BSSA UK Open Report.

Click Here for the UK Open Full Scores.

As I drove up to Scotland for the UK Open Championship, I was thinking back to when I last travelled north to Sterling for one of the CPSA Home Internationals, from memory it was 1991. I had forgotten just how beautiful the drive is at the top of the A1, travelling across the Pennines on the A66 and how breathtaking the scenery is as you enter and travel into Scotland.
 
Morton Clay Targets is a new venue on the BSSA Championship circuit; the log clubhouse nestles at the bottom of a heather covered hill surrounded by pine trees and two lakes at Morton, high above and just outside Livingstone between Glasgow and Edinburgh.
 
The weather on arrival was bright and sunny but the wind was bitterly cold. On the Thursday the clubhouse manager Hugh had the log fire alight, and I was thinking maybe I should have packed the "long Johns".
 
Paul Nelson assured me that the weather would change and that sun block was needed?
 
Friday dawned to brilliant sunshine but with a stiff breeze, Nelson was right.
 
The first gauge shot was Doubles on the Friday afternoon and Dave Morgan secured the title with 98 in the wind and Tony May runner up with 97. It was great to see Tony up and about after all his surgery, he certainly has not forgotten how to shoot! Nick Marsden was AA1, Raymond Blackwood was A1, Stuart Wilkieson was B1, Alistair Green was C1 and Liz Green D1.
 
The forecast for Saturday was even better. 12 gauge was first up on Saturday morning, after the shoot offs Dave Morgan had struck again with a 100 (I think we should consider banning auto's)? Runner up was Bloomers, Andrew McNamara was AA1, Jenny Delrosso A1, Kevin Borthwick B1, Liz Green C1 and Rodney Jessup was D1.
 
In the afternoon the wind was getting a little tricky ( that's my excuse anyway). Nick Marsden had no problems and tonned the 28 for the title. Robert Jones was runner up, Nick Coupe AA1, Alistair Green A1, Mick Rolstone B1, Nigel Young C1 and Michael Harris D1.
 
Sunday morning was indeed hot and the wind had died slightly. The conditions in some ways made this championship a more open affair. It was not a case of needing to shoot ton after ton to be in with a shout, the door was always open, as was proved!
 
The 20 gauge finished with Andrew McNamara as champion and Nick Coupe runner up, both having shot 100 straights. Nick Marsden was AA1, Paul Nelson A1, Stuart Wilkieson B1, Nigel Young C1 and Ian Lees D1.
 
Going into the .410, in true .410 fashion, the wind returned. it was all very close. Nick Marsden needed a 96 to tie and 97 to win.
 
Nick shot a 99 to take the .410 championship and given the wind, he shot brilliantly. Runner up was Derek Wilson after a shoot off and Dave Morgan took AA1. Pete Collins was A1, Mick Rolstone B1, Loll Barr was C1 and Alistair Green claimed D1.
 
The HAA (including doubles) was won by Nick Marsden and Runner up was Dave Morgan. Peter Bloomfield AA1, Andrew McNamara A1, Derek Wilson B1, Alistair Green C1 and Liz Green won D1.
 
The UK Champions are taken from the HOA (12g, 28g, 20g and .410) and this is where the BSSA sponsored money was paid out according to entry over the HOA.
 
As I said earlier in this report, it was all down to the .410 and Nick Marsden was crowned UK Champion 2009. Dave Morgan was runner up; Nick Coupe was AA1, Derek Wilson A1, Paul Nelson B1, Alistair Green C1 and Liz Green D1.
 
The lady HOA and HAA champion was Liz Green, the veteran HOA and HAA champion was Tony May and the HOA and HAA Rookie champion Blair Taylor. Their was unfortunately no Junior shooting!
 
This UK Open Championship, in my view and the view of many at the shoot, was a huge success. The decision to place a BSSA Championship so far north was not taken lightly by the BSSA committee.
 
Both Paul and George Nelson along with all the Morton Clays staff could not have done more. The welcome, the hospitality and the crack along with the venue was top draw.
 
On behalf of all the shooters who attended and shot the UK Open, I would like to say a big thank you to Morton Clays for such a great time and for doing our Championship absolute justice!
 
Peter Usher
BSSA Secretary.

Click Here for the UK Open Full Scores.