Bedfordshire FITASC Championship 2009-09-29

Lovely late September weather greeted this years FITASC championships at Sporting Targets

Shot over 75 targets in 3 layouts the day was shared with Northamptonshire’s event. 

The first layout was Clubhouse which was really the only straightable layout with the A and E birds the key targets in terms of difficulty and concentration the key to the rest.  Andrew Clifton led the way on the layout with a 24 with Kevin Parsons and Steve Whinnett one behind as was junior Ben Pay.  Ben’s performance on this layout was key to his eventual Junior Class win on count back over Joe Heast. 

The second 25 targets were set in new ground on the Quads with a few more testing presentations notably a very fast  right to left midi crosser and a battue that presented long from stand 3 being key along with one other bird which seemed to me to resemble a pencil no matter where I shot it from.  Best scores of 22 were hit by KP, Andy Buck, Andy Nixon and Joe Heast.

Finally then to the plantation for the final layout.  This for me had a harder feel to it than the other two layouts generally but with only the teal regularly taking hits off shooters, this was especially true from stand 3.  Andy Buck took the honours here with a 23.   All of the scores for the Bedfordshire contingent are reproduced below. 

In terms of the silverware Kevin Parsons came from Vets to win the championship from Andy Buck (on count-back from yours truly – doh that last bird miss) .  In Vets W Hillier wins the medal.  I must confess I do not know Mr Hillier but if you contact Sporting Targets your medal is waiting for you.  Ladies was won by Gill Whinnett unfortunately unopposed but well done with your 20 in the plantation Gill. 

Juniors saw a tie between Joe Heast and Ben Pay that resulted in Ben being awarded the title on count back.   For this we used the measure of the first bird missed to eliminate the runner up.  Joe missed his twelfth and Ben his thirteenth so the title goes to Ben.

My thanks to those that took part and to Sporting Targets for the effort they put into what was a very good course which tested everyone that took part without being “silly.  

Finally I caught up with Ben to present his prize at the EM Intercounties Sporting at Mid Norfolk SS