SUFFOLK BREEZE TO VICTORY

TEAM SUFFOLK

A strong gusting breeze did it’s best to wreak havoc on a windswept Northampton Shooting Ground, from my vantage point of the sporting layouts I was told many a tale of the dance of the clays. On occasions it was just a case of when you decided to pull the trigger as to whether your luck was in or out as Mother Nature in conjunction with Hurricane Katia was the downfall of many a hard earned score.

In saying all that there is a common phrase in our sport; “Cream always rises to the top” and this Intercounties All Round shoot was no different with Suffolk winning the overall Team title with a score of 501, if you consider that in previous years the lowest score this has been won on is 542 you can see what effect the weather had. Chris “Puff” Baker top scored for Suffolk with an excellent 90 and Puff was only one of two shooters that broke into the nineties his score being matched by Steve Brightwell of Leicestershire. Puff’s excellent score was backed up by Eric Chapman who scored 88 along with Robbie Manning 81, Darren Parsons 70, Rob Butters 76, Francis Alexander 77, Mick Keymer 81 and Neil Bilverstone 84 to give Suffolk the title nine clays clear of rivals Norfolk.

Top scorer for Norfolk was Kyle Woodhall Cross who achieved a superb 89 with the rest of the Norfolk lads chipping in to give them a team score of 492 to give them the runners up glassware.

RUNNERS UP - NORFOLK

The Suffolk domination continued as the Vets foursome of Dixie Dykes 72, Barry Baxter 67, Alan Coy 77 and M Howard 79 put together a team score of 156 to just squeeze past the Cambs Vets by a single clay, Gordon Tate top scoring for Cambs with an 81.

A trio of victories was wrapped up by Team Suffolk, as the Ladies duo of Pearl Butters 71 and Pauline Chapman 72 recorded a team score of 143 to just sneak past the Cambs girls who were waiting in the clubhouse for the final squads to come home, Georgia Moule & Michele Conway top scored for Cambs.

Team Northants who have a rich pedigree in this event could only lay claim to the Junior team title, with Simon Edwards top scoring on an impressive 83 which was also enough to give him the James Hinkins Trophy as Junior High Gun, Simon was backed up by teammates Loz Slater and Casey Peterson.

Many thanks to Northampton Shooting Ground for keeping the show on the road despite the elements throwing their very best at them, also many thanks must go to the days ref’s who did a superb job in very testing conditions.