THE Cornwall Target Shooting Association held its annual dinner at The Esplanade Hotel, Newquay. There was a good attendance from clubs throughout the county, and the guest of honour was Barry Collacott, the acting firearms manager of the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, who was accompanied by his wife, Joan.

Mr Collacott was warmly welcomed by the association small-bore chairman, Les Sayers, of the Liskeard Rifle Club.

The principal prize winners and the trophies won were - Cornwall Winter League, Div I: Penzance and St Ives Rifle Club; Div II: Liskeard Rifle Club; Div III: Penzance & St Ives Rifle Club; Div IV: St Austell Rifle Club; Div V: Polperro Rifle Club; Div. VI: Launceston Rifle Club; Div VII: St Just Rifle Club.

The County Champion yet again, winning the county silver medal was Peter Parker from the St Austell club, with an amazing 99.7 average for the season. The ladies champion, and winner of the county silver medal was Jacky Lawrence from the Hayle Rifle club.

The county junior champion, winning the county silver medal, was Samantha Harris from the City of Truro Rifle Club.

The shooter with the most improved average during the winter league was Dave Bayley from the Bodmin Rifle Club.

There were 11 divisions this season and the popularity of this competition is growing. The winner of division I was Peter Parker of St Austell. Division II was won by Terry Curnow from Helston Rifle Club and division III produced a very unusual result, a tie! The joint winners were both from Helston Rifle Club, Mrs Jackie Hibbitt and John Hall. Division IV was won by Garry Harris from the Truro Club.

In the Cornwall Winter "time limit" league, the shooters have to shoot ten shots, one at each of ten separate targets within 90 seconds. Division I was won by Peter Parker from St Austell winning the £p trophy and gold medal. Division II was won by Jane Briggs from the Helston club and she received a gold plaque.

In the Central and Western "Shoulder to Shoulder" League, the shield and eight gold medals went, for the 25th consecutive year to the City of Truro Rifle Club and the trophy was presented to the team captain, Steve Sandercock. The handicap final of the event is rarely won by the overall winners, because they are virtually handicapped out of contention, but this year, the Truro team shot extremely well and also won this competition and the H G Edmonds Cup.

The winner of the Roselidden Bowl for the highest average score throughout this competition with an average of 99.13 ex 100 was Doug Kernick from Penzance and St Ives Rifle Club. Last year's winner, Judy Harris, from the Truro club, won the ladies' competition to win the Trago No 2 Shield.

The most improved average in the league was a very good county junior, Emma Bennetts from the Hayle club.

Again, the Charlie Competition was shot over a number of rounds and in classes based on the competitors' average. The top five in each class, eventually shot against each other "shoulder to shoulder" at the Helston club ranges.

There was an unusual result this year, in that the winner of Class A did not win the cup, instead, the Class B winner had an equal score, and, after a count back emerged as the trophy winner!

Class A winner of the gold medal was Roger Bunkum from the Liskeard Club; Class B winner, winning The Charlie Cup and gold medal was Terry Curnow from Helston; Class C winner, also receiving a gold medal, was Richard Murphy of the Helston Club; Class D winner, also receiving a gold medal, was George Orchard, again from Helston; the winner of the Charlie ladies' shield was Jackie Hibbitt of the Helston Club and the veterans winner was Doug Kernick from the Penzance and St Ives Club.

The class and trophy winners for the county indoor/outdoor meetings are: Class A winning the gold medal, Fred Teagle from the Truro Club; Class B winning the gold medal was Peter Wild also from the Truro Club; Class C winning the gold medal was Jane Brigs from the Helston Club; Class D winning the gold medal was a new junior to the Truro Club, 12-year- old James Davies.