Ogier takes another step towards title number five
PHIL OGIER has extended his lead after the second stage of the Guernsey Rifle Club Championship.
The four-time winner and final score record holder added a 148.22 ex 150.30 for a running total of 252.31 ex 255.51.
Revelling in the hot sunny conditions, Ogier top scored at each of the three ranges – a 49.07 at 300 yards, a magnificent 50.08 at 500 yards that was equalled by Matt Le Vasseur and a 600 yard score of 49.07.
GRC president Peter Jory managed a 147.15 to hold on to second place, but is now two points adrift with 250.28.
At the shortest range, Le Vasseur had a 49.05 followed by a superb 50.05 at 500 yards and another 49.05 for a second placed total on the day of 148.18 but was out of contention for the title as he had been unable to shoot the first stage. Jory and Rob Waters, champion in 2019, both dropped a single point but Waters will look back at his 49.01 and wonder what happened as only a single V-bull out of 10 shots is extremely unusual.
Adam Norman put his low score at 600 yards in the first stage out of his mind and topped B class with a 48.02 to claim the lead as first stage leader Freddie Stewart dropped back with a 44.03.
The scores improved significantly at 500 yards with no less than four ‘possibles’ headed by Ogier and Le Vasseur on 50.08 from Jory on 50.06 and Jon Branch on 50.05.
Ogier held on to his single-point lead ahead of Jory but that could be lost with a single loose shot.
In B class Stewart got his act together with an excellent 49.06 while Norman slipped back with a 46.04.
Alistair Stewart joined the fight with a 47.05 but his son now had a lead of three points and was firmly back in the driving seat.
Ogier ensured his name went on the Silver Medal with a 49.07 at the longest range to give him a second stage winning total of 148.22, just four V-bulls ahead of Le Vasseur, and a running total of 252.31.
Jory, still struggling with his back injury, stayed in contention with a 147.15 to remain in second spot overall on 250.28.
Branch managed a 146.18 and his 247.26 put him five points off the lead and just three Vs ahead of GRC captain Nick Kerins, although with another 30 shots remaining before the champion is crowned it is still impossible to predict the likely winner.
Freddie Stewart added a 47.04 to finish the day on 140.13, but his father closed the gap with a 48.03 for a class-winning 142.13 and Norman rejoined the fight with a 141.09.
With Freddie now leading the class on 241.17 from Stewart senior on 239.19 and Norman on 238.17, the B championship finish will be as close as the A class.
The final stage, with the winner taking the Jory Bowl, will be held next Saturday when the marksmen will tackle 15 shots at 500 and 600 yards for a total of 150.30.
