2020 Nelson Championships
Nelson Championship
Westport 21 - 22 March 2020
Westport turned its usual mixed bag of weather for the 25 shooters in attendance. From all accounts a few more were put off by a wet weather forecast. A suggestion earlier in the week saw us prepared for a wet first day with gazebos and covers on hand. All of the shooters basically stayed dry, or reasonably so given the conditions, and we shot four ranges, with three in wet conditions, all be it different from the advertised programme. Instead of shooting 3, 5, 6 and 700 the first day , two 6's were shot rather than 6 and 7, so the gazebos and covers, and shooters, didn't have to move. There was some good shooting with John Snowden shooting 199.20 in A grade, Martin Fleming 197.19 in B, and Chris Brown 238.22 in FTR.
Sunday dawned a bit murky but by the time shooting started the sun was in control, and apart from a 5 minute heavy shower it was a nice day. The balance of the ranges were shot, 300 and two 700's to complete the advertised course of fire.
Allan White was determined to head off John Snowden after losing to him in a shoot off last time the Westport shoot was held in 2018. John set the bar high shooting a 50.7 at the final 700, leaving Allan who was shooting last, needing to shoot a 50 to win. He was up to the task shooting a 50.4 to win the Nelson Championship Belt by 7 centres with 347.44, to John's 347.37. Malcolm Dodson finished third after shooting 150.13 on the second day to finish on 343.34, 3 centres ahead of Andre Doyle in fourth. Charlotte Flanagan was fifth on 341.25.
In B grade it was a game of two halves over the two days with Martin Fleming storming away to be only three off the first day. The second day belonged to Megan Snowden as she came through to win with 337.29 from David Dick on 332.29 and Martin on 332.25.
The FTR was a lot like B grade with Chris Brown making no race of it posting a fine 238.22 to be 11 points clear of Mark Alexander in second on the first day. Mark came through on the second day with very good shoots to win with 402.18 to Chris' 396.30 (30 X's from 70 shots), and Geoff Smith on 387.19.
Thanks to Bernard Menzies and his crew in Westport for having the range all prepared and in top order.