National Inter-Counties ESK Report

12 Teams contested the 2021 National Inter-Counties English Skeet held over two days at the National Clay Shooting Centre in Bisley.  The NCSC is undergoing refurbishment and had just installed a total of 75 new Pro-Matic traps.  The whole range had been given an early Spring Clean and was looking great.

The shooting got off to a rainy start with dark skies on Saturday morning, but the targets remained consistent with very little wind, and there were three 100 straights recorded during the day.  David Roling shot 100 straight at Dartford in the morning, then drove across to Surrey and scored another one hundred straight.  Joining him at the top of the leader board was Ross Elgie, then on the last squad of the afternoon, Richard King added another perfect ton.  Steve Lovell started with a 24, then cleared the rest to record a personal best 99.

The rain held off on Sunday and the wind remained light, with target quality again consistent, but one by one the serious challengers fell by the wayside.  There were also 99’s from Gary Cooke and Jonathan Cain but there were no more 100’s.

David Roling and Richard King returned for the shoot off to decide the High gun, but Ross elected not to travel down again.  Richard missed a target on station three, and uncharacteristically missed the repeat.  David dropped a target on station four, then did not miss any more, leaving Richard no chance to catch up.

Individual High Gun         David Roling       100 + 24

Runner-up                          Richard King       100         S/O

Third                                      Ross Elgie             100         Default

Steve Leppington scored 98 in the Veteran’s class on Saturday, and this was matched by Bill Moussalli on Sunday. Neither were present for the shoot-off, so Steve was elected Veteran Champion on countback.

Shooting on Sunday, Megan Jones scored 96 to lead the Ladies from Isabel Cartlidge on 94.  Ceyla Ismet was third with 91.

Megan was also top Junior, with Kian Maher just one target behind on 95.  Third was Sonny Bowman with 93.

Top Colt score was Isabel Cartlidge with her 94, second was Barney Eastman on 91 and Oakley Reynolds was third with 89.

Honours in the Team Event were shared between four counties.

Winning Senior Team were Yorkshire with 493 / 500. 

Winning Senior Team – Yorkshire

Ross Elgie                             100

Gary Cooke                         99

Jonathan Cain                    99

Stephen Leppington       98

Russ Dean                           97

Total                                      493

Runners up were Warwickshire on 482 and third were Essex with 476.

It was a very close finish in the Veteran’s Team section, with Cambridgeshire scoring 188 and Warwickshire and Sussex in joint second with 187

The Ladies event was also very close.  Cheshire won with 180, while Cornwall were second on 175, marginally ahead of joint third placed Essex and Berkshire Ladies on 174

Hampshire were the leading Junior team, scoring 178.

There were no Colt Team entries.  CPSA will be provided badges for Colts Teams for next year so come along Team Captains, start preparing your young talent now ready for next season.

Thanks to CPSA SE Region Director Peter Saich for his report.