he Whitbread Individual Trophy was shot to its conclusion last week at Wilmcote Sports & Social Club. Kath Williams got through her second round draw against team mate Oscar Thornton by just one point and Michelle Dale saw off Ben Chamberlain’s chances when she shot 24.1 points. Andy Smith got through to the quarter finals as his opponent Sheila Clarke could not make it to the competition.

In the quarter finals, Steve Ray who shot a mini possible in his first round draw shot a second 25.3 when he met Kath Williams who seemed to lose her concentration scoring only 18. Jackie Mills won her match against husband, Richard 21-18. Guy Ganderton who shot very well in his first round draw, lost out to Will Cemis 21-22.2 and Michelle Dale was on form shooting a mini possible 25.1 against her team mate Andy Smith.

With seven pellets for the last two rounds of this competition, Steve Ray was clearly on form when in his semi-final against Jackie Mills he shot the first possible of the season scoring 35.2 points. Jackie Mills shot a four with her first pellet and knew she had been eliminated from the competition. She went on to score 31.1. Michelle Dale faced another of her team mates, Will Cemis in her semi-final and was clearly aiming for the trophy when she hit the bull six times, but was it nerves, or a slip in concentration which put her last pellet into the three? However, with 33.2 points she had no real worry as Will Cemis scored only 30.

The final proved to be a close match with both shooters on form. Michelle Dale missed out with her second and fifth pellets hitting fours to give her a final score of 33.2. Steve Ray though kept his calm and stayed on the bull until his last shot ended in the four for 34.2 points but the trophy was his. He had an excellent night’s shooting with double honours, scoring the first possible of the season and winning the competition for the second time. It was in 1993/94 when he last saw success in this competition.

Matches tonight (1 Dec) Binton A vs Avenue-RBL; Home Guard vs Clifford; Wilmcote vs MEB and Binton B have a bye.