BAYEUX claimed the honours in this year’s Twin Town Shooting Competition with Dorchester .

The sea was mirror calm as the Dorchester Rifle & Pistol Club shooters set out from Poole early in the morning for the 27th contest between the Twin Towns – believed to be the longest established regular cross Channel competition of its type.

The journey, however, had taken its toll at the end of the afternoon when Dorchester’s 10-metre precision air pistol shooters performed a little below par at the indoor range adjacent to the clubroom where Bayeux’s many trophies for this type of shooting were on display.

Over the course of 30 shots for each shooter (maximum 300 points), Jean-Jacques Durand (267) and Michel Huart (267) led the home team to a 1309-1207 victory.

Dorchester’s Steve Maros bagged the fourth highest score with 259.

The rifle competition is quite long, involving each of the five shooters in both teams having 40 shots at four targets – 20 at 50m and 20 at 100m.

Nevertheless, a solid team performance saw the tourists win at 50m, 941-906. The 100m shoot was particularly impressive, with both Ian Davison and Richard Burden scoring a perfect 100 on one of their cards, leading the county town to a 978-952 triumph.

That meant Dorchester retained the rifle trophy, 1919-1858, with Davison (393) and Wendy Thomas (387) top scoring.

Next up was the Black Powder pistol competition, at 25m using replica historic arms similar to those used by highwaymen or for duelling, which was keenly contested.

The shooters measure their own powder and load the lead ball between each shot, and because of the variability that provides they are allowed 13 shots with the best 10 to count.

Bayeux’s Fabrice Goulet (90) was top scorer, leading Davison, Michel Huart and Francoise Huart by just one point.

Nevertheless, Dorchester produced one of their better team scores (427) while Bayeux delivered a very steady effort of 444 to win.

The final Police Pistol competition, shot against the clock on the advancing terrorist target at 25, 15 and 10m with American style cartridge pistols that are not available in Britain, is particularly exciting as spectators can see the holes as they appear in the targets.

This year the match was very close with home shooter Marco Dal Pont (189 ex 216) leading the way from Francoise Huart (183) and Davison (182), enabling Bayeux to win 854-840.

Following the event, a celebration dinner was held and Jacques Lechevallier, president of the Bayeux Tir Club, presented a framed print of 17th century Bayeux to their visitors, who reciprocated with a British Olympic flag. For more details on Dorchester Rifle & Pistol Club visit drpc.org.uk