New Year goes off with a bang at Dunoon Clay Target Club

THE NEW Year went off with a bang in all respects. The attendance for this traditional opening shoot of the year was exceptional, with 46 senior, 2 ladies and 3 junior guns taking part. The weather was mixed, but did not affect the standard of the shooting, which was excellent, with five maximum 75 ex 75 scores in the individual rounds. The difficulty was the shortness of daylight, with the last lines shot in near dark conditions.

The John Jacobson Trophy was presented by an American serving at the Holy Loch Base, and is by tradition the first open shoot of the year. It was a period when local shoots had record fields with many keen servicemen joining the local clubs. The Cowal clay target clubs continue to welcome entrants from a wide area. It is not easy to run successful shoots and the clubs rely on a small band of helpers, too often the same persons. Clearly the quality of targets and the support organisation is appreciated – evident in the high attendance. Visitor Alvaro Pieri, Larbert, took the trophy with 146 points from a possible maximum of 150. Donnie MacPhail, Glendaruel, was second on 145 with a further one point difference to Leighton Reid, Bute, on 144 in third place. Brian McDonough was fourth on 143, and there was a tie for fifth between two regular visitors from Bute, Ronnie Robertson and Alan Brown with 142. Top lady was Fiona Pieri, Larbert with Alison Brown, Dalry in second place.

Archie MacBride, Dunoon, was the winner of the junior competition, and Josh Cowan, Bute, and James Milton, Larbert both shot well to be placed second and third. The Pool Trap was decided by a complex shoot- off, with Ian Smith, Dunoon, taking the kitty.

For contact details and fixtures see the Club website - ht tp: // www. dunoonanddistrict- ctc.com/