had an interview at the Royal
Dental Hospital. Everybody else
enjoys a bit of a lie-in.
Still, we plan a monster barbeque
when the Suffolk match comes
around.
“Did better. Beginning to understand.
Got a decent group with full-bore
for the first time. 4 minutes at 500
yards.”
Frodoverbury sucks his quill in
contemplation.
“Position. Must settle on one.”
Generally speaking, the remainder of
the OFRC points out to him, that’s a
very good idea.
“What is?”
Vox Pop: “One position. It’s called
settled.”
“Oh right,” says Frodo, scribbling
away.
SATURDAY 20 JULY
“The 600 yards was amazing. Every
time I got into position, it was dead
on and steady. 3 Vs in a row. Buzzin’.
45.4”
Gandalf and the venerable Elrond –
aged just under 150 between them
-reveal they both snaffled bronze
medals in the Fulton Pairs.
The rain persists.
McDowell continues to moan about it.
SUNDAY 21 JULY
“Shot 300 (The Times) like smallbore, badly, therefore learned the
difference between small and full bore
– lower, looser but tight, wind, light and
companions.”
Well, that, and much larger bullets
1000 yards – the Dreaded Corporation.
“Saw the target numbers fine, wind and
rain. Hit 42 beating Thorp, Kimbers and
Steve. Love it.”
The Corporation, ten scoring shots at
1000 yards, brings out tragedy and
triumph in equal measures. If you are
stuck for something to be superstitious
about, the Corp is it.
At this stage, two OFs on the Grand
Aggregate leader board as Gollum makes
a quick appearance in the top 50 of the
Grand. The Corporation sees him fall off,
never to be seen again. Aragorn Walkson
hovers behind the leaders, waiting to
strike.
There was some celebrating from those
whose day had not ended in splurges
of pain and custard and some mournful
whimpering from those whose had.
THE FRAMLINGHAMIAN 2019
155