Trojans hold top spot in the league and the trophy competition

THE Hinckley Air Rifle League’s main non-cup competitions are getting increasingly closer to reaching their ends with the Trojans holding the top position in both the league and Bernard Yates Trophy tables. This week they travelled to Bedworth Ex Servicemen’s Club hoping to maintain their pre-eminence but knowing that their hosts would use their considerable skills to frustrate them.

Bedworth’s first half shot exceptionally well with Mick Cryer’s 28 and James Bend’s 30 bracketing a 28 from Rikki Hammersley, Klaus Baker’s 27 and Jackie Bend’s 29. The comeback from the opposition first half wasn’t quite as assured as it included a couple of 24s but Phil Hood’s 29 plus the 28s of Nigel Jackson and Rebecca Horsler took them to the break with Trojans behind but in touching dis- tance of the guests. Unfortunately Bedworth had only six shooters so even though Bill Bend scored a 30 they had to rely on rule M24 to fill out their totals, adding a 24 that took their totals to more than respectable 196 and 11 points. The Trojans’ second half was as inconsistent as the first but their greater numbers mean they could discard their more disappointing scores meaning that the 29s of Leigh Hall and Mark Smith plus Chris Sills’ closing 30 took them to victories in both competitions with 198 and 14 points.

Ashby Road’s loss to the visiting Sporting Lions put an end to any lingering hopes they might have had of finishing the season in either of the top two spots. The visitors got off to the perfect start with a 30 from Todd Astill and whilst the remainder of the first half couldn’t quite match this Karl Bunting’s 29 and Taryn Cockerill’s 28 were enough to give them a substantial lead over their hosts who had to be satisfied with the 26s of Alison Finney and Bertie Bugden; Seamus Moore’s 27; and Richard White’s 28. The Lions’ second half wasn’t quite as high scoring as the first but Melanie Jenkins’ 26 and the closing 30 of Glen Dainter took them to 192 and 12 points, more than enough to beat Ashby Road who moved onto 186 and 6 points thanks to a 27 from Pete Finney, plus the 26s of Neil Smith and David White.

The match between Smallshaws and the visiting Ashby Road ‘B’ was relatively low scoring but still produced a significant result as Ashby Road’s victory sealed their place in the league’s top five and thus guaranteed their place in the Gordon Smith Cup, the more prestigious of the league’s round-robin cup competitions. Jon Storer top-scored for the visitors with his ninth 30 of the season; Neil Price contributed a 28; and there were 26s from Kim Baker, Martyn Wood and Alf Shore. The resulting 186 and 7 points totals proved too much for Smallshaws whose best individual scores in their 179 and 5 point totals were the 26s of Rob Wainwright, Simon Grewcock, John Stevenson, Tom Williams and Bob West.

Hinckley Phoenix remained in contention for the Bernard Yates Trophy thanks to a narrow win over their guests from the New Plough. The home side shot first but didn’t perform particularly well, finishing on 183 and 9 points largely thanks to the 28s of Tony Overton and Samantha Haskins; and the 26s of Karen Bown, Luke Bown and Ian Ratheram.

However these proved to be just enough as the Plough finished just short in both competitions, totalling just 182 and 7 points despite the 28s of Nigel Hill and John Bray; Daniel Lakin’s 27; and the 26s of Paul Barwell and Tom Bray.

Taylor & Ayre returned to form this week, gaining comfortable wins at the home of a weakened Hounds team. Alyson Steele’s 28 got the visitors off to a strong start; Giles Headley added a 29; and each of the second half shooters – Phil Steele, Alison Smith and Darren Hicks – all scored 29s to take their totals to 192 and 9 points.

The home side’s reply had its highlights, most notably Richard Green’s 28 and Richard Allen’s 27, but there was nowhere near enough and they finished well behind in both competitions with just 168 and 4 points.