Six of the best for Ogier as he holds off the president
PHIL OGIER defied a close contest to win his sixth Guernsey Rifle Club Championship crown last weekend.
Ogier graduated with a total score of 398.46 ex 405.81 but he was pushed all the way by the club president, Peter Jory, who finished on 396.46.
It was certainly a commendable effort for the runner-up, who has endured an uncertain start to the season, not only due to the pandemic but from the after-effects of a back injury sustained while rallying in March.
The two both posted 73.08 ex 75.15 at the shorter range while Jory improved to a 73.10 at 600 yards to edge Ogier’s 73.07.
Ogier had dropped seven points on his way to the title but Jory was unable to make up the single point deficits from each of the first two stages. However, he could take some consolation from beating the champion by three V-bulls in the final stage.
GRC captain Nick Kerins shot superbly on the final afternoon – a 49.07 at 500 yards was joined by a magnificent 75.08 at 600 yards to give him a score of 149.17.
The Jory Bowl was awarded for the highest score in the last stage, added to which Kerins climbed to third overall with a final score of 396.40. In fact he was the only one of the 17 marksmen to manage a ‘possible’ in the final stage.
There were no fewer than seven 74s, though, including two from Charlie Brewin, who posted a superb 148.15 – his best score in several seasons.
Throughout the three stages there was an intense battle for honours in the ‘B’ class, where Freddie Stewart finished with an excellent 145.15 to take the trophy and complete an impressive score of 386.32.
Al Stewart was looking a serious contender and an excellent 74.06 left him tied with his son but ahead on V-bulls as they left the 500 yard range.
Stewart jnr really got his act together and shot maturely for a 73.08 at 600 yards, a running total of 145.15 on the day and a grand total of 386.31, to see his father slip up with a disastrous 69.03 for a total of 382.28.
Adam Norman recorded a 145.15 to climb into the runner-up spot on 383.32 and but for a lowly 28.01 at 600 yards in the first stage, he could well have been challenging for the title.
The annual Summer Prize Meeting will start at 8am today and culminate with a postal team match against Jersey Rifle Association on Saturday.
