EAST MIDLANDS INTERCOUNTIES SKEET

20^TH SEPTEMBER - ERISWELL LODGE

Sadly just 5 counties got to the start line in the East Midlands Intercounties Skeet and the conclusion of the Directors Trophy Series of 6 shoots, but this did not detract from the quality of the shoot with the staff at Eriswell Lodge working hard behind the scenes to make sure the event was sold out.

As is the custom the home county shoot first to set the target score for others to aim at and Team Suffolk never got headed all day long in Seniors, Ladies and Veterans with just the Norfolk Junior team doing enough to avoid the clean sweep.

In the final reckoning the consistency of the Suffolk seniors was too much for any county to mount a meaningful challenge and they ran out comfortable winners by 7 clays from fenland rivals Norfolk in second.

Stuart Smith top scored for Suffolk on an excellent 98 in what were tricky conditions with the wind blowing down the ranges forcing the hight tower clay to almost accelerate away and occasionally drop, and the low tower target to slow and almost stall with shooters often missing in front.  

Next best for Suffolk was Darren Parsons on 96, with Shaun Smith, Bernie Polley, Ben Woodham, Jamie Goldsmith and Stuart Grosser completing the winning line up, Will Reeve and Richard Bunning top scoring on 94 for Runners Up Norfolk.

In Vets it was a very close-run thing but with the same outcome as the Suffolk Vets claimed the glassware by the narrowest of margins, just the one clay over nearest rivals Cambridgeshire. Robbie Manning and Roger Grosser top scoring for Suffolk on 92, with John Shaw and Mark Atherton completing the winning line up, Pete Cook top scored for Cambs on 92.

In Ladies it was a narrow two-point victory for the Suffolk Ladies over fenland rivals Norfolk. Tracy Lowrie top scored on 92 for Suffolk with Melissa Smith and Catherine Woodham completing the winning line-up, Alison Coupe top scoring for Norfolk on 93.

Norfolk Juniors came out victorious winning by a wide margin over nearest rivals Northants. Jack Anderson top scored on 91 for Norfolk a feat that also earnt him the Junior High Gun award. Completing the winning line up was Oscar Nichols and Theo Green, and a special mention for Theo who at just 7 years old becomes the youngest ever competitor in an East Midlands Championship and I have a feeling were going to be hearing a lot more about this talented young man in the future.

In other business Suffolk regained the Directors Trophy which is their 10^th victory in 16 years. In the last 5 seasons Suffolk and Norfolk have claimed the accolade on alternate years, and I would think Norfolk will be doubling down their efforts to try and regain the trophy next season.

And finally, the regional cash prizes for successful counties also ends with the following amounts won by each county over the Directors Trophy Intercounties shoots.

Suffolk £570, Norfolk £555, Lincolnshire £335, Leicestershire & Rutland £100, Bedfordshire £100, Cambridgeshire £100, Nottinghamshire £50, and Northamptonshire £50.

Next Shoots

Regional ZZ Championships – Rugby & District (Sat 26^th Sept).

Intercounties & Regional Sportrap – Eriswell Lodge (Sun 27^th Sept).