FAULTLESS FAULKNER!

On Sunday (12^th May) Northampton Shooting Ground hosted the regions Skeet Championships which was also Round 3 of the Supreme Championships.

43 shooters braved the changeable conditions with many of the likely characters from the skeet world or at least the region, challenging for honours.

Northants shooters as you would expect on home turf dominated the proceedings, winning 8 out of the 12 medals up for grabs, and it was former England Skeet captain and previous winner Neil Faulkner that took the title with a faultless ton.

Another shooter who had also won the title before Chris Morris from Cambridgeshire fell one short, and he had to settle with the silver medal with his 99, but he had some compensation by earning some valuable points is his quest to retain his East Midlands Supreme Championship title, look out for an update in the scores in that competition.

Two Northants shooters finished joint third and had to have a shoot off to decide the destination of the bronze medal, with Mick Russell just getting the better of Nick Du Plessis.

In Ladies it was Joy Hirons from Leicestershire that stole the show by retaining her title with a score of 93. Runner up was Northants junior Mary Cooke, this is Mary’s first ever success in a CPSA competition and we look forward to seeing big things from her in the future. In third place two Northants Ladies Rose Palmer and Isabel Russell daughter of Northants regular Mick finished level on 85; sadly Rose had left the ground so Isabel took the bronze.

In Veterans Pete Bloomfield defended his title by cruising to victory with a great score of 97. This is the 4^th year in a row Pete has defended his title and it’s hard to see him giving it up easy in the future.

Allan Wright from Cambs got closest to challenging for the title but in the end had to be content with the Silver medal finishing four clays behind on 93. Frank Owen also from Northants won his first ever regional medal by completing the placing’s back in third on 92.

In Juniors Northants continue to churn out quality Skeeters, and it was the current crop of Christian Bosworth and Henry Collins who finished all square on 95. A shoot off was needed to separate the pair and it was Christian who prevailed denying Henry the honour of retaining his title. To complete the proceeding’s we had the latest young talent from Northants in the shape of George Owen who won the bronze medal, his first ever placing in a regional shoot.

Many thanks to Martine and the team at Northampton for an enjoyable shoot.