FROM THE BENCH
VINCE’S REGULAR COLUMN WHEREBY ACCURACY NUTS CAN KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE ACTIVITIES OF THE UKBRA AND ACCURACY RELATED ITEMS
Jean Louis Espinet
This month, I would like to devote my benchrest column to one of the sport’s great characters who sadly passed away on February 12th 2012. Anyone who has shot benchrest at World or European level in the last twenty years will know and remember French benchrest shooter Jean Louis Espinet with great affection. He was universally known as the Pig Man – yet he was not a pig farmer or anything like that – it was simply an assumed fun persona and he always wore a pink cap resembling the head of a pig – complete with ears and tail.
Jean Louis spoke excellent English, so he was the one you often approached if you needed to know anything whilst shooting in Europe. He also had a wicked sense of humour and I spent a great week shooting on the bench next to him at the European Benchrest Championships in Sweden a few years ago. As with most sports, competing in benchrest at World level is a serious business and the ‘characters’ who are able to inject a little humour when things get tense are few and far between. Yet, Jean Louis was a fierce competitor and proudly represented his Country; rarely was he off the podium at major shoots.
Following serious surgery, Jean Louis was unable to shoot in his own ‘Worlds’ in France last year, but he was busier than ever – helping out wherever he could - be it in the office or on range - as well as just being the Pig Man. That’s how we’ll remember him.
He died on February 18th 2012 following heart surgery. Our thoughts and sympathy are with the Espinet family and friends.
Jean Louis (left) receiving an award from Walt Berger at the 2005 World Benchrest Championships in America.
The famous pink ‘pig’ hat – complete with ears and tail.
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