Branch finishes at the top of the tree
THERE were no fewer than five marksmen in with a realistic chance of taking the 2022 Guernsey Rifle Club Championship going into the third and final stage.
Jon Branch carried a single-point lead over Adam Norman and despite a determined effort from the latter, including a personal best for a 15-round shoot, Branch held his nerve and his lead to take the Championship with 394.48 ex 405.81 to Norman’s 393.40.
To ensure a level playing field, the top six contenders shot ‘shoulder to shoulder’ and starting at 500 yards, the two leaders both dropped three points.
The 2021 champion, Rob Waters, moved into contention with a fine 74.11 ex 75.15 while Rollo Tiffin added a 73.07 to keep pace with the leaders.
GRC captain Nick Kerins was rueing his very mediocre 96.08 ex 105.21 in the first stage as he added a 73.07 to the magnificent 149.15 he shot in the second stage to move into the lead group.
James Nippers continued to demonstrate that his recent move from A to B Class was unwarranted as he moved well out in front in the B-class championship with an excellent 74.08. Only Aiden Honey had any real chance of catching him, but with a six-point lead he would probably have to rely on Nippers making a mistake.
Moving back to 600 yards, there were still realistically five shooters in with a chance of taking the spoils but Branch showed his experience as he added a 74.09 to take the Championship with a third stage score of 146.18 ex 150.30 and a grand total of 394.48.
Norman, better known as an air-rifle marksman, gave it his best shot, actually 14 of them, as he registered his best ever shoot in a 15-round competition with a 74.08 to finish on 393.40.
Tiffin held on to third spot with a 391.41 just four V-bulls ahead of a disappointed Kerins, whose loss of nine points in the first stage gave him a mountain that was just too big to climb.
Nippers made sure of the B-class trophy with a 71.08 and a total of 387.36 while Honey slipped back slightly with a 69.05 for a very respectable first tilt at the championship with a 379.29.
The Jory Bowl is awarded to the marksman making the highest score at the final stage and Luke Malcic managed a 74.08 at the shorter range and then a magnificent 75.10 at the 600 yard range for a superb 149.18.
Mike Creber had the best and only other possible, a 75.12, for an excellent third round total of 148.19.
This week sees the start of the Annual Summer Prize meeting and with teams from the RAF, Great Britain under-19s and many independent marksmen from the UK, Jersey and France joining the local contingent, it is going to be a busy weekend with as many as 45 competitors.
Championship results (top 10 only)
The GRC Championship – Jon Branch 101.12 (first stage) 147.18 (second stage) 146.18 final stage) – 394.48 (Grand Total); 2, Adam Norman 101.11, 146.14, 146.15 – 393.40; 3, Rollo Tiffin 100.10, 145.16, 146.15 – 391.41; 4, Nick Kerins 96.08, 149.15, 146.14 – 391.37; 5, Rob Waters 100.10, 144.14, 146.17 – 390.41; 6, James Nippers (B-class champion) 97.06, 145.14, 145.16 – 387.36; 7, Huw Nippers 99.11, 146.13, 135.05 – 380.29; 8, Aiden Honey (B) 95.04, 143.11, 141.14 – 379.29; 9, Sam Frost (B) 93.08, 140.12, 137.11 – 370.31; 10, Luke Malcic 99.07, 46.03 (rtd), 149.18 (The Jory Bowl) – 294.28.
