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Bales Wins English Open English Skeet
Natalie Bales has become the first female English Open English Skeet champion.
Over 250 shooters made the trip to Northamptonshire to shoot the English Open, with Northampton the excellent hosts of the weekend. The event, which ran from the Friday to the Sunday, was decided by a shoot off, after six people went round for 100 straight.
It was Adam Curtis who set the early running, going round at Friday lunchtime for the first 100 straight. This ton was matched on Saturday by both Richard King and last year’s runner up Craig Lakey, leaving three shooters tied at the top going into the final day.
With a shoot off already guaranteed, it was simply a matter of how many people were to be involved as the shooters made their way around on Sunday. It didn’t take long for the number to increase, with Sam Green and Paul Dodd going round without dropping a shot in squads eight and nine of the day respectively.
As the day began to draw to a close, it appeared that a five person shoot off would be required to decide the winner, until Bales shot a clean round in the second to last squad to make that number six.
Following a tense shoot off, it was Bales who held her nerve to claim overall High Gun, with Lakey finishing second for the second consecutive year and Sam Green third.
Adam Curtis came fourth in the shoot off to leave him 1st in AA Class, with Russell Swain finishing 1st in A Class following his score of 99 ex 100. Youngster Oliver Main also shot a superb 99 to claim B Class with Gail Hill winning C Class on count back after shooting 94 ex 100.
In the categories, Bales won Ladies by one shot from Joy Hirons, with Wendy Allen (95 ex 100) finishing third. Main was victorious in Juniors, two shots ahead of George Owen, whilst Tom Tristram won Colts with a score of 95. Martin Brister was the Veterans High Gun and Jamie Gutteridge beat Sam Nunn to the Disabled Standing prize. Darrel White shot 98 ex 100 to win Disabled Sitting with George and Craig Owen shooting a combined total of 192 ex 200 to win Parent and Child. Harry Nicholson won Side By Side with a score of 90 ex 100 and the All Stars – Paul Dodd, Craig Lakey, Joy Hirons, Carl Fielding and Nick Marsden – were the top five person team with a combined score of 494 ex 500.
Congratulations to everyone who took part over the weekend and a massive thank you to Northampton Shooting Ground for being such brilliant hosts. Click here to view the full results.