Jack Pyke English Open 2023
Competitors were shooting the 120 target course set across most of Sporting Targets from 121 on main ground to the Plantation. The shoot started with a steady away and crosser and then to a close rabbit and slow away which caused a few problems for shooters, it then moved up a gear with the Diver from the tower on stand 3 and then driven tower on stand 4, stand 5 had a mini and long 90mm looper, level 4 had a 70mm teal and overhead, then the long looper and Rat on stand 7 took a few scores down, stands 8 & 9 helped to rebuild the score then onto the fast incomer and rabbit on the big platform on stand 10, stand 7 had a steady crosser and a 90mm looper, onto the ramp for a combination stand with 4 targets, 13 was a steady away and crosser and then 14 had a close rabbit and away and we finished with a driven 90mm and crosser for a steady finish.
The course shot harder for most competitors than in recent years but we hope you still enjoyed the round. The course gave something for everyone and all abilities with some laughs along the way, thank you to everyone that took the time out to enter this year’s Jack Pyke. Marc Borner and Vince Elder set the course, lots of hard work setting everything ready for the big event out on the ground and in the clubhouse.
Special thanks to all of our generous sponsors; BASC, Cens, Edwards Eyewear, Swatcom, Shellplant, Gateway1 and the headline sponsor Jack Pyke, without all this support the event would not be as popular as it is, their backing provides the daily prizes and goody bags, some of the sponsors were around during the week for the customers to say hi and talk product if they wish to, some of the sponsors shoot the round with their friends which is great to see and have the chance to entertain them.
Robbie Steel from Nene Overland was on hand to demonstrate their Custom Rivolve Land Rovers, so if you fancy one of their customer Land Rovers give them a call; 01733 380687, www.neneoverland.co.uk
Nick Taylor was demonstrating Rizzini shot guns on Wednesday & Thursday. BASC were talking to people about “sustainable ammunition" on Friday & Saturday.
Cens were here all week, talking to customers and making ear moulds, they held a raffle for a CENS Cap, torch, mug water bottle & George Digweed flask worth £165, the winner was Simon Barrow.
Pizza were cooking fresh pizza to orderevery day and Ice Cream Joe was on hand to cool everyone down with his lovely ice cream.
Day 1 Wednesday was very warm and sunny with a gentle breeze. Scott Barnett took the long journey down and went out to shoot the competition on the 3rd squad and he came back with 112 which was the highest score of the day, he then shot the High Tower Challenge and he shot high score of the day with a great 42, a successful day all round for Scott. Top Vet of the day was Paul Finney on 107 with Harry Dickens was the highest Junior on a great 107, Becky Clifton was first in ladies on 99.
Highest scores in class worth £50 were: AA Scott Barnett 112, A Joe Wade 105, B Andy Nichols 98, C Amy Bratt 86, U/C Ian Todd 96. Pool Stand (sponsored by BASC) was a tie, Karl Hagan & Richard Bunning 14, £100 each. Grant Davidson took home the Jack Pyke gun slip & bag, Darren Pollard won the Cens Mino set, Mark Veitch won the Edwards Earwear glasses, Robbie Steel won the Swatcom set, Jim Grant took home the Shellplant coat and Argun Ismet took home some Gateway1 socks.
Day 2 Thursday was hot again with a breeze picking up in the afternoon; the ice cream van did a great trade in the heat! Vets high gun of the day was Phil Smith with an impressive 109 putting him at the top of Vets, Junior top gun was Joshua Poyser shooting a great 105, Chelsea King was first in ladies on 93. Highest scores in class worth £50 for Thursday were: AA Mark Fletcher 110, A Jack Peach 107, B was shared between Matthew Armett & Marcus Went on 96, C Toby Steggles 91, U/C Richard Sporle 100. Pool Stand (sponsored by BASC) was a 3 way split Nick Hendrick, Ross Stricker & Scott Shuckford on 70 each). High Tower Challenge high gun of the day was Nick Hendrick on an impressive 46 making him high gun overall at that point and this is a score we didn’t think possible, Nick did the same thing last year, well done Nick. Steve Williams took home the Jack Pyke gun slip, Bryn Farr won the Cens Mino set, Darren Stevenson won the Edwards Earwear glasses, Peter Littleworth won the Swatcom set, James Macalevy took home the Shellplant coat and Mark Langford took home some Gateway1 socks.
Day 3 Friday was another lovely day very hot (hottest day of the event so far) with little breeze. Martin Myers was one of the first to arrive as he had a lot to do today, he went out and shot the High Tower Challenge, had a few goes out on the pool and gave us the first straight of the week and took the prize money, he then went out on the main event and shot an epic 115 to take the lead, well done Martin, an epic performance! Vets high gun of the day was Jerry Preece 105, Jennine White was first in ladies on 99, putting her joint Ladies HG so far, No Juniors. Highest scores in class worth £50 today were: AA Martin Myers 115, A Grenville Bromfield 105, B Nathan Nichols 100, C was tied between Gary Head & Paul Newell on 91, U/C Shaun Salmon 91. Pool Stand (sponsored by BASC) was Martin Myers 15. High Tower Challenge high gun of the day was Chris Childerhouse 42. Grenville Bromfield took home the Jack Pyke gun slip, Bernie Jones won the Cens Mino set, Adam Collier on the Edwards Earwear glasses, Simon Jackson won the Swatcom set, Andrew Burton took home the Shellplant coat and Nigel Wise took home some Gateway1 socks.
Day 4 Saturday started off a lot cooler and overcast and we had a few spots of rain during the day, a lot cooler than the last 3 days. Jake Moore shot a very good 112 to be the highest score of the day & joint second overall, well done Jake. Graham Stirzaker made the long journey day and went out to tackle the tower and shot a great 41 to give him HG on the tower for the day. Vets High gun of the day was a tie between Pat Nickman & Robin Heal on 102, Junior top shot was John Porter 109 (he was high Jnr last year on 102), Lucy Earl was first in ladies on 99 putting Lucy in joint 1st. Highest scores in class worth £50 were: AA Jake Moore 112, A Callum Noble 108, B Kevin Fairey 101, C Kurt Ricketts 87, U/C Martin Walker 99. Pool Stand (sponsored by BASC) was: Lewis Steed 21. High Tower Challenge high gun of the day was Graham Stirzaker 41, Gareth Norley took home the Jack Pyke gun slip, Steve Bennett won the Cens Mino set, Stephen Willis won the Edwards Earwear glasses, Vince Wistenoff won the Swatcom set, Edwin Zammit took home the Shellplant coat and Christopher Foxley warmed his feet with some Gateway1 socks.
Day 5 Sunday weather was a pleasant temperature with a slight breeze and we had a few spots of rain, half an hour after the last squad came in we had a big thunder storm. Vets High Gun of the day was Richard Arbon on 110 which put him 1st in Vets overall,Junior top shot