Saturday 8^th January 2005 - Portsmouth - Amlwch Leisure Centre

It was an international meeting, with two visitors from Corus, one from Cambridge, and one from Birmingham (who was only observing, as he was still nursing a mouse-induced injury). The round turned out not to be the Stafford we had all prepared for, but a Portsmouth. As usual, some participants appeared relaxed and confident, while others paced nervously, looking ill, and warming up far too early.

We got under way smoothly; the whistle blowing was of its usual standard; there was a good mix of triumph and disaster. After a shaky start, Karl shot three perfect ends in a row, then got a 6 in the next one. Liam clocked up an impressive haul of misses, but it wasn't his fault. Fiona (from Cambridge) looked intimidating in her plaits, long skirt and steel toe-cap boots - and nobody would have guessed that she had scored 147 in her only previous shoot.

The wind howled around the eaves and set the ventilation ducts crashing. More disturbing was an invasion of children into the spectator gallery, where they shouted and heckled. The Koreans pay people to do this, so perhaps we should have been grateful. Instead, everyone had an almost visible "thinks" bubble above their head "I am holding a lethal weapon. Why do I have to put up with this?" Eventually, Tim dispersed them without violence.

After the shoot, the Corus visitors left quickly in order to be out of Wales before darkness fell. The regulars cleared up with their usual calm efficiency, then Val announced the results. She tried to award herself 60 golds, but was spotted. Tim, Dewi and Fiona recorded PBs, Karl won as usual, and nobody seemed too unhappy - though some may have been plotting an evenings recuperative drinking.

From Dick Salisbury

Can we just say that it was very nice to welcome Dave and Steve from Corus to our club shoot, and thank them for making the effort to venture along the coast in the wild, wet and windy weather conditions of late. We hope they had a safe journey home.    [ Ed ]

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