(Final Scores and Photos below)
John Heagren – the senior instructor at Bisley Shooting Ground has emerged victorious, after a tense final showdown at the Stratstone Super Seven Challenge – walking away with the use of a Morgan Plus Four for the next six months provided by sponsors Stratstone. With a brilliant final score of 18ex25 – John had tied with Ed Solomons which lead to a final shoot-off where John managed 15ex20 and Ed 7ex20.
With a stiff cross wind, and bright sunshine, it was clear that to win the sports car outright with a 23 or more was going to take a superhuman effort – shooter after shooter dropped away, with many missing their first bird out to really pile the pressure on themselves. The effort wasn’t made any easier by the seven cars being lined up on the way into the shooting ground.
After a quick warm up across the ground, shooters headed to the tower to shoot the challenging 25 bird sequence. With the reverse order from the qualifying, it was left to the youngest member of the field, Conor Gorsuch, to open affairs with an excellent 15. Phil Marks from Hampshire also banged in a 15ex25. After John Heagren had hit the 18ex25 that carried him to the shoot-off, the pressure was really on. Chris Childerhouse danced his way to 15ex25, then Ed Solomons hit his 18 to level with John Heagren. Last years British open winner Sam Green hit 13, and Mark Marshall fresh from African success hit a 12.
George Digweed MBE took home a stunning Rolex watch, courtesy of David Duggan for the highest qualifying score, 94ex100 including a stunning 25 straight on the tower. Chris Childerhouse won £2000 worth of clothing from Really Wild Clothing for the highest score with a side by side during qualifying, as well as being named ‘The John Travolta of shooting’ after some fancy footwork on the tower today.
All the finalists went home with an engraved tumbler, were treated to an excellent three course lunch at the Shooting School.
John Heagren said after the event, “It was the pressure, not the birds that was really difficult. It got to all the finalists. I play a lot of competitive sports so I am used to focusing and being watched by a crowd. I am delighted to have won such a beautiful car for the summer. Thank you to RBSS and Stratstone for organising such a prestigious event for clay and game shooters.”
George Digweed MBE echoed these comments during his acceptance speech, thanking Dylan Williams and the team at RBSS as well as sponsors for putting on such a special event.
Some photos from the event…
Final Scores:
Connor Gorsuch – 15
George Wilson – 10
Philip Walford – 10
Phillip Marks – 15
Chris Biddlecombe – 13
John Heagren – 18
Aldis Kortocius – 11
Nick Portlock – 12
Steve Lovatt – 5
Chris Childerhouse – 15
Philip Smith – 15
Ed Solomons – 18
Sam Green – 13
Mark Marshall – 9
George Digweed – 17
ShootOff
John Heagren – 15 (winner)
Ed Solomons – 7 (runner-up)
