West Wycombe wager claimed after 13 years

Time Well Spent June 15, 2022

A wager made 13 years ago by shooter John Clarke at West Wycombe Shooting Ground has finally been claimed.

A wager made 13 years ago by shooter John Clarke at West Wycombe Shooting Ground has finally been claimed.

In 2003, Mr Clarke made local history as the first ever shooter at the club to hit a 100 straight on the Skeet layout, after eight years of determined shooting at the ground. He was presented with a badge and made the following statement to Sporting Shooter magazine back in 2003: “I’m the only person to have shot 100 straight there – and if anyone else can do it I’ll give them £100!”

In the summer of 2015, Mr Clarke met once again with an old shooting pal he was squadded with 30 years ago. The pair shot a round together at West Wycombe and Mr Smith, unaware of the wager, managed to hit 100 straight on the Skeet.

John, in an admirable display of honesty, informed him of the old wager and was told to “give it to charity” by his old friend; the £100 was donated to Churchill Cancer Research.

A willing embroiderer was found and Mr Smith was presented with a replica of the badge Mr Clarke was presented with all those years ago.