Captain Kerins takes the Silver Medal
AS PREDICTED the battle for the Guernsey Rifle Club Island Championship is too close to call.
Jon Branch held the lead in the first stage but by the smallest of margins with Adam Norman just a V-bull behind.
After stage two that lead has now extended to a full point with Branch on a running total of 248.30 ex 255.51 and Norman on 247.27.
However, it was GRC captain Nick Kerins, still on cloud nine after his fantastic shoot in the Queen’s Final at Bisley, who topped the scores in stage two with a near perfect 149.15 ex 150.30 to claim the Silver Medal.
The second stage saw much-improved weather, but the wind from a north-easterly direction, veering more northerly as the afternoon progressed, made sure the marksmen kept a close eye on the flags.
Rory Johnson took the honours at 300 yards with a 49.06 ex 50.10, but Norman and Kerins were both in close contention on 49.04.
A new name emerged in B-class as Aiden Honey recorded a 48.06, two points clear of James Nippers on 46.04.
The scores improved at 500 yards with Branch and Kerins the only shooters who kept a clean sheet, both posting 50.06, while Nippers top-scored in B class with a 49.05 just ahead on Sam Frost on 49.04.
At this stage Kerins was on 99.10 ex 100.20 while Norman had inched ahead of Branch with Huw Nippers moving into contention.
Up on the hill at 600 yards it was a case of all to play for and Kerins made sure of success as he shot a magnificent 50.05 to take the Silver Medal with an unbeatable 149.15.
Branch cemented his lead in the overall championship with a 50.07 for 147.18 and a running total of 248.30.
Norman, so often back in the pack, was shooting superbly and a 146.14 kept him in second spot on 247.25 but with Kerins, Huw Nippers and Rollo Tiffin all on 245 the race for the title is extremely close.
James Nippers got his act together at the longest range with a 50.05 for a B-class lead of 242.20 but Aiden Honey entered the fight with a 238.15 to hold second spot.
Harvey Adams made his first possible, a 50.03, for a respectable stage total of 141.09.
Next weekend the marksmen will fire two sighters and 15 rounds at the 500 and 600 yard ranges with 150.30 points up for grabs as the Championship reaches its finale.
RESULTS AFTER STAGE 2
1, Jon Branch – 101.12 (first stage) 147.18 (second stage) – 248.30 (running total); 2, Adam Norman 101.11, 146.14 – 247.25; 3, Rollo Tiffin 100.10, 145.16 – 245.26; 4, Huw Nippers 99.11, 146.13 – 245.24; 5, Nick Kerins 96.08, 149.15 (The Silver Medal) – 245.23; 6, Rob Waters 100.10, 144.14 – 244.24; 7, James Nippers (B Class) 97.06, 145.14 – 242.20; 8, Aiden Honey (B) 95.04, 143.11 – 238.15; 9, Sam Frost (B) 93.08, 140.12 – 233.20.
Also shot: Harvey Adams 141.09; Cherry Le Poidevin 132.09; Matthew Stewart 124.04.
