NORFOLK TURN THE TABLES ON RIVALS

SENIOR TEAM CHAMPIONS - NORFOLK

A narrow one point defeat to nearest rivals Suffolk the week before in the Intercounties Skeet was all but forgotten as a jubilant Norfolk took the senior team title in the Intercounties Sporting at Kibworth yesterday.

A bumper entry of 176 shooters tackled the course and it was soon very apparent that there were big scores to be had and it was going to be a day where 90+ scores were needed to take the Senior Team title. The morning rotation of the four nearest counties went out bang on time under grey sky’s but at least the early morning rain had cleared through, the teams  included home team Leicestershire and the reigning Champions Northamptonshire. The home team recorded a 537/600 as did Northants, Leicestershire top scorer was Mick Parsons on 93 and the Northants top man Mark Massey on 94 but both teams felt that was going to be well short of a winning score, Ed “Lovable” Solomons declaring that he felt a 98 would take top individual honours others even speculating that someone could come along and straight it. As the last of the mornings squads returned to the clubhouse news was in of the predicted 98 scored by Martin Doughty from Nottinghamshire, but sadly it could only lift the Nott’s scores two points shy of the leaders.

SENIOR TEAM RUNNERS UP - SUFFOLK

In the other team category’s Cambridgeshire juniors led the morning field top scoring on 169 with Harry Seal blasting an impressive 89, Leicestershire Vets were leading with Richard Watkins showing the way on 92 and in the Ladies event Leicestershire were  holding a slender lead over the Cambs girls with top scorer Rachel Willcock on 78.

The afternoon session once again away well on time saw little change in conditions, if anything slightly warmer with an increase in wind speed but nothing to worry even the most novice of shooter. As the afternoon scores started to filter in it was obvious that it was going to be a straight fight between Norfolk and Suffolk, Paul Simpson’s 99 giving hope to Suffolk of yet another victory but it was the sheer weight of consistent scoring that finally gave Norfolk the title finishing up on 555/600 just three clays in front of Suffolk, so its many congratulations to the seven man team of Kyle Woodhall Cross 93, Mark Goddard 93, Tim Page 92, Jonathan Balls 94, Mark Simkin 92, Philip Bowden 89 and Steven Day 91. Suffolk had to make do with the runners up berth but there was going to be some joy later in the day for Team Suffolk as they romped to victory in the Veterans class with a superb team score of 191/200, John Bidwell 95 and Tony Rogers 96 doing the main damage, Spencer Basham and Alan Coy completed the winning line up.

VETERANS TEAM CHAMPIONS - SUFFOLK

Cambridgeshire juniors held onto their lead to give them yet another win in this discipline, Harry Seal’s 89 good enough to secure him the Junior High Gun prize, Taylor Hedgecock 77, Alex Stobbs 78 and Josh Pearson 80 completed the Cambs quartet.

PAULINE CHAPMAN & PEARL BUTTERS - SUFFOLK - LADIES CHAMPIONS

Lastly but certainly not least was the stunning victory of the Suffolk duo in the Ladies of Pauline Chapman & Pearl Butters, shooting against some tough well experienced sides they absolutely blew the opposition out of the water with Pearl recording a great score in itself of 72, but Pauline’s score of 92 was truly awesome and her inclusion in the Senior Team would have forced a shoot off with Norfolk, this is Pauline’s first ever 90+ score at Sporting and I’m sure it won’t be the last and I hope she carries on now and tries out for the England team next season.

As always we give thanks to the hosting ground, this was Kibworth’s first ever Intercounties shoot and they ran a superb show all day, so its many thanks to Rose and her team for all the hard work put it, we know this was the first visit for many shooters to your ground but we are sure many will be back.

PRIZE MONEY

High Gun – Paul Simpson - £150

AA – 1^st – Martin Doughty - £85

AA – 2^nd – Tony Rogers - £50

AA – 3^rd – John Bidwell & Steve Grant - £35 each

AA – 5^th – Fred Kidd, Joe Wade & Jed Welham - £10 each

A – 1^st – S Armstrong & Jonathan Balls - £85 each

A – 3^rd – Eric Chapman, Mick Parsons & Kyle Woodhall Cross - £40 each

A -6^th – M Simkin & J Stimson - £10 each

B – 1^st – S Day - £85

B – 2^nd - L. Hill - £50

B – 3^rd – D Moulds - £30

B – 4^th – Dan Tyers - £20

C – 1^st – Pauline Chapman - £90

C – 2^nd - T Wright - £50

C – 3^rd – Rachel Willcock - £30

C – 4^th – D Ferriman - £20