THE DREAM TEAM DO IT AGAIN

An overcoat and a warm jumper colder round five of the Intercounties shoots the Skeet took place at Nottingham in a stiff breeze and fine rain. Historically this event has been well shared round and many Counties were in with a good shout of taking the title, Suffolk’s domination last year with a huge score of 586/600 saw them installed as favourites but there were some strong teams entered out of the 114 competitors, it was anybody’s game.

Lincs and Nott’s kicked things off early in the day but there scores of 561/600 and 565/600 were just the appetizers for the day. A makeshift Leicestershire team raised the bar to 575/600, Simon Hill and Adam Curtis leading the way on 99; it’s been good to see Leicestershire more involved this year and they have put some more than respectable team scores in and they could well become a major force in 2011.

At midday the Northants team set off, inspired by their double victories in the All Round and the Sporting they set a staggering pace, 25 after 25 followed. England Junior International Ashley Sharman only 20 and shooting for the senior team set the pace with a maiden ton, the only other ton coming from Steve Smith, Ashley was ably backed up by dad Paul 97, Neil Faulkner 99, Nick Faram 96, Mick Rolstone 91, Colin Butler 93, Andrew Lea 99 and Mick Russell also 99 they set a huge total of 589/600 which is possibly an East Mids record.

It was now going to take an epic effort to overcome this total and although it looked like both Suffolk and Norfolk may mount a challenge by half way the Champions were decided with and another title headed back down the M1. The race was still on for runners up and Suffolk were in pole position for the honour, Robbie Manning being the top man on 98. Once again anxious moments spent watching the clubhouse scoreboard and the final Norfolk scores were greeted with groans, it was a Norfolk Suffolk tie on 578. Both sides quickly picked there three man shoot off teams and it was to the centre peg to split theses arch rivals each man shooting alternate pairs to decide the winners, sadly for Robbie Manning he got a pig of a pair, the low house rising on the breeze forcing him to hold fire and chase the target, a miss resulted and the high house escaped too which just about sealed the fate and after the complete rotation the Norfolk team of John Hall 96, Nigel Hubbard 99, Paul Freeman 98, Karl Hagan 96,Trevor Frammingham 96, Kyle Woodhall Cross 93, David White 93 and Graham Simpson 90 took the runners up berth. Compensation for Suffolk is they are still firmly in the driving seat for the Directors Trophy with just the FITASC to come at Lakenheath at the end of the month.

In the Ladies team race the Nott’s foursome of Kim Islip 94, Jess Roe 90, Katy Howson 86 and Davina Rowe 83 set the pace with a score of 184/200 and were not headed all day but came so close to being toppled with the Northants ladies falling just one clay short, Bex Lee top scoring for Northants on 93 and Michelle Conway from Cambridgeshire was the top scoring lady of the day with 96.

As you would expect at Nottingham their juniors are always in the thick of things and today proved no different, ever presents Curtis Wooley and Joe Booth led the attack on 92 and 91 respectively and were well supported by Isaac Crum on 87 and they eventually ran out winners beating second place Northants by 6 clays, Loz Slater top scoring on 91. The Junior High Gun Trophy was won by Alex Stobbs of Cambridgeshire who finished the day with a score of 93.

The Lincs and Nott’s vets set out early in the day and both recorded scores of 190/200, Trevor Back and Ray Curry top scoring for Lincs on 95 and Paul Brown and Rennie Lowbridge doing the same for Nott’s also on 95. They then had to sit all day and see if anyone could match or better their scores, Norfolk came close with David Pointer firing out a quick 50 straight to put them in with a shout but sadly they finished just one clay light. So to the shoot off and the Lincs Vets quickly established an early lead and went onto victory, so its congratulations to Trevor and Ray from Lincs who were ably supported by Brett Aisthorpe and Richard Bird.

Final thanks of the day as always go to the Ground and staff, many people commented how good the targets were on such a windy day and that is testament to Carl and his team of Trappers, as always we got a warm welcome at Nottingham & DGC and we thank them for hosting us this season and once again setting the standard.

Its back to Regional Championships now as we move down to Normanton for the Double Trap, it’s the first time since 2004 Normanton have been involved and I hope as many of you as possible will make the trip to this picturesque Leicestershire ground on Saturday October 9^th.

MONEY IN CLASSES

1^st AA – Steve Smith

2^nd AA (Joint) – Simon Hill & Andrew Lea

1^st A Class (Joint) – Mick Russell & Adam Curtis

3^rd A Class (Joint) – Chris Morris & P. Shaw

1^st B Class – Nigel Hubbard

2^nd B Class – Paul Brown

3^rd B Class (Joint) – Mike Jennings & F. McIntosh

1^st C Class (Joint) – Bex Lee & David White

3^rd C Class – JR Simpson

4^th C Class (Joint) – Loz Slater & Joe Booth