Night Shoot at Waulkmill - 20/10/2021

And so it passed that two Warlocks: Paul Bates and Steve Ludlow conjured up  the Waulkmill  night shooters bewitching spell. Summoning up the night demons with their glowing green light's and the ghosts of former members still haunting the bogs and woods of the Waulkmill shooting grounds, on this years Halloween eve. But who? would turn up and face the ghouls of this the enchanted forest? Are their still Hero's in GARC? Vampire slayers, ghost busters and any Denwood men with guts to tackler outdoor shooting of a night shoot in a country environment. Or would Bob the Werehare and his band of headless horsemen from the shire scare them away, once the street lights of Old Aberdeen start to fade from their rear view mirrors?

Pre course work
Things started off at 16:00 just still in day light, where Warlocks Steve and Paul got the course painted and glow lights in place ready for us super hero's. Paul also wired up a generator to provide lighting within the club hut, while Steve had moved a few targets around to confuse folk that had already shot the course a few days before. Our thanks go out to them for this work done, these two gents make up a fine pair of Warlocks in the clubs body of men!!
  
Shooters started to arrive from 18:00 to get there kit working and setup on the plinking range, being ready for 19:45 safety brief and a 20:00 start. The turn out was great, with Fifteen members in attendant, 13 shooters and two helpers/ ranger Marshalls. Hang on 13 shooters? isn't that a coven?  Chris M and the godmother of Waulkmill flew in from Peterhead on Terie's new green powered eclectic hoover, thus saving the waulkmill trees and confirming that we had now gotten a full coven formed. Alex C turned up with a gun bearer in the form of Stuart (his shooting buddie), who was unable to take part in the shoot due to recovering from an operation, But did assist Alex in pointing his flashlight towards the targets, which now has proved the rumours that Stuart still holds a torch for Alex!!  Again our thanks to both Stuart and Teri for acting as marshals throughout this fun competition.

Named and shamed
We had only two confirmed missing in action shooters. Both had promised to be there but........Shame on you both for not turning up and the rotten excuses given afterwards. The real reason was you were both out on a date together!!!! and that's the rumour of those that were there, have agreed to spread around. So shame on you both Paul Shepard and Bill McConnachie, oh sorry I didn't mean to name you, but I cant use tipex on my computer, so please forgive name dropping, what ah mistake ah,  to make ah.  
  On Target with the light
The Shoot its self
A name draw was taken by our Teri, to ensure that all would be shooting in groups of two chosen at random and one group of three. This was to mix the group up and not allow normal shooting partners to go around together (as per HFT rules) Groups were spaced two pegs apart. The exception was two friend's,  Stefan Duncan & Chris Anderson, often seen shooting together at Waulkmill and in the day light, and if luck were to have it were matched in the draw and now even greater friends since they have both had a walk in the woods together at night? Or was Teri match making? I hope it was luck, I wouldn't like to be matched up with Paul Bates, at night and in a wood. But this was Halloween eve and Paul was  drawn up with Colin Thomson (Which one was the nightmare?) Fun was had by all, going by the oh's and arr's when shots were fired towards the targets. And the weather was perfect..No rain at Waulkmill and warm, with just a very slight bit of wind now and again, or so some of our top shots reported. However I shall let those who took part add to this event should they wish to on this forum. One thing that was said by all was, a great night, when is the next one...well soon we hope, in November / December. 
 Is this the ghost of Bob the Hare, hopping about and above the firing lines? And who's ghostly hand is that about to slap some one on the head? 

Scores on the doors. Remember this was a fun shoot
The Player:
Paul & Samuel Bennion, shared a HW 99 springer on their first night shoot ever and did themselves proud (2nd & 3rd place spring). Steve & Robert Ludlow, (of note: Both Sons of these father and son teams managed to beat their Dads) Well done lads. Paul Bates, David Vine (Standing supported only) Chris Malcolm, Martin Taylor (1st in Springer 46 dam good score Sir)Chris Anderson, Colin Thomson (3rd open 49)Chris Ward (2nd open 52) joint first Open !!!!...Alex C & Stefan Duncan 57. Thanks again to all that took part and Paul Bates, Teri, Stuart and Steve.

There was as many stars on the ground taking part in the shoot , as were lighting the sky at Waulkmill on this event. No losers (Bar two..shame) and all were winners that took part.