ENGLAND TEAM SELECTION SHOOT/NORTH REGION TEAM SELECTION SHOOT (3)

 

Oak Lodge SG, Hartlepool, Durham, was the venue for the North Region’s England Team selection shoot and the 3^rd of the Regional Team selection shoots held over the weekend of 18^th/19th June in gently, balmy conditions with just a slight occasional breeze.

 

It is believed that this is the first time an England selection shoot has been held in Durham - or even this far North - but with some 200+ entries from areas such as Dorset, Kent, and Wales taking part it proves that geographical distance is no barrier when a good mixture of high quality targets are on offer in pleasant and professional surroundings. Many positive remarks from some of England’s elite were received over both days.

 

The targets themselves were all very shoot-able, nothing out of range or daft; clever use of terrain and mixture combinations over 12 stands. Credit for target presentation goes to local shot Paul Coulson and ground owner Andy Calvert. Every stand had the potential to catch out anyone not fully concentrating, or misreading the ‘line’ and no one stand could be said to be a card-breaker, although the midi/standard sim pair at the bottom of the course (stand 12) needed a strong nerve to take it on early to ensure the best chance of success.

 

Joint High Guns scores were provided by two AA Yorkshire shooters - former England Team Captain Tim Webster and Doncaster’s Dave Long - who both carded a 94. NB: This is the score on which Regional Team selection will be based.

 

Lady High Gun was Cheryl Hall (Herts) and Veteran HG was John Wells (Leicester) - who both posted a 90, Junior honours were shared by Taylor Hedgecock (Cambs) and Josh Bridges (Lancs) with 88.

 

Class winners were ‘A’ Robert Bailey (Staffs), ‘B’ Sean Gorry (Lancs) - both on 89 and best ‘C’ class shooters were F Peel (Cumbria), M. Darragh (Durham) and C Needham (Lancs) who all shot 73.

 

Well done to all.

 

Since registering the ground just a few short years ago, Kelly and Andy Calvert have laid down a marker, setting out their intentions to provide exciting and competitive targets in a lovely countryside setting - investing not just for the present but also with the future in mind.They have already held County and Regional Sporting, Sportrap and FITASC championships and be in no doubt, they are more than willing to ‘kick on’ in coming years.