CCRS Cadet Forces .22 Team Competition 2018
Judge’s report
This year there were many more entries in Classes C and D, using either the Cadet Small-bore target rifle, L144A1 (CSBTR) or locally purchased rifles (LPW). There were a reasonable number of entries in Class B (No8s with sights as issued) but only two entries in Class A (No8s with match sights). Thus it was decided to amalgamate Classes A and C (reported as Class A/C), since the scoring system is the same and the rifles (all with match sights) are equivalent.The Class A cup will be awarded to Class A/C.
Classes B and D could not be amalgamated, since the scoring system for the snap is different and Class B uses ‘sights as issued’ that cannot be adjusted.
Congratulations to Erskine, Stewart, Melville Schools CCF who won Class A/C ahead of Charterhouse CCF. The latter suffered from scoring zero in one group because of a low shot that ‘sounded different’ – very bad luck. Bradfield College CCF had the highest second team and the top single service team was 730 (City of Truro) Sqn ATC.
Well done toStonyhurst College CCF who won the Class B Cup, closely followed by Moray Company, 1 Highlanders ACF and then 1942 (Wadebridge) Sqn ATC. It is good to see two Open units in the top three. The top second team came from Rossall School CCF and the highest Open Unit team not in the first three was the Inverness Company, 1 Highlanders ACF.In fact the four highest Open Unit teams were all from 1 Highlanders ACF – well done!
Congratulations to Victoria College Jersey CCF who won Class D using the CSBTR. Second was Stamford Endowed Schools second team, beating their first team by two points after one firer had a disaster in the rapid and snap. The top second team (not in the first three) came from Oundle School CCF and the leading Open unit was 7 (Overseas) Sqn Jersey, ACF – a good year for Jersey!
There was some good grouping this year, with many full scores in Classes A/C and D and with the CSBTR holding its own with LPWs (usually Anschutz rifles). As ever, a few tight groups of four shots were spoilt by one wider shot. Consistency of hold and aim is the watchword here.
With adjustable sights in all but Class B, one would expect better scores in the rapid series, with groups being centred after Series 1 and this indeed was the case. This centring of the group needs practice, of course, as cadets must make the sight changes for themselves. Whatever the rifle, ten shots in sixty seconds, with fiddly loading of the .22 round, is testing and needs practice.
Snap scores are lower in Classes A/C and D, since the tighter rings, previously used in Class A, are employed. This is because sights are now adjustable. Be aware that shots hitting the periphery of the disc do not score. Aiming at the ‘tin hat’ aiming mark with ring foresights has always been well achieved in Class A, so there should be no problem when the CSBTR is in overall use. Backers to the snap target improve the aim of the firers – then please submit them to aid scoring.
The number of units scoring zero on the Landscape was encouragingly few this year. On the whole, the difficulty of the objectives seemed to increase from left to right. Congratulations to the team leaders on some good work here.
The administration of the competition is complex for Supervisors and Unit Responsible Adults alike and most are to be congratulated on getting it all right.
Please:
• do not fill in scores where it says ‘no scores to be entered’.
• indicate the number of shots fired (‘I have indicated on each target the number of shots fired’)
• stick the labels behind the circle of the snap target, not on the front of the stalk.
• write names on both halves of the rapid targets so that I can identify them when they tear apart in transit.
• send the targets to my home address not CCRS.
This year, several units may have lost points because the number of shots fired was not indicated. I then have to make an estimate of the number of shot-holes and this tends to be rather conservative. It’s really just a matter of noting the number (if any) of unfired rounds handed in by each cadet at the end of each shoot and marking their cards appropriately.
Frank Harriss
April 2018