A Day for Champions at Grange Farm

(L-R) John Wells, Ed Solomons, Brian Curtis & Emma Nelson

Photo by Ben Wells of English Sporting Clays

Yesterday (Sunday 8^th March) Grange Farm hosted the East Midlands Sporting Championships and got our 2015 shoot calendar underway.

183 entrants came from far and wide to shoot over the Leicestershire venue, with many former Champions on the course. The weather was mild enough with a slight chill and a stiffish breeze at times but generally pretty good conditions.

In Vets it was a former Champion John Wells from Leicestershire who took the honours with a score of 84, John was 5 clays clear of his nearest rival R Carter also from Leicestershire , A Holmes from Lincolnshire was a further 5 clays back to claim the bronze medal.

In juniors the current Champion Henry Collins from Northants did his best to get his hands back on the trophy, but it was Aaron Harvey from Suffolk who carried his great form through from last year to take the junior title for the first time with a superb score of 86, Henry recorded an 82 to claim the bronze medal, and David Ferriman from Bedfordshire who finished one target shy of Aaron's total picked up the silver.

In the ladies class it was Emma Nelson from Northants fresh from her visit to Dubai who took the trophy with a score of 78, Emma was 9 targets clear of a former Champion and someone else who tasted success in the desert, Rosie Brumby from Lincolnshire, Rosie in turn was clear of the third place finisher and Grange Farm regular Helen Oakes from Leicestershire.

In the senior event it was also a story of former champions with Ed Solomons from Leicestershire finishing all square with Paul Wilkinson from Lincolnshire with scores of 94, both had won this shoot before and it was Paul again who had to settle for the runners up spot for the second year running as he was unavailable for the shoot off. Toby Reed from Leicestershire himself a multiple Champion in this event as a junior was just one target behind on 93, which was enough to give him the third place finishers medal.

Many congratulations to our Champions Ed, Emma, Aaron and John and we hope to see you back next year defending your titles.

Finally many thanks to all the shooters for once again supporting the region, thanks also of course to Adam and Brian at Grange Farm for setting up and running the shoot with the valued assistance of all the staff and refs.

* Many apologies to all the juniors involved in the shoot affected by a mistake in recording the scores, this has now been rectified.

Next East Mids Shoot – UT Championships @ Rugby & DGC – Sunday March 15^th 2015.