Annual Shoot for the ‘SIRRAH’ Trophy
14th October 2023Searchers Farm, Searchers Lane, Bedmond, Herts, WD5 0SB
Shooting clays is not easy!!! Clays simulate the unpredictability of live-quarry shooting, offering a great variety of trajectories, angles, speeds, elevations, distances, and target sizes. Wikipedia illustrates how exciting shooting clays is! What it can’t bring to life is the sense of competitiveness mixed in with a great dose of fear that you feel when you are facing the London Guards and the Irish Guards Association and everyone is vying for one thing: the Sirrah Trophy! The day was sunny and crisp, hot coffee and tea warmed us up as we reached for earplugs and queued to meet our tutors. No one goes blindly into the stands. The Smoking Barrels as we are known were exceptionally fortunate to have an official teacher. As Master of the Company I am grateful for the skill and tenacity of Laurent Charbonnier, Patrick Lambert, Adam Phillips, Colin Ritchie, and David Smith. Collectively they hit high targets, low targets, single targets, double targets and even targets called rabbits!! The rain held off until the last shot was fired. Lunch was divine and collectively we ate and chatted all the while wondering - would we retain the trophy and bragging rights, or would it revert back to the Irish Guards Association or the London Guards who had held onto it for more years than I could count? Was last year an anomaly? There was one last test before we would know the answer. The best shot from each group would compete with five clays using an antique WW2 gun. In our group Patrick and Colin tied. Colin graciously acquiesced and Patrick would represent the Smoking Barrels. No pressure. The Irish Guard Association’s designed shooter hit 2 out of the 5 clays, the London Guard hit 3 out of the 5 clays. It was Patrick’s turn and he smashed the first clay. Unfortunately he missed the second. He couldn’t miss another one if we were to win!!! A sharpshooter could not have done better. Charlie smashed the other 3 clays for the win. As we entered the courtyard to learn the fate of the competition, we knew that at least we had one victory. Tensions ran high as Major Robbie Wilmont congratulated all the competitors. Win or lose it had been a great day!!!! Fortunately for the Worshipful Company of Tobacco Pipe Makers and Tobacco Blenders, it was an extraordinary day. The day we once again brought the Sirrah Trophy home!!! Next year the Hat Trick!!