Francis Quin coaches a young marksman in Herm’s residents-only clay pigeon shoot.

LAST weekend Herm held its first residents-only clay pigeon shoot.

Gavin Hyde organised the shoot, which was run by Francis Quin and Mick Le Pelley, both accredited members of the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association.

Francis and Mick attend many shoots of their own on the island and generously offered their services free of charge for the day.

Islanders gathered in Valley Panto on a grey, drizzly afternoon for the two-hour event.

For many this was their first shoot, and there was plenty of beginners’ luck.

Kirsten Parker George, for instance, came first in the women’s category but had never shot in her life.

She scored 17 out of 25.

Gavin was the winner in the men’s group with a score of 23.

As this was a community affair, children were allowed to attend, but only those aged eight years old and over were able to take part.

Winner among the younger members of the group was 14-year-old Richard Bailey, followed by Charlie Knight, 10.

After the event, everyone headed down to the pub for refreshments and prizegiving.

In preparation for the start of the tourist season a new power cable has been run from the power house in the Manor Village down to the harbour.

The project has taken more than two months, with trenches dug through several fields and the Mermaid campsite.

The result is that more power can be sent down to the Mermaid pub and the White House Hotel.

Power cuts are a rare thing on the island these days and this should help to make them a thing of the past altogether.

The trench in the road has now been filled and work is under way to restore the campsite ready so the seasonal campers can set up in the spring.

Everything else is being spruced up and got ready for the summer season to start in two weeks’ time.