Clay shooters on target

The high scorers in the both clay target events held at the weekend had to overcome the weather.

On Saturday afternoon the 100-target automatic ball trap (ABT) Scottish qualifier had an entry of nine.  The sun shone most of the afternoon, making for good visibility, but a strong wind from behind made the targets dive and increased the difficulty of the event.

At the halfway point Ewen Johnson was ahead, having shot two excellent 24s to be on 48, some three points ahead of Jim Work on 45 with visiting Orkney shooter and current Scottish ABT champion Magnus Norquay on 44.

With three rounds completed the lead was close: Johnson on 69, with Jim and Ross Work both on 66 and Norquay and Peter Davies both on 65, all in with a chance of winning.

In the last round Jim Work hit a maximum 25 for a total of 91 to take the win from Johnson on 90 with Davies, Ross Work and Norquay all on 87, all good scores in the windy conditions. Other scores were Bryan Sutherland 85, John Magnus Laurenson 82, Lou Jackson 79 and Jo Dunlop 64.

On Sunday morning 10 shooters entered the 100-target ABT Scottish qualifier. The wind had changed to the north-west, with the targets lifting higher and tending to stall towards the wind, making for difficult shooting conditions again.

At the halfway point Ewen Johnson was again in the lead on 45 with Ross Work on 44 and Lou Jackson and Peter Davies on 43, all close and in with a chance of taking the win.

Going into the last round Ross Work had a one-point lead with a total of 66 with Johnson on 65 and Davies on 64. The leading two matched each other all the way, both hitting 24 which gave Work the win on a total of 90 with Johnson on 89. Third was Jackson who also shot well in the last round to finish on 85. Other scores were Davies 84, Alan Moar 81, Jim Work 80 and Jo Dunlop 60.

This Sunday a further two qualifying shoots are scheduled in both the Olympic skeet and ABT, both starting at 10am.