FITASC Sporting Selection Shoot Newnham Park
May 19 & 20 2007by Hugh Smith
The listing was posted by British International Clay Target Shooting Federation
Newnham Park Shooting Ground at Plymton Devon was the venue for the 2007 British Grande Prix and also the 3rd GB Team FITASC Sporting selection 2007/2008. It was also used as a ‘work out’ week end for the teams selected to represent GB at the European and FITASC World Sporting Championships 2007; 151 competitors took part, there were 4 late withdrawals.
The shoot manager and course designer was Mr Graham Lapthorn with administration support from Mr David Cobbold the ground owner.
The competition ran over layouts named, Club House 1 and 2, Fern Hill, Pipeline,
Moor View and 100 Acres.
Club Hose1, Pipeline and Fern Hill were day one layouts with Pipeline marginally the tougher of the first day’s competition testing the competitors skills immediately on stand one, Pipeline had a scaffold platform with targets presented some 60 to 80 feet below the shooting position. Fern Hill was set in predominantly ancient woodland and as suggests fern covered ground; white targets were authorised by Chief Referee Hugh Smith and maximum use of the beautiful surroundings was utilised by Graham Lapthorn.
Worthy of note was the effort put in by the grounds staff in preparation of the shooting arenas for this event, where the ground was soft under foot bark Chipping’s were utilised and all shooting positions were uncluttered and level under foot.
Target presentation was as near perfect as could be expected with only the occasional light shower and then sunlight having a minimal effect on target visibility.
Hugh Smith assessed the targets on Friday the 18, all targets where of the highest standard, they were visible with varying speeds, distance, colours and angles, it was not necessary to make any changes during the inspection.
The facilities at Newnham Park are well above average with good use made of the medium sized clubhouse and cafeteria facilities the staff service was excellent; an additional marquee was erected as an overspill with comfortable seating available.
The scores were computed and maintained in a timely manner by David Cobbold.
There was little or no delay in displaying the results, score cards from the remote shooting positions were returned efficiently, any minor errors were corrected as soon as they were discovered; at the end of the event the presentation and team selection was completed within 45 minutes of the shoot off.
Competition
The first day’s results again indicated that the competitors skills were under test with Neil Bedingfield, and David Carrie posting 69, Mark Winsor (Junior), Matt Hance and John Bidwell close behind on 68
Mark Winser posting 68 was the lead Junior with M Simpson 64 and T Bury 61.
In the Ladies, JM Preece (Wales) an as yet unknown to English FITASC Sporting posted 57 with the welcome return of Georgie Jones posting 56 and Cheryl Hall,
June Speakman and Dee Ward 55.
Veterans had John Bidwell 68 two targets clear of Ian Baldwin, Ian Scott, and AJ Smith 66.
Super Vets had David Payne 2 clear of Roger Ward 58/56 and Paddy Howe on 53.
With the second day in progress and three new layouts in operation; Club House 2, Moor View and 100 Acres the competition was wide open, Yet again the Junior Mark Winser continued to impress posting 138 and a challenge was thrown down to all involved.
The early challenges from Neil Bedinfield, Matt Hance and Mark Marshall fell away leaving that ‘Northern Stalwart’ David Carrie the only real challenger to the young pretender but needing a 23 and a possible straight on Club House 2 to take the title, under pressure from the growing crowd and a testing double to finish David hit Gold with 25 straight to take the title on 140 two targets clear.
Matt Hance took Silver 136, Steve Brightwell Bronze 135.
Mark Winser ran away with the Juniors on 138 (2nd over all) with Michael Simpson Silver 129 and Bronze to Tom Bury 125.
Cheryl Hall took the Ladies with a solid workman like performance requiring 23 on her last layout piping Georgie Jones Silver by one 122/121 with D Ward winning Bronze. After a tough shoot off with Ruth Naunton Dee Posting116 + 20 against Ruths 116 + 13, worthy of note is Dees performance in the Shoot off, there were three veterans in the shoot off and Dee beat them all.
John Bidwell won Veterans Gold and was close to winning the championship on 135 AJ Smith 134 Silver and after a shoot off with Dave Asher, John Dyson and Ian Baldwin, then going into ‘Sudden Death’ with Dave Asher tied on 19 with John Dyson, John electing to shoot first and missing the first target Dave Asher under some pressure creamed the target to take Bronze on 131 +19 +1
Super Vets saw David Payne take Gold on 119 Roger Ward Silver 116 and Paddy Howe 113 for Bronze.
The 140 score of the event winner was an exceptionally good score from David Carrie, the competition ran exactly to time on day one, starting at 10:00 and finishing at 17:00.
There was a minor trap problem on day two on the Club House 2 layout, resulting in a 30-min delay come the finish.
Yet again there was a fantastic atmosphere throughout the event assisted by good weather conditions. Competitors on their first visit to Newnham found that it was an outstanding venue for FITASC Sporting and would also be ideal for ‘Major’ English Sporting events
Nick Woodward ran another successful fund raising raffle netting over £600.
David Carrie very generously returned his £150 High Gun prize with instructions to utilise it at the final selection shoot at Brondai, David, on behalf of FITASC Sporting UK thank you very much.
West Country Guns owned by Shaun and Mike Stacy managed by Haggis and Sue Hartman provided additional sponsorship in shooting goods i.e. cartridges and bags for the class and named class prizes.
Shaun also gave a cheque for £105 to cover the cost of the BGP medals.
Mike Haw Hull Cartridge Company provided 4000 Hull FITASC cartridges for sale at the venue, the proceeds to be donated to the FITASC Sporting GB Team fund.
As Chairman for FITASC Sporting GB and on behalf of all the competitors thank you for your generosity.