THROCKMORTON Shooting Ground witnessed a fair turnout of members and guests from neighbouring clubs for the first shoot of the month.

The English Sporting layout proved to be particularly tough for competitors with few breaking the 50-bird mark.

Jackie Cotton and Roy Spooner made a good start each with 45/60 closely followed by Steve Brotherton (46/60.

C Churchley, Dave Lindup and Tom Partridge did well to gain two birds on Brotherton while Kevin Cotton went one better with 49/60.

However, Matthew Harris and John Tarplee were the first into the 50-bird margin but it was Adam Barnfield with 51/60 who took the lead before losing out to Stuart Emms who finished with a magnificent 57/60.

Scores within the Skeet discipline were separated by a fine margin with Harris, Pat Smith, Spooner and Nick Stokes the first four to take the lead with 23/25.

It was then the turn of Dave Barnfield and Stuart and Graham Walker to go ahead with 24/25 until three perfect scores won the day for Dave Coe, Kevin Cotton and Pete Hughes.

Paul Colley, Pete Hughes and Trevor Shaw brought about a strong start to the Down The Line discipline with scores of 24/25=69/75 before Dave Crowley went one better with 24/25=70/75.

Robert Haines (24/25=71/75) then took the lead before Brian King became the first to hit 25/25=72/75.

Spooner, John Hadley and Gary Shaw narrowly gained one point on King but the day's winner was Alan Ayres with a near perfect score of 25/25=74/75.