RACHEL RETAINS HER TITLE

Rachel Willcock & Andy Harvison

Well finally the sun came out to play at the Regional English Sporting Championships held at Kibworth, and it was a pleasure to shoot without the burden of the many layers to keep out the winter cold. On one or two stands the sun also became a factor, and shooters were forced to dust off darkened lenses that had sat contented for months in the bottom of the shooting bag.

The event attracted 123 shooters, mostly from the region with a few cross border raiders thrown in for good measure. As you would expect for a Championship course it was no cake walk, the crosser over the pond and that long range rabbit causing most of the problems left returning shooters feeling they had not done that well, only for the scoreboard to tell a different story.

Looking Down on Stand 9

John “JJ” Lee from Lincolnshire set the pace early, filing a great score of 90, this after being just two down after eight stands. Although John was passed late on by two out of region shooters, Ryan Sperling & Arnie Palmer, nobody from the region managed to overhaul his score, although Beds Veteran John Stanton and David Gooding from Norfolk got to within just one clay to finish joint second.

In Ladies Rachel Willcock 73 (Leics) retained her title by outscoring Rosie Brumby 71 (Lincs) by just two targets. Both girls are off to San Antonio USA at the end of the month representing England, so I’m sure you will join me wishing them luck and hopefully they will bring back some silverware. Susan Hallwood who had made the long journey from Norfolk made the day worthwhile by completing the placing’s and winning the bronze medal.

In Juniors it was Rob Russell (Lincs) who scored an excellent 83 to take the junior title by six clays over Taylor Hedgecock (Cambs). A two way tie for third between Rosie Brumby and Alex Stobbs (Cambs) had to be resolved by means of countback, this time it was Alex who just out pointed Rosie to take Bronze.

With John Stanton already overall runner up and now veterans Champion it was down to Andy Harvison 85 (Leics) and former winner Barry Simpson 84 (Cambs) to complete the silver and bronze placing’s respectively.

Many thanks to all the team at Kibworth for a great shoot.