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Following Donna Merry's great win to become British Champion at Bisley,
Dial-a-Cab's sensational call-taking skeet shooter thought that her chances
of wrapping up the "double" and taking both British and European
championships in the same season were very high. "I didn't think I'd win the British this year," Donna told Call Sign, "there are a lot of good lady shooters coming through and I felt sure one of them would take the title, so I was thrilled when my 99 won it. I must admit that I then fancied my chances of taking the Dial-a-Cab European title with it and wrapping up the double." But it wasn't to be... Shooting at Northampton in front of DaC Chairman Brian Rice and in the hot, sunshine that the UK had been having day after day and on the same day that Heathrow broke the record with 100F, no one really stamped their mark on the event. First to shoot from the DaC trio was club shooter Bob Raymen (D98J), who won his entry spot in Call Sign and was entering his first-ever major championship. His estimate of being a million-to-one bet sounded about right when in front of his whole family who had travelled from his Kent home to watch, he shot a 61. "I did my best," said Bob, "these guys are the real deal and I'm just thrilled to have been here. Can I thank also Call Sign for giving me the |
The Weather Kills
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opportunity. The guys in my club will really envy me..." Next to shoot for DaC was John Wells (K68). John hasn't been shooting much since returning from the World Championships in San Antonio, Texas last year and had flopped miserably the previous week in a tournament in Scotland. He fared slightly better at Northampton, but his 86 still means that "Mr Reliable" needs to work on his game. In the meantime, former England captain Stevie Taylor and newcomer Simon Hill both took their groups with perfect 100's to make the group winners shoot-offs with ease. Then it was time for Donna, but suddenly things changed dramatically. The beautiful - if too hot - weather was changing as we watched. The sky darkened, lightening flashes lit up the ground while claps of thunder made the spectators jump. Soon the heavy storm rains came together with winds that made umbrellas difficult to keep open. But the rules say that nothing stops the shooters, so without a moan, Donna took her round. The conditions were impossible, but she kept at it scoring a commendable 93. Earlier, before the sudden change in climactic conditions, former World Champion Craig Lakey put together a 98 to take him into the shoot-offs with Stevie Taylor, Simon Hill and the other group |
 Donna senses that her double hopes have gone winners. Craig then kept his nerve to go clear and face the top lady Gill
Billington, who played under Donna when the DaC shooter was captain of
the England Ladies Team. Gill had scored a 96 earlier on. The winner would
be crowned DaC European Champion. |
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