Shield shoot sees sixty-two descend on clays club

As the day went on, conditions on the whole improved, and there were some impressive scores, as the competition for the silverware proved tough.

Rathfriland’s Enoch McCauley was on good form early on, with just three barrels down at 75, but he lost a target on his final 25 to finish on a still-impressive 292.

On the same squad, David Beattie MBE went on to better McCauley’s score, and finish with 293.

The 90 scores continued throughout the day; James Connor was to hit a fantastic 100/293, while William Heslip helped himself to a hard-fought 292, to win class A outright. After a disappointing start, where he was to miss his opening target, Irish international shooter Jason Coffey finished strongly to secure a score of 99/296, which claimed High Gun for the day, and the shield for 2013.

Jason’s 296 was not to be beaten, despite some other great scores, such as a 99/291 from Artie Griffith, and another 291 from William Armstrong. Ronald Sloan also finished well to post a score of 290. F

inal class places were as follows;

High Gun & Stewart Campbell Shield winner – Jason Coffey

AA 1st= David Beattie MBE & James Connor

AA 3rd – Enoch McCauley

A 1st – William Heslip

A 2nd= Darren Armstrong & Hugh Ervine

B 1st – William Hughes

B 2nd – Nick Cochrane

B 3rd – Alan Charleton

C 1st – GD Mulholland

C 2nd – G Thompson

C 3rd – Jimmy Rountree

Shooting returns to Rathfriland Clay Pigeon Club on Saturday, 30 March.

The club will also be running on Easter Tuesday, 2 April, where the Ulster Single-Barrel Championship will be the main attraction.

Shooters are also reminded of the 100-bird DTL to be held at Banbridge Gun Club, on Easter Monday. The shooting never stops!