Creber excels in the strong winds to move into second
IT MAY have been sunny with good visibility, but a ferocious north-easter dropped the temperature as well as the scores when the Guernsey Rifle Club marksmen contested the second stage of the Albiges Trophy.
With two sighters and 10 scoring shots at 300 and 500 yards, the shooters were looking for a maximum score of 100.20, but the strong and gusty wind ensured that a ‘possible’ was never likely and Mike Creber was the only marksman who nearly made one – his 49.04 topped Peter Jory on 48.05 and Charlie Brewin on 48.03.
First-stage leader Freddie Stewart found the buffeting wind challenging and his 42.01 dropped him out of contention.
B-class shooters were contesting the Durrington Trophy and with first-stage leaders James Nippers and Amy Woodland slipping up at the shorter range, it was Rollo Tiffin who moved into the lead with a 42.01 that with his first stage score of 98.09 gave him a running total of 140.10 ahead of Jeremy Witham who, despite a top range score of 46.04, was on 132.08 thanks to a lowly first-stage score.
The 500 yard firing point is very exposed to north-east winds but Creber excelled in the tricky conditions and another 49.04 made him top score on the day with 98.08 ex 100.20.
Unfortunately for him his mediocre 96.09 in the first stage meant his two stage score of 194.17 would not overhaul Jory, whose 95.08 gave him top spot on 196.18.
Brewin added a 46.06 for 94.09 and a third place total of 191.13.
Tiffin held on to top spot for the Durrington, adding a 43.02 for a day total of 85.03 and a two stage total of 183.12.
Al Stewart did well to add a 46.03 for a day total of 90.06, the top score of B class, and his running total left him just two V-bulls behind Tiffin on 183.10.
Huw Nippers managed to handle the wind despite his lack of experience and an 88.04 added to his first stage score of 94.03 allowed him to slip into third spot on 182.07.
Although A class is looking like a battle between Jory and Creber, there are 100.20 points available for the final stage shot at 300 and 600 yards and as the recent results show quite clearly, anybody can slip up and there are two or three others who could still challenge for the Albiges Trophy.
B class has three shooters within a point of each other, none of them have ever won a trophy and the winner of the Durrington is unlikely to be decided until the final shot goes down the range.
