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NEWS / REPORTS JULY 2006

 
Llandegla Shooting Ground - Welsh Open National Skeet Championship - July 30th 2006.
 
This was the final selection shoot of the season, and a few team positions were riding on the final results.
 
The day started with a minutes silence for a dear friend and shooter Chris Potter and I am sure that he was there somewhere to watch every shot that was fired.
 
The majority of shooters suffered badly on the first layout, wind being blamed for the losses, which unfortunately turned out to be a broken finger on one of the traps.  Early casualties were Richard Stepney and John Thomas dropping 3 and 2 targets respectively.
 
This carried on for Richard on his second round thus ending his challenge for the title.
 
Making his first appearance of the year was Oswestry estate agent Roy Jones and his Krieghoff K80 - posting one of only 2 straights of the first round, the other being team place chaser Huw Evans.
 
Half way saw Roy and Nigel Hodson share the honours on 49ex50 and this continued until the last round when Nigel dropped 6 targets due to contact lens problems, thus handing victory and the championship to Roy Jones.
 
As for the rest of us, boy did we suffer although some a lot worse than others.
 
At a very welcomed prize presentation the trophies were handed out by Team Manager Mel Jones and the Executive Reps (Mr Arthur Williams the President being unable to attend due to work commitments).
 
Veterans title went to Rob Hodson, Ladies category was won by Carol Francis and Juniors to the ever improving Rhys Evans.
 
Gwen, Chris Potters wife had sent a trophy in Chris' memory for the highest placed Junior and this was won by Rhys Evans.
 
Final Team Positions are as follows:
 
Seniors
 
Richard Stepney (Captain)
Nigel Hodson
Robert English
Meredith Owens
John Thomas
Dai Francis
Alan Evans
Tom Hayes
Jordan Clifford
Huw Evans (new cap)
 
Veterans
 
Rob Hodson
Alan Hewitt
 
Ladies
 
Carol Francis
Linda Hewitt
 
Juniors
 
Rhys Evans
Shane Wilson  (new cap)
 
Mel Jones is Team Manager again this year.
 
To the 2 new caps, well done lads!!!
 
It must be something of a first, the team this year actually consists of 2 Father and Son combinations, 2 Husband and Wife combinations and a Father in Law Son in Law combination, if any other team has similar lets hear about it, and start a useless information league table!! Ha Ha.
 
The National Skeet fraternity would sincerely like to thank the various ground owners for their hospitality during the season.  A special thanks must also go to Dave Lea for his unstinting work at the helm of this site, for faultlessly changing the spelling mistakes and for putting up with us all.
 
The Home International is being held at Auchterhouse SG in Dundee over the August Bank Holiday weekend and we the Team every success for the event. Watch this space for the reports.
 
  
Cheers and kindest regards - Richard Stepney (2006 Team Captain)

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2006 DTL British Open and Home International Report

The full colour report is now available for the 2006 DTL Home International and British Open weekend which took place in Northern Ireland by clicking here.

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2006 European DTL Team News

The DTL team for the European DTL championships to be held in Bywell on 26th and 27th August has been chosen. 

The team consists of the top 5 seniors, top 3 juniors, top 3 ladies and top 3 veterans from the 2006 Welsh DTL team.  The scores used to choose the team are from their 4 best international qualifier scores and their score from the recent home international.  If a member chooses not to go to the event, then the place is offered to the "next best" for each category.

The team is as follows:

Seniors

       
Initials Surname Status   Peg
P R MORGAN     1
BJ OWEN     2
GW EVANS     3
L JONES Snr Capt.   4
MJ Mc' CONVILLE     5
         
IW Williams     Reserve
         
Ladies        
Initials Surname Status   Peg
SL EBBRELL     1
C TREHEARN Ladies Cpt   2
LM TURPIN     3
         

Veterans

       
Initials Surname Status   Peg
JH JONES     1
JH THOMAS     2
MH McCONVILLE Vet Capt   3
         
Juniors        
Initials Surname Status   Peg
AE BIDDULPH Jnr Capt   1
GW GRIFFITHS     2
T COSTIN     3
         

The team are once again fortunate to have their manager as John Burton and their president Arthur Williams to travel with them as support.

Good luck everybody !

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Announcement - A Sad Loss !


It is with sadness and regret that we report the sudden and untimely passing of National Skeet shooter Chris Potter after a very short illness.
 
Chris passed away peacefully on Saturday 15th July at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen after having been admitted the previous week.
 
Although born in Wiltshire, he represented Wales, "his country" as he called it 7 times in succession and was Captain of the Team in 2001.  Twice out of the last 3 years Chris qualified for the team but was unable to take his place through illness.
 
As a devoted skeet shooter, Chris represented the discipline on the WCTSA Executive for 3 years before standing down to enjoy his sport.  He enjoyed nothing more than an afternoon in Telpyn instilling his wisdom and experience into anyone that would listen.
 
