THE last shoot of the 2023 season marked the 50th anniversary for Crediton Gun Club with the annual End of Season All Round Challenge, sponsored by Coombe Valley Fabrications, held on Saturday, September 9.

When the club was first formed, shoots took place at Stockleigh English before it moved to its present home, Uton, where it has been for the last 49 years. 

“Fifty years ago this month, we organised a shoot at Winsmore, Cheriton Fitzpaine, with the aim of starting this club,” said Derek Conibear.

Those who founded it were Perc Conibear, Francis Conibear, Derek Conibear, George and Pauline Smith, Dave Gunn and Pete Johnson. 

The club’s first trapper was Phil Wonnacott who can be seen in a photo letting clays out of the trap house which was made by Derek Conibear and his father, Francis.

All through the 50 years, Derek and family, Cindy, Phil, Marcus and Mike, have all been involved with the shoot, and still are up to this present day, from organising raffles and refreshments, marking scores, and everything in between up to secretarial roles. 

Throughout the years, Crediton Gun Club has attracted some of the best England shooters.

A member can recall that at one time, five of those shooters were in a shoot off at the club for High Gun.  

Those shooters were Neville Brock (ex-England captain), Richard Chappell, Pete Cole, Malcolm Langdon and Arthur Pickard. 

For the first 14 years, Derek Conibear was chairman, then followed by Tim Williams, Alan Davey, Steve Willis, Julian Peacey, Dave Harling and to the present day, Bill Tucker. 

Club secretaries are Sam and Abbie Bolt.  Treasurer is Neil Bishop.  Derek thanked Bill and the rest of the committee for all their time and effort towards the club.  

The barbecue on the field for this shoot was in aid of Posbury St Luke’s Church.  Running the barbecue were Fiona Mortimer (trustee and chairman), Jenny Wreford (secretary of the church management committee), and Ruth Vigers (trustee and treasurer). 

This is one of the many charities Crediton Gun Club has supported over the years.  Others were the British Red Cross, Devon Air Ambulance and other local churches.  

RESULTS

For the All Round End of Season Challenge.

Open.  High Gun - Ben Kingsland (191),  Joint High Gun - Peter Cole (191), 1 Steve Parker (159), 2 - Roger Hill (149).

Intermediate. Joint 1 -  Marcus Conibear and Chris Damerell (146), 2 Phil Conibear (144), 3 Charlie Owen (132). 

Novice. 1 Alec Facey (122), 2 Jesse White (119), joint 3 Matt Dendy and Natalie Owen (93). 

Junior.  1 Danny McKeowen (74).