Framlinghamian 2022 - Flipbook - Page 270
SOF | OF SPORT: RIFLE CLUB
Mehta, Scottish, and McDowell, Welsh. A
or right-to-left wind is, in reasonably
bit like Scottish Rugby, Welsh Football or
competent hands, relatively predictable. If
English Cricket.
it goes both ways, it’s a fishtail and causes
all kinds of problems even for the most
expert wind-coach.
So, into the wide embrace of the OFRC’s
welcoming arms we bring Ros Wiltshire.
Ros joins on two counts. One, she is a
And our problem is, Steve McDowell’s
multi-international who came 7th in the
wind-coaching hands are rarely confused
Grand Aggregate last year – which to the
for reasonably competent. Plus, as it
uninitiated is a kind of world ranking and,
transpired, it wasn’t just our kit that got
two, she’s James Mehta’s girlfriend. Either
rusty during lockdown. McDowell’s
one of which amply qualify her. And Sasha
shoulder, for a start, which he claims to
The Tsar Radkovskii, who is Russian and
have damaged moving house; it simply
attended Lancing. But he’s a mate of Jon
won’t bend enough to shoot without
Thorp’s, a good shot, and a dashed fine
causing very distracting layers of pain, so
fellow to boot, so he’s in. Natch.
he sticks to the coach’s chair.
With our equally bewildered, hairy, and
The fast-firing Halahan leads the way –
tubby opposition (the Old Lawrancians,
his first two shots showing the wind to be,
Albanians, Bedfordians, Cranleigh, Kings
though not strong, a tricky customer. Click.
School Canturbury et al), we settle down
“Misfire.” Misfires are a pain because the
to shoot 10 rounds to count at 500 yards
firer has to wait in the aim for 30 seconds
and then 600 yards. The captains agree
in case the round is ‘cooking off’ and
teams of four and the OFs are very cocky,
explodes while the bolt is being opened.
given we have three teams including two
As it turns out, the primer has been
top-notch ringers. Top drawer ringers,
inserted the wrong way round.
indeed. Multi-internationals. Yes siree.
It’s in the bag. Except, we all know what
And so, follows a litany of comedy errors.
fate awaits the best laid plans.
Well, they would be comedic if indeed
they were funny. Tsarsha, normally an
We have a gorgeous, calm, cloudless
excellent shot, ends up with a score in
spring day though, as we shall discover,
the low 40s. Even Mehta and Halahan,
not quite windless. The problem with wind
normally gun platforms to rival the
is that, although it may not show up too
Hawker Hurricane, go down in flames.
much to blow one’s shots off course, it can
The Chairman stands tall with a 49 and
also go both ways. A steady left-to-right
Red Leader - reliable as ever - crashes in
268