BOTH SIDES claimed success in the weekend battle of the Angus wargamers.

Followers of the hobby who had previously only faced each other over war game tables lined up in direct opposition at two Saturday events staged in Forfar and Kirriemuir.

The conflict arose after a division in the ranks of the club that has staged the SKELP event in Kirriemuir for 20 years, but this year moved to Forfar’s Reid Hall after a narrow vote in favour of the switch.

The event’s former Kirrie Town Hall home was being used by Kirriemuir Wargames Club for their inaugural TARGE display and competition.

Brian Cunliffe, of Angus Wargames Club, said the 21st anniversary SKELP proved a big draw, with a good turn out of traders, exhibitors and visitors.

“Everyone was complimentary about the Reid Hall, the openness of it and the layout, and it was a good attendance,” said Mr Cunliffe. “We had a full turn out of traders and clubs who had said they would come, and I think visitors did go to both events—for anyone that was coming from far afield it would be daft not to visit the two shows,” he said.

He pledged that the event will remain at the Reid Hall, but said the organisers were looking at a date switch to avoid the November clash.

“We voted to move to Forfar and one or two decided to set up the other event in Kirrie. The first Saturday in November is the traditional date for SKELP but we will move the date so we don’t clash. You have to be adult about these things,” he added.

TARGE also reported success, with main organiser Dale Smith earlier saying he was delighted at the level of trade and local support for the new event. Many businesses which had previously taken displays at Kirrie opted to remain in the town hall, and TARGE received several new trophies for its range of painting and modelling competitions.

Angus Wargames Club 21st SKELP annual show: prizewinners in the painting and modelling competition:

Wargames Unit—Dave (of Pendraken Miniatures), Classical Greeks; Danny Wright, Greenock, French Napoleonic.

Junior Wargames Unit—Lindsey Forster, Invergowrie, Chaos; Gordon Millar, Forfar, Lord of the Rings Elves.

Wargames Army—Adam Thomson, Leuchars, Uruk-Hai Horde; Craig Lafferty, Forfar,       First World War Germans.

Fantasy/Sci-Fi—Kevin Finlay, Newmills, Squig Herder; Craig Lafferty, Forfar, Cryx Wargroup.

Single Figure—Kyle Buchan, Kirriemuir, Inquisitor; Danny Wright, Greenock, Tim the Skeleton.

Junior Modelling—Lindsey Forster, Invergowrie, “Gently Down the Stream”.

Armoured Fighting Vehicle—Craig Lafferty, Forfar, Dark Elf Chariot; Bob Mirrey, Forfar, Russian KV2.

Terrain—Allan Webster, Letham,       25mm Church; Allan Webster, Letham, 12 mm Buildings.

Demonstration Wargame—Iron Brigade, Banzai! RAF Leuchars, English Civil War; Ayrshire Military Modelling Organisation, “It’s only old men and kids”.

Public Participation Wargame— Bathgate Wargames Club, The Lost World by Balloon; S.E. Scotland Wargames Association, Ben Hur Chariot Race; League of Extraordinary Kriegspielers, 20th Century Skirmish.

Clubs taking part were: Ayrshire Military Modelling Organisation, Bathgate Wargames Club, Greenock and District Wargames Club, Iron Brigade, Phoenix Wargames Club, RAF Wargames Association (Leuchars), Sealed Knot Society, South-East Scotland Wargames Association, the League of Extraordinary Kriegspielers, Urban Mammoth.