Pictures: Linda Clarke
After last years amazing clay shoot event I did not imagine for one moment this one would surpass it.
On the day we had glorious sunshine from sunrise to sunset with zero wind and it felt incredibly warm too.
I had decided to cut the numbers of participants down from last years 48 to a more manageable 34/36 people.
This allowed each person to fire a full card of birds (50 shots). Roger Hance also supplied an extra stand and instructor this year too.
Awards were available to present on the day for: Top Gun; Second and Third overall highest score; Top Lady Gun; Son of a gun (under 16's). Plus all children participants received runners up trophies.
Roger Hance brought an array of shot guns suitable for all ages and abilities. The Blunderbus featured and most people felt the thrill of the 'Flash Bang Wallop'! As usual everyone missed the Clays with this awesome weapon. Somebody though did mange to hit the stationary target, a cardboard box, set up by Roger. (No names mentioned)
My lifelong pal Andy Rigsby from Lane End also acting as an instructor brought along a very interesting percussion musket.
Nearly as old but slightly more technologically advanced than the Blunderbus and just as thrilling to use!
Ian Price was our Chef for the day slaving over a fiery barbecue and serving up bacon butties and burgers with ‘special’ fried onions.
Although he fancied himself as a Gordon Ramsey, he ended the day looking more like Ainsley Hariott. This was largely due to his method of disposing of spent cooking oil by way of pouring it over the red hot charcoal! Just as well he doesn’t sport a beard eh?
As I collected the score cards towards the end of the shoot it was clear that the ‘Top Lady Gun’ category would have to go to penalties.
Linda Clarke & Paula were tied with a score of 24. And so we had the exciting prospect of a ’shoot-out’!
The final result could not have been closer with Paula winning 5-4.
Christopher Page became the new ‘Son of a Gun’ with a magnificent score of 31 which in fact was the fourth highest score overall.
Well done Christopher –great shooting!
And so to the final results:
Top Gun: Andy Smith (40)
Second: Carlo Faulds (37)
Third: Mark Gurney-Beret (33)
Top Lady Gun: Paula (24, 5-4 on penalties)
Son of a Gun: Christopher Page (31)
(U16’s) Runners Up: James Barber (second);
Katie Page; Louis Page; Emily Barber; Harry Adaway;
Blake Faulds; Sam Smith; James Nicholson.
My thanks to Roger Hance and his team; Andy Rigsby;
Resident Celeb Chef Ian Ainsley-Price (fab work);
Gary, Emily and James Barber & Chris & Lynn for helping with setting-up etc.
Linda Clarke for the excellent pictures.
Most of all, thank you all for coming along and supporting the event.
Carlo
