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European Open 2008
A614 Shooting Ground
 
Well the last BSSA championship of 2008 ran exactly to the form of the previous three BSSA championships, with gusty wind creating difficult conditions and playing havoc with the targets. The BSSA had pledged £1690 for this blue ribbon event in the HOA's. The Venue was A614 Shooting Ground.
 
The championship started on the Saturday with the Doubles Event. Lee Jackson shot brilliantly to score the only ton of the day for Champion. Nick Marsden was AA1, Derek Wilson A1, Katie Foster B1 and Ladies Champ, Christopher Hill C1 and Janet Maguire D1, John Batchelor was veteran Champ
 
They say the best shoot off is a shoot off of one and the twelve gauge proves that point with one straight from Sean Smith who was indeed 12 gauge champion. Dave Morgan was runner up with a 99 and Craig Lakey AA1 on 99. In all eight 99's were shot and nine 98's which included one from Katie Foster who was 12 gauge Ladies champion. John Batchelor was Veteran Champion with Joe Jackson Junior Champion with a very credible 95 given the conditions.
 
The 28 gauge did produce two 100's; Tony Jackson was champion and Nick Coupe Runner Up. Craig's 99 was AA1 after a shoot off, Steven Smiths 99 was A1, Katie Foster's 97 was B1 and Ladies Champ, Paul Stubbs 95 C1 and the old campaigner John Batcher D1 and Veteran Champion with his 94.
 
The weather on day two was no better for the 20 gauge. Doc Jones showed his precision skills and had the 20 gauge all sewn up (sorry Doc) with a 99, Big Chris Morris was runner up on 97, Katie Foster was Ladies Champion, John Batchelor was Veteran Champ with George Flint AA1 on 97. Paul Fallon was A1 with 97, Stuart Thomas B1 with 93, Peter Maguire C1 with 97 and Brian Gregory D1 with 93.
 
Trepidation for the .410, not at all, I think panic would be a better word. It was deliberation all round as to whether to shoot or preserve the averages. Surprisingly no one pulled out due to the weather!
Nick Marsden took the tile with 95 beating young Paul Tudge into the runner up slot. Katie Foster was again Ladies Champ, John Batchelor Veteran Champ, Craig Lakey AA1, Steven Smith A1, Doc Jones B1, Peter Shaw C1 and Stuart Thomas D1.
 
The 2008 European HOA Champion was Nick Marsden on 389 with Craig Lakey Runner Up on 388. Katie Foster was Ladies Champion with a clean sweep across all the gauges on 375 and John Batchelor was Veteran Champion on 365. Bloomers was AA1 381, Paul Fallon A1 383, Katie Foster B1 375, Stuart Thomas C1 373 and Brian Gregory D1 on 343.
 
The HAA champion was Nick Marsden for the clean sweep, Craig was runner up, Bloomers AA1, Paul Fallon A1, Katie Foster B1 and Ladies, Hector Dallas was C1, Brian Gregory D1 and John Batchelor Veteran Champion.
 
This report would not be conclusive without a huge thanks to Reg Bates and his team who could not have done more to make us all feel welcome, and that's not forgetting Katie and Ron Foster along with Charlie Lucas for the administrative excellence.
 
On behalf of the BSSA, I would like to thank the UK NSSA shooters who attended this championship for once again displaying the true spirit which a competition must have to be a championship at all.
I believe the total entry was 221 which is just brilliant, and very encouraging for all the UK NSSA shooters looking forward to 2009.
 
Peter Usher
BSSA Secretary
8th September 2008.

Click Here to view the full 2008 European Championship results.