Home International

Friday 18^th July saw the staging of the 74^th Home countries international at Bishops Mountain Shooting Centre, Ireland.

Warm breezy weather met the competitors, making the targets difficult and challenging.

Once again every Welsh team member put in fine performances, with some notable Welsh finishes at the end of the day.

Ifor Williams was second overall in the international match with a score of 100 x 299 and as such received the CPSA cup and silver medal for the home international.  Ifor also received the L.Passmore cup and medal for being Wales highest scoring senior team member.  Well done Ifor, very impressive shooting and good luck when building the new trophy cabinet !

Second highest scoring individual for Wales was Tim Howells with a score of 99 x 296 and third highest scoring individual for Wales was Gareth Evans with 99 x 295.  Very well done to you both.

Ann Butler won the "overall ladies home international high gun" with some exceptional shooting for 98 x 293.  Ann also took the Glan Clwyd Cup for highest scoring Welsh lady.  Congratulations Ann very well dome indeed.

The Jenkins Cup went to the highest scoring new cap "Barry Griffiths" who was incidentally a junior using a borrowed gun and scored an amazing 100 x 296 - well done to you.  Barry Griffiths was also to receive the "The Wilhelm Heldrich Cup" for being highest scoring Welsh Junior.

Finally onto the Veterans and Alan Poole won the "Mid Wales Shooting Centre Cup" for being highest scoring Welsh Veteran with a score of 98 x 292 - congratulations Alan.

Well done to all who made the trip to Ireland.

British open

As per the previous day at the International, the wind affected the targets making them quite a test.

All international teams started at 13:00 and shot their first 25.  The shooting was then stopped for some tragic events unfolding in the car park, resulting in the death of an Irish shooter - Mr Bernie Larkin.

The decision was taken by the international team managers and the ground owners to carry on with the shoot but to shorten the event to 75 targets.

All Welsh team members shot fantastically well under the sad circumstances, and again had some excellent results.

The Williams Cup went to high gun of Wales – Gareth Evans, well done Gareth with back to back consistent good shooting over the two days.

Ifor Williams was again going to feature in the results and gain another trophy for his growing collection - he was to receive the Norman Atkinson Trophy (Dragon) for the highest scoring Welsh team member over the two days.  Well done again Ifor.

The Welsh ladies shot exceptionally and under the guidance of their captain S. Morrow were to be crowned 2008 British Open Ladies Team Champions - congratulations ladies from all of us, a very impressive team result.  Well done also to Sharron Ebrell who was highest scoring Welsh Lady for the British Open.

An impressive Junior team performance were to gain them a team silver, well done to everybody.  Highest scoring Welsh juniors in the British Open were captain Tom Costin and Alex Biddulph who shared the same score.

The veterans team were to be in bronze medal position and the highest scoring veterans Welsh high gun was - Emrys Roberts who only dropped two points.

Well done to all the staff and management of Bishops Mountain Shooting centre for an excellent 2 days shooting.

On behalf of the Welsh team and all at the WCTSA, may I pass on my condolences to Mr Larkin’s family.