Report by Juana Everett

to be published on 27th January 2011

he Norman Dale or President's Cup competition which is open to shooters whose average from at least two league matches is 30 or less took place at Wilmcote Sports & Social Club last Thursday. In recent years the trophy has been won by shooters new to the sport. Up to the semi final rounds, shooters have only five pellets and throughout the competition, a clean bull counts as 5.1 points. There were 27 members of the league eligible to enter and 19 turned up which meant that there were three preliminary matches.

Mike Perry, Sam Powell and Kath Williams lost in the preliminary matches. Richard Mills, Joshua Bridge, Ray Hodgkins, Bill Gately who shot well (23) in his preliminary match, Irene Parsons, Haydn Taplin and Jo Everett lost their first round matches. Jackie Mills and new shooter Joe Powell both shot 20 points and had to shoot again. They had another very close match in which both shooters shot four fours and one bull but Joe Powell’s bull was clean and Jackie Mills’ was dirty which gave Joe a place in the next round.

Andrea Norris, another new shooter this season, got the highest score in the first round matches (24.2) points then came up against Joe Powell in the quarter finals. Joe was consistent, shooting another 21 but was just beaten by Andrea who had the clean bull this time to Joe’s dirty one. Gordon Spencer found himself shooting against team mate Jan Beattie. She gave a good account of herself scoring 23 to secure a place in the semi final round. Neil Bragg got through to the next round by knocking out Guy Ganderton and Neil Beningfield took the last spot in the semi finals dispatching Roy Clarke.

The semi and final rounds were shot with seven pellets. Andrea Norris shot against Jan Beattie in the first of the semi final matches. Though shooting for different teams they are both very familiar with Wilmcote’s targets as both teams shoot from the club. Jan was not as consistent as earlier and though she started with a bull went on to shoot fours for 29 points. Andrea shot a mix of fours and bulls for 31.3 knocking out Jan Beattie. Neil Bragg and Neil Beningfield team mates from Binton shot in the other semi final. Beningfield shot a par 28 while Bragg had a wobbly start with a clean bull followed by a three then four fours leaving him needing at least a four to win but to make sure he put in a clear bull and took the match with 29.2pts.

The final was between Andrea Norris who only started shooting this season and Neil Bragg who has been shooting with Binton for a number of years. Bragg won the toss and shot first scoring 29.1pts putting the pressure on Norris. She shot two fours, a bull and three more fours. This left her needing a bull to win. She took her time with the last shot and pulled it off when she hit the bull. Andrea took the trophy. This is the fifth year running that a new shooter has taken the trophy and the fourth year running in which it has been won by the ladies.

The Air Gun League is celebrating its centenary year with a new competition, the first round of which will take place tonight, 27 January when Binton A shoot against MEB; Home Guard against Binton B and Wilmcote against Avenue-RBL.

[REPORT ENDS]