It was a nail-biter going into this year’s final Vintage Service Rifle match held at 300 yards on Bisley’s Century range. Up to 5 participants were theoretically capable of being League overall champion, depending upon results. Shooters were mainly using Martini Henrys, though there was. a Danish Rolling Block and a Snider too.

We had lovely sunny conditions for the match, albeit with a stiff westerly wind that was pushing even our rifles’ heavy bullets to the right. Some decent scores were recorded nonetheless, with Gert Van Wyk emerging as winner of the match. Congratulations to him.

The results may be viewed here >>>>

As to the final result, it was hard fought to the very end, with Jason Buckingham emerging as this year’s League overall champion, just a hair’s breadth ahead of Gert. Jason performed solidly throughout, with good to excellent marks on every practice, and is a worthy winner. HBSA membership secretary Chris Reid presented him with the VSR League trophy – a statuette of a Victorian rifleman with his Martini Henry.

We had 14 participants in total in this year’s League, with a ‘hard core’ of eight competing in all three matches. There are currently up to 20 potential participants, including those who have attended in previous years. We hope some of those will dust off their guns to come again, and that others will also get involved – regular attendees always go out of their way to help beginners, with both know-how and equipment. New member Tom Loan was at his first VSR shoot for this final match, and was most welcome.

I sign off this year’s League simply by observing that while old black powder firearms are challenging to shoot and reload for, using them is great fun and immensely rewarding. Those who do it may be small in number, but they are keeping alive skills and knowledge that would otherwise be lost, and thus honouring a prime raison d’être of the HBSA. My thanks and congratulations to them all.

Jess McAree