MORGAN RETAINS SKEET TITLE

THE SHOOT OFF FOR THE TITLE

In total contrast to the weather on Saturday, it was grey and cloudy, and a hint of rain in the slight breeze, but thankfully it didn’t come to much, and it certainly didn’t hinder what was to be a closely fought competition.

The 69 shooters which was the best attendance at this event since 2006, were welcomed to a bright and shiny new clubhouse on the site of the Sporting Clays reception, the old one demolished in November, and rebuilt and ready for action in a matter of weeks to host events in 2018, and I’m sure Carl and his team will be doing a lot more in the coming weeks and months.

CARL, LINDA & BETTY OUTSIDE THE NEW CLUBHOUSE

On the shooting front seven shooters finished on 99 with that magical ton just eluding them, from those seven, three were from the region and so had to shoot off to decide who was going to win the bragging rights for 2018.

As per CPSA rules it was to be a full round on layout 4 in which Doug Moore from Lincolnshire missed a couple of targets to see him eliminated with the remaining pair of Trevor Frammingham of Norfolk and defending Champion Dave Morgan of Northants scoring straights to send them into a sudden death shoot off from the centre peg. Trevor and Dave cleared their first alternate pairs, and then a miss by Trevor on the second rotation, gave Dave the chance to retain his title won at Northampton last season, and he made no mistake to become Champion once again.

TREVOR FRAMMINGHAM, DAVE MORGAN & DOUG MOORE

With Trevor losing out on the Regional title, it meant he was at least eligible to take the Veterans trophy giving him some consolation on the long journey home to Norfolk. In second place taking the Silver medal was Ken Rimington from Nottinghamshire who is probably much better know as a DTL shooter who has won many titles in the region over the years. Ken had finished joint second in Vets with fellow county shooter Pete Cook on a score of 97, but as Pete had left the ground, Ken didn’t have to shoot off and took second by default and Pete third and the bronze medal.

IZZY RUSSELL - LADIES CHAMPION

In Ladies we are of course missing the talents of Joy Hirons in the region who has moved to pastures new abroad, although I do know Joy was watching proceedings via social media in the sunshine over in Cyprus, so I am sure she will have been pleased to know that Isabel Russel from Northants took the title just one shot ahead of Jenny Hilton from Nottinghamshire with a score of 92, Karen Donnelly also of Nottinghamshire taking the third place and her first medal in the East Midlands.

SONNY BOWMAN & ALEX BANNING

In juniors it was a straight fight between two of Northants rising stars in the shape of Sonny Bowman and Alex Banning who is in his first season in the East Midlands. Alex has recently been coached by Dave Morgan and that work put in with Dave really paid dividends as he recorded a PB of 98 to take the Junior trophy, leaving Sonny who had himself scored 97 in the morning during practice having to settle for second place and the silver medal.

Many thanks to everyone at Nottingham for a very enjoyable day, and we look forward to our return to see further developments in the clubhouse.

PRIZE MONEY

 1^st AA – Gary Cooke, Steve Leppington & Dave Morgan

1^st A – Doug Moore & Steve Pinch

3^rd A – Stephen Gale, Neil Howard & Martin Walmsley

1^st B  - Trevor Frammingham

2^nd B – Ross Lester & Matthew Robinson

1^st C – Alex Banning

2^nd C – Sonny Bowman