The funeral will take place at Llanelli Crematorium on Friday 21st July in Llanelli Crematorium at 4.15pm and afterwards at the Crosshands Hotel and all are welcome.  (confirmed arrangements)
Chris's last wish that anyone attending wear their Team uniforms.  There are family flowers only with donations to the Padarn Ward in lieu if you so wish.
 
As these arrangements are provisional at the moment, please contact Richard Stepney on 01269 844755 for details before travelling.
 
Our sincere condolences go out to his wife Gwen and their respective families, Chris will be sorely missed by us all. 

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2006 World Sporting Team News

The 2006 Welsh International Team selected to shoot in the World Tournament was decided by taking the top shooters from the first 5 Welsh qualifiers.  Congratulations to all who have qualified - they are as follows:

Seniors:

NJ Hart
AH White
D Barnett
P Humphreys
RJ Webb

Juniors:

BJ Lewis
S Hart
J Webb

Ladies:

JM Preece
N Evans
CR Evans

Veterans:

C Belcher
NC Jones
CJ Bolas

The team manager for the Welsh world sporting team is Linda Grant.  The event will take place at Somerley (England) on the 19th and 20th of August.  We wish you all every success !

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Skeet Shooter Spotlight - Junior Welsh International - Rhys Evans
 

To most Welsh national skeet shooters the name Rhys Evans is already associated with international success !   Rhys from North Wales won his first cap for the Welsh National Junior Skeet team last year (2005) and alongside his team mate (Welsh junior - Nick Parish), they won the overall Junior International cup - the first time Wales has won this for 35 years !

On Sunday 2nd July 2006 - during the National skeet qualifier at the South Wales 2000 shooting ground, Rhys Evans won the B class with a score of 97.  But more important for Rhys, this meant he has shot himself into a position which meant he cannot be caught by the nearest junior member and as such is guaranteed his place in this years junior international squad.  Rhys is already 7 points clear of the remaining group of three junior members, with the Welsh Open still remaining.

Well done Rhys and good luck in Auchterhouse on August 26th.

(Click on the thumbnail image to see Rhys in action)

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Sporting News - Big prize money sporting shoot to be hosted here in Wales !

On Sunday 24th September 2006 - Crynant Shooting Ground are to hold the MGB sporting challenge.  After a lot of hard work from the organisers - they have managed to secure a high gun prize of £1000 ! and are paying further cash prizes to 16th place.

Entries are limited and available on a first come - first served basis.

Contact Crynant Shooting Ground on 01639 881185 for more details or e-mail to john@firstcorporate.co.uk.

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2006 Down the Line Team News

After the successful Welsh two day event, the final DTL team positions have been posted on the website courtesy of your statistics officer Brian Davies - click here for further details.

Congratulations go to "all" those who have qualified - be very proud of yourselves.

Particular mention must also go to each of the representatives who have been selected as captain's and to all the new caps in the team.

Captains:

L Jones - Senior Captain
C Trehearn - Ladies Captain
MH Mc'Conville - Veterans Captain
MW Jones - Junior Captain

New Caps:

MJ Mc'Conville - Senior Team
DG Ricketts - Senior Team
AP Jones - Senior Team
GE Watson - Senior Team
J Smith - Senior Team
KWC Martin - Senior Team
EG Parry - Senior Team
JM Turner - Senior Team
GW Griffiths - Junior Team
T Costin - Junior Team
TL Evans - Junior Team

The team now roll on to Northern Ireland in the capable hands of John Burton - Team Manager.  The best of luck everybody and have a good trip.

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SW2000 Shooting Ground - 100 National Skeet Welsh Selection - Sunday 2nd July 
Ominous grey skies greeted 6 squads for this - the penultimate National Skeet selection shoot for 2006. These conditions however quickly moved on and were replaced by a blistering sun, and with no breeze made for very interesting shooting.
 
4 people shared the honours at the half way mark, Carol Francis, Shane Wilson, Rob English and Richard Stepney all on 50ex50.
 
Round 3 proved to be the decider, Shane the first to drop ending the round on 22 with Richard close behind, a solitary hi 2 getting away for a 24. Rob English was next dropping his option bird for a 24 with Carol having a nightmare round on 21.
 
Nigel Hodson was ready to pounce on any mistakes being only 3 down after 75 with Angie Goodman the same.
 
Shane Wilson cleared his last round for a personal best 97ex100 taking C class and shared the Junior category with Rhys Evans who also shot 97ex100 and took B class - both shooting impressive scores.
 
Angie Goodman took the ladies category with 95ex 100 dropping 2 on her last round with a 3 way tie for the veterans between Rob Hodson, Tom Hayes and the ever improving Alan Hewitt.
 
Hi Gun went to Richard Stepney with a 99ex100 after having cleared his last round with Rob English dropping a bird on his last round to finish runner up.
 
We now move on to Llandegla for the Welsh Open at the end of July, where 3 Juniors are to do battle for the only remaining place, each on 19 points with the same amount of points to drop, a level playing field, and may the best man win.
 
Thanks to Mike, Margaret and Phil et al. at SW 2000 who have entertained us throughout the year and also to Telpyn SG and Mid Wales.
 

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Keep those reports coming in please !