Niall Takes His First Regional Title

As the summer threatens to arrive the championships are coming thick and fast, and this weekend the attentions turned to the East Midlands Regional Single Barrel Championships at the neatly manicured grounds of Priory CTC, once again perfectly presented by our hosts Aaron and Natasha.

The 31 competing shooters couldn’t have had better weather with the conditions warm and sunny with just the slightest hint of a breeze and it wasn’t long before Niall Crumpler from Norfolk shooting on the first squad of the day took full advantage carding a 99/100, it was now going to be a long wait for Niall with many fine exponents of Single Barrel shooting waiting in the wings to mount a challenge, one of which was reigning Single Barrel Champion Adrian Snell from Nottinghamshire.

Adrian fell just short of making Niall shoot again as did Geoff Howlett from Suffolk, both shooters recording scores of 98. Simon Owen and Barry Dunmore also recorded respectable scores of 97, but as the day ended the competitors ran out and Niall’s score led from the first shot of the day to give him his first Regional title.

To tidy up the final placings in Seniors a shoot off was needed to separate Adrian and Geoff to decide the destination of the Silver and Bronze medals, with Geoff running out the winner recording the perfect 25/25, and Adrian having to settle for the Bronze medal.

In Ladies Hazel Whiten from Cambridgeshire fresh from her win in the DTL last weekend at Northampton, wrapped up another title with a considerable margin win over nearest competitor Audrey Smith from Norfolk, Hazel carding an 85 to give her the victory.

In Veterans Barry Dunmore from Lincolnshire disappointment of not quite catching Niall in the senior event was tempered by the fact his score was sufficient to give him the Veterans title, next best was Richard Gilbert from Norfolk on 94 giving him the Silver medal, with Robert Flowers also from Norfolk winning his first East Midlands medal with a score of 88 to give him the Bronze medal.

In Juniors it was the third title this season for Alex Banning from Northants to add to his DTL and Skeet victories, Alex scoring 92 romped clear of William Gilbert from Norfolk who finished on 86 to give him the Silver medal and Dudley Dodd-Utting in the Bronze medal position.

Once again, many thanks to Aaron and Natasha, and special thanks to Chris Bone for providing much of the information included in this report.