NATIONAL INTERCOUNTIES DTL

HELD AT NOTTINGHAM & DISTRICT GUN CLUB

ON SATURDAY/SUNDAY 25TH/26TH SEPTEMBER

Lincs vets take the runners up slot after a shoot off

Nigel Lovatt picking up the awards on behalf of the Lincolnshire veterans team

Demand for entries was exceptionally high for this event as counties nationwide competed against each other for the honours.  As usual Lincolnshire fielded teams of seniors, ladies and veterans (sadly no juniors this year) and such was the demand we had to split our teams into those who obligingly were able to shoot on Saturday with the remainder shooting on Sunday.  Not quite on home turf but the layouts at NDGC are reasonably familiar but it can be a tad breezy up there on the hillside and although weather conditions were different over the two days each presented its own problems.  Saturday was less windy but was dull and overcast - Sunday was bright and sunny but a stiff breeze from behind made reading the targets a bit tricky.

Two of the veteran team shot on Saturday with the ever consistent John Winn racking up a 100/296, ably supported by Mike Burton on 288 thereby setting the benchmark for all to follow.  Our third man, Nigel Lovatt, did not disappoint putting in a very solid 286 but then found himself as the last man standing to face a shoot off with Cambridgeshire who had tied with us for the runners up slot.  As it was a team event the shoot off between Nigel and Cambs. Tim Jones amounted to sudden death from peg 3.  Each man alternated with nearly every target powdered up until after (about) the 10th shot Tim dropped a vicious right hander.  Tim had shot first so it was up to Nigel to hold his nerve which he did brilliantly to give our vets team the win.

Tim Jones and Nigel Lovatt - before the shoot off	A happy Nigel Lovatt after the shoot off

With the exception of Chris Bone who turned in a very creditable 283 on Saturday all of the senior team shot on Sunday.  Results were disappointing but a brilliant team spirit prevailed so although it was one of those days to put behind us nevertheless they all enjoyed shooting as a team and tomorrow is another day.  Top scorers for Lincolnshire were Nick Day and David Dale both on 286.  

Nick Day	Gary Boardman, Andy Jackson & Nick Day	Andy Leak

Saira Boardman looked like being the sole representative of the Lincolnshire ladies team until Liz MacGreggor-White gallantly stepped up to form a team with Saira being top scorer on 281.  As is so often the case, the Yorkshire ladies swept the board which some formidable shooting from Charlotte Kitchen (99/293) backed up by Leanne Powell (97/274) and Sarah Thorpe (92/269) but our girls gave a very good account of themselves.

Saira Boardman 

Thanks as always to the team at NDGC for a well run event and congratulations and well shot to all our team members.