All teams of shooters are aiming high at the start of this new season

HINCKLEY Air Rifle League resumed after a summer break with all 10 teams looking to impose themselves on the new season.

Taylor & Ayre made the journey to Hinckley Working Men’s Club, home of Hinckley Phoenix, looking to go one better than the previous season’s runnerup spot.

The home side’s first half included a 29 from Samantha Haskins, and 28s from Barry Wright and Roxy Ratheram, while the visitors had to settle for Giles Headley’s 29 and Paul Griffin’s 27.

However, after the break the best that Phoenix had to offer were the 27s of Ian Ratheram and Geoff Herbert whereas T&A could count the 27s of Steve Vincent and Norman Hall, the 28s of Phil Steele and Matt Hall, Alison Smith’s 29 and Darren Hicks’ 30, all of which combined to give them the win by 198 to 192.

Bedworth Ex Servicemen’s Club began the defence of their title with an easy win at the home of the Hounds.

Victory was never in doubt as the Hounds were able to field only four shooters.

Having said that, even a full team would have had difficulty against an excellent Bedworth whose 199 total included 30s from Robert Wagstaff and Bill Bend, 29s from Jackie Bend and Andrew Cryer, and the 28s of Abbi Gallemore and James Bend.

The Hounds’ best score came from Paul Huddlestone who contributed 28 of their 106 total.

The most competitive match of the night came at the home of Ashby Road B who played host to the venue sharing Ashby Road.

ARB shot first and started slowly but picked up with Craig Shuttleworth’s 27, and the 28s of Jon Storer and Jeff Goodyer allowing them to set a 186 target.

Their guests started similarly slowly but Lorraine and David White’s first-half closing 28/29 combination set the platform for Seamus Moore and Pete Finney to win the match, their 27s taking Ashby Road’s total to 187.

Sporting Lions’ visit to the New Plough Inn resulted in a more onesided result.

The home side started well with a 28 from Daniel Lakin then struggled, with the next best scores being a couple of 26s whereas the Lions dropped just three shots between all five shooters, the 30s of Todd Astill and Karl Bunting being joined by the 29s of Glen Dainter, Melanie Jenkins and Lee Johnson.

In the second half the Ploughmen notched up a John Bray 30 and a Nigel Hill 28 against a pair of 26s for the Lions but although it closed the gap it was too little, too late and the match finished with the visitors winning 199 to 189.

The Smallshaws versus Trojans match ended in a comfortable 11 shot victory for the visitors.

For the home side Bob West’s 28, and the 27s of Tom Williams and Jackie West were the best individual scores of their 186 total.

The Trojans’ 197 response came courtesy of a trio of 29s from Darren Houghton, Mark Smith and Chris Sills, together with Rob Forman’s 28 and Nigel Jackson’s 27.