Sussex Sporting at SSG Shoreham 26th August 2012.
Report by Cliff Goodwin.
For many, the Sussex Sporting is the highlight of the Sporting calendar. Usually held late summer, we have been blessed with fine weather for this event for as long as I can remember and this year proved no exception. Owners Jamie Peckham and Darren Barton had preened the ground to perfection and the cluster of marquees, hog roast, crammed raffle prize table and al-fresco dining area around “shoot control” added to the atmosphere of a major event.
With 130 competitors participating, the shoot was certainly buzzing and it was great to see that many had travelled from outside the county to take part. Alongside Sussex shooters were visitors from Bucks, Greater London, Surrey and Kent and there was also a six-man contingent from the Channel Islands who were in the area for a World Sporting Series event down the road at Southdown. I bet they’re glad they made the effort to pop in as the target setting was absolutely top notch.
Jamie Peckham had just returned from running the traps at the World Championships and had, no doubt, taken some inspiration from the infamous RED and BLUE courses at Sweetslade. Northall’s Dan Kerwood had also lent a hand with the course design and had tweaked several stands with his own special brand of deviousness. As a result, we were treated to some of the most entertaining targets I have shot all year. Nothing was out of range but the array of speeds and angles, combined with the spectacular valley setting, ensured that cards would be wrecked if shooters failed to take the trouble to read each target carefully.
Stands of note that spring to mind are the “downhill rabbit”, “driven battue”, a pair of “exocet simultaneous crossers” and a deceptively slow “white incomer” that glided seductively down the valley but dipped just as it reached the “sweet spot” – stonking sport! And then there was the slow left to right crosser that tantalisingly nipped across a twelve foot gap in the trees and managed to single-handedly trash my card. Oh well, that’ll teach me to stay awake!
For the record, the technical nature of the course meant that many felt it shot a lot harder than it was but the figures don’t lie:
95% of shooters hit more than 50/100
82% of shooters hit more than 60/100
47% of shooters hit more than 70/100
17% of shooters hit more than 80/100
That said, only one shooter broke the 90 barrier, but then he is 19 times world champion!
Can’t wait for the next one, bring it on!
Congratulations to all the winners below.
Sussex Senior Champion – George Digweed 95
Sussex Veterans Champion – Ray Effamy 81
Sussex Ladies Champion – Charlotte Kerwood 71
Sussex junior Champion – Dan Christian 81
Sussex Colt Champion – no entries
High Gun George Digweed 95
AA Class 1st Alex Cobb 89 2nd Ross Straker 87 3rd Ludovic Anthony 87
A Class 1st Chris Frost 77 2nd Johnathan Ward 77 3rd Jim Lamb 77
B Class 1st Adam Wilmshurst 78 2nd Paul Curtis 74 3rd A Williams 73 / B Smith 73
C Class 1st Darren Keyte 70 2nd Adrian Smith 68 3rd Brian Walker 64
Ladies 1st Charlotte Kerwood 71 2nd Sarah White 69 3rd Fiona Thompson 65
Vets 1st Geoff Evans 84 2nd K Upton 81 / R Effamy 81
Juniors 1st Dan Christian 81 2nd Charlie Clark 74
Guests
A Class Bob Sadunasski 68
B Class 1st Andrew Cox 67 2nd Clive Anderson 66 3rd S Cunnell 66
C Class 1st A. Collins-Williams 59 2nd P Pitman 36 3rd D May 33
Ladies 1st Julie Franklin 49 2nd Sophie Brockwell 46
Juniors 1st Luke Abell 29
Thanks to Linzy and the staff at SSG and the Northall team for all their hard work in putting on such an epic event and thanks also to members of the Committee and others who volunteered their time to score the event.