The tail end of June saw one of skeet shootings biggest tournaments of the year
- The Dial-a-Cab Classic held at Suffolk's Lakenheath Shooting Ground.
Set up by Call Sign to replace a sponsor who had pulled out, the
Classic featured five different groups going right down to Junior class. Among
those taking part were DaC's Donna Merry and John Wells (K68) together with a
very strong field including former England Captain Steve Taylor, "Mr
Calm" Matt Usher, World Championships Gold medal winner Craig Lakey,
Alistair Ford and the amazing 14-year-old supershot, Peter Chester. Also there
was Donna's long-time opponent Michelle Conway, playing her last few
tournaments before going into training and hoping for selection for the next
Olympic Games in the Trap Shooting event. Another 90 or so opponents all of
whom on their day were capable of pushing the winner, were ready to go.
The highest scores in each section then went into a sudden death
shoot-off and for the first time, the day would end with a sudden death
shoot-out between the highest scoring male and female. No ties - there had to
be a winner! The first round saw just two perfect 100's - not surprising
considering the almost gale force winds. Alistair Ford got one and
amazingly, young Peter Chester got the other. In a few years he could be a real
sensation.
|
Unfortunately, those scores are dropped for the next stage.
John Wells safely qualified for that next stage along with four very strong
opponents including Alan Merry - Donna's father and coach. Meanwhile, Donna
told Call Sign that she wasn't shooting well and wasn't sure if she would
even reach the shoot offs. But when the crunch came, Donna
showed the grit that has pushed her to the top in such a male dominated
sport and reached her shoot off final. But that wasn't the end...
Then came the big one - the final shoot off for a large cash
prize between the highest male and female. The highest male was "Mr
Calm" Matt Usher and the highest female was DaC's Donna Merry. John
Wells had finished in a good fifth place The wind had
dropped, but still Donna was feeling unsure. A large crowd had gathered
around to watch this unique
|
event. Donna won the toss and chose to shoot second. Matt took aim, the
two skeets were fired and he got them both showing no emotion whatsoever.
"Mr Calm" was well named! Donna stepped up; "Pull" she
cried and out came the two skeets from different directions. Bang, bang
and both disintegrated in mid air...
Matt and Donna stepped up another five times before
sensationally, Matt missed. Donna needed to get this shot and she would be
crowned the Dial-a-Cab Classic winner.
"Pull...!" Out came the skeets. Donna fired once -
one skeet evaporated. She fired again taking the other one smack in the
centre to a huge roar of acclaim.
DaC Chairman Brian Rice presented the prizes and the roar when Donna went
up for her cheque showed how popular the result was. Brian went on to say
that although he didn't know a great deal about the sport when he arrived,
he now understood why it was so addictive.
So all that was left was for Brian Rice to have a go! After
smashing the first skeet into a thousand pieces and shouting out that this
was a doddle, he failed to hit any more, but according to Steve Taylor he
looked good missing them! But this was Donna Merry's day - the day she
showed that women were every bit as good as men in the sport...
Alan Fisher
|
