More Bang for Your Buck...

2014 ended with Clay Shooting going from strength to strength in the Province, with the last few months proving a busy time for the Brethren of the Essex Masonic Clay Shooting Association (EMCSA); putting Essex on the map in both Inter-Provincial competitions & fund raising endeavours for 8Aid.

 

Having successfully hosted the Home Counties Inter-Provincial Competition in 2013, after which we were able to donate £1,000 to Lifelites, the EMCSA were hoping to continue the momentum for 2014

 

On Saturday 13th September they assisted the Provincial Stewards to lay on the annual Stewards Charity Clay Shoot, a popular event that has become a permanent fixture in the Provincial Shooting Calendar. Hosted at the Essex Shooting Ground, Fyfield and generously supported by the owner, Olly Searl, around 50 participants, almost evenly split between novices and more experienced shooters, met at the Black Bull Pub, Fyfield, for a hearty breakfast before setting off to the shoot. The novices were given 1-to-1 tuition before a mini competition over 30 targets, whilst the more experienced battled it out over 60 targets before retiring back to the pub for a 3 course lunch.

 

• Experienced High Gun - W.Bro Neil March, Saint Cedd Lodge No. 6519 

• Ladies’ High Gun           - Mrs Valerie Griffin

• Novice High Gun           - Bro Peter Whapshott, Beamish Lodge No. 3869, Province of East Kent

• Steward High Gun        - W.Bro Nick Horner, ProvGStwd, Ingrebourne Lodge No. 3345

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Valerie Griffin

 

 

             Peter Whapshott                                                                               Valerie Griffin                                                                           Nick Horner

 

A great day was had by all & over £1,000 was raised by the Stewards for 8Aid (and congratulations to W.Bros Nick Horner and Danny Pollock, ProvGStwds, for pulling it all together).

 

On 16th September the EMCSA entered a team into the inaugural Inter-Provincial Shoot hosted by the Province of Hertfordshire at the Atkin, Grant & Lang Shooting School, St Albans.

 

Essex came 2nd in both the team and individual competitions (W.Bro Neil March) and the prizes were then awarded by RW.Bro Paul Gower, PGM (Herts). It was a well-attended affair, with well over one hundred competitors helping Herts raise £1,700 for the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls & Boys.

 

On 27th September, Surrey hosted the Home Counties Inter-Provincial Shoot; another well-attended event, with over 100 Masons entering the fray and teams from MetGL, Essex, Herts, East & West Kent, Sussex, Middlesex and Surrey. 

 

This time Essex came 3rd in the team competition but were again 2nd in the individual competition (W.Bro Neil March). Prizes were awarded by the Surrey PGM, RW.Bro Eric Stuart-Bamford.

 

On 11th October the EMCSA laid on a novice event at Dartford Clay Shooting Club. The aim was to offer an introduction to the sport, with 1-to-1 tuition offered in 90 minute slots, while having fun & raising a little for charity in the process. There were 15 participants including six Brethren and their wives, friends or family members and everyone enjoyed the day.

 

Thanks were due to W.Bros Karl Griffin and Neil March (qualified CPSA Instructors) who provided their services for free and for the generosity of our hosts; as a result of which a further £250 was raised for 8Aid.

 

Building on the success of this event, the EMCSA will be holding further novice days in 2015 at different locations across the Province. If interested please contact the EMCSA Secretary, W.Bro Paul Reeves, at paul.reeves@emcsa.org.uk