NORTHANTS DON’T SUFFER WITH WIND

Some of the Northants Winning Senior & Junior Teams, and Notts Vets

Northampton Shooting Ground hosted the East Midlands Intercounties Skeet on Sunday (August 7^th), and the topic of the day was wind, it was obviously a factor with winds gusting over 20mph, but saying that the conditions remained the same all day long, no county suffered any worse than any other. Momentary lapses of the weather could easily lull you into a false sense of security, and a relaxing of your concentration or taking for granted that a target was going to be running on rails was duly punished, just about every target was earned and a 25 straight was a fair achievement in its self.

Nottinghamshire Seniors posted a score that stood the test of time for most of the day 567 ex 600, but with the heavyweights in regional skeet out on the course Northants took the lead with one shooter still to complete. Notts hung on in the runners up berth, repelling the likes of Suffolk 565/600, no slouches in the world of Intercounties shooting, but Norfolk were still to finish and were inching closer with every score that came in. The final reckoning saw Norfolk outpoint Nott’s by a solitary target to become runners-up, and leave Northants as champions yet again.

So its many congratulations to the Northants team of Craig Owen, Mick Russell, Leon Gill, Stuart Lobley, Simon Vogel, Andrew Lea, Joe Smith and Neil Faulkner who top scored with a staggering 99/100.

Runners-Up Norfolk with a guest appearance from Kenny.

In Ladies it was more of the same with the Northants girls romping to victory over nearest rivals Notts, junior lady Kirstin Vogel top scored on 92, Ruth Markham and Rose Palmer completed the Northants trio of ladies.

More success for Northants came in the shape of their junior team who have a rich history in this event, George Owen top scored for the team with a superb 98/100, Henry Collins backed that up with a worthy 95/100 with Stephen Mynes and Ollie Main endorsing the victory.

George though was to have a fight on his hands for Junior High Gun as he finished all square with the impressive Tom Tristram from Notts, and it took a complete shoot off round plus a handful of pairs off the middle for George to claim victory.

In Vets it was a well-rewarded trip down from Nottingham for John Miller, Roger Ball, Robin Ellis and Paul Shaw with a narrow two clay victory over the Lincolnshire team finishing with a team score of 187/200.

For those that took part in the prediction competition of how may straights in the day there would be, the answer was 44, and I’m very pleased to say that was my guess, and you can rest assured I will make the most of the £170 prize. At this juncture I feel it only right to thank Paul Freeman of Norfolk who recorded a straight on his last layout on the final squad of the day to clinch the prize for me.

Many thanks to all the team at Northampton SG including the refs for a good day’s competition, the next event in the region is the Intercounties Sporting at Kegworth (August 20^th & 21^st), this event will be run in squads so you are urged to book on ASAP, all shooters will start on stand 1.