MATT HITS FOURTH IN NATIONAL SHOOTING COMPETITION

Congratulations to Matt Partridge, in Year 9, who was placed fourth in a national shooting competition. Matt has been shooting clay pigeons with modern shotguns for a couple of years but more recently he wanted to try the more traditional and old-fashioned muzzle loading.  Muzzle loading guns do not have cartridges, the guns have to be loaded by pouring either black powder or gunpowder down the barrels, after which wads are rammed down onto the powder before pouring in shot. The guns have external hammers and you have to fit a percussion cap. Overall, it’s a tricky procedure and it smokes a lot!

Matt and his Dad joined the Cumbrian Branch of the Muzzle Loading Association of Great Britain (MLAGB) and purchased a couple of muzzle loading shotguns which date back to the early 1800’s.  Matt shoots very well and on his second outing he achieved a very respectable score of 29/30 at a clay pigeon shoot.

Matt has since gone on to compete in a National Championship where he was placed fourth. This was a fantastic achievement as he was up against people who have been shooting muzzle loaders for a long time.