Dorchester Rifle and Pistol Club
AGM 7th November 2007

Chairman’s Report  2006/07

This has been a year of consolidation with a focus on maintaining and improving our assets; the Dorchester and Piddlehinton ranges.  Led by Rod Hann, the ranges maintenance team, with particular contributions from Ray Bound, Dave Carter, and Dennis Hannam, look after our assets and we have in hand improvements for Piddlehinton.  Just after the last AGM the air arms target winders were fitted to the indoor range, sponsored by QuinetiQ, and the Club thanks Gill Carter for being so instrumental in gaining that sponsorship. 

Chris Britton has done a grand job revitalising and broadening the club web site.  There has also been consolidation in shooting, with the Pony Club / pentathlon youngsters continuing to train with Alan Brown, our air arms shooters had 'master classes' from Alan, Chris Mason now has regular coaching sessions, and Lynda Renshaw organised rifle coaching sessions.

Our shooting depends on the range officers and, especially, Ray Bound who sets a fine example welcoming members and visitors and making sure everyone is getting a shoot.  Lucas Weschke handed on the black powder ladder competition he had successfully established to Dick Baxter who ensures it continues to flourish.  The committee decided that Club shoots should be more social events, with food provided.  Thanks are due to Rod and Lynda for the barbecues at Piddlehinton. 

During the year Colin Wren felt he had to step down as Police Liaison Officer owing to his health; the Club thanks him for all the help he has given the Club, and individual members, over an extended period.  Eric Parry has volunteered to take on the role.

The Bayeux visit to Dorchester this year was dogged by appalling weather, however it did allow the Club to show that it can organise competitions, indoors or out, regardless of the weather.  The different approach to the social evening with our French friends at the Club House involving a series of games and locally provided food was very successful, largely due to the skills and effort of Gill Carter and the translations by Lucas Weschke.  The Mayor of Dorchester presented the trophies as usual and seemed to enjoy his visit.  Especial thanks are given to those club members who provided accommodation for our French guests and so helped to make the weekend such a success.

I have just learned that 2009, the next time Bayeux are due to visit us, will be the 50th anniversary of the twinning between the two towns so there are likely to be special events and we are can anticipate special support from the Town and the Twinning Society.

It transpires that the Bayeux black powder shooters train at least three times a week before they shoot against us to ensure they are in peak form.  Eric Parry and Chris Mason are thanked for initiating air arms training programmes to help our potential team members raise their standards.

The individual discipline captains will report on the variety of successes by teams and members.  However, it is appropriate to congratulate Chris Mason on his recent successes and inclusion in the national air arms squad, Chris Elliot on his shooting with the junior .22 national squad, and Ian Davison on being selected for the Great Britain fullbore team to South Africa.

One of the Club's longest standing members moved away from Dorset earlier this year, and your Committee decided to confer Honorary Membership on him.  Pat Liddell's letter in response is on the club notice board.

Richard Burden
Chairman
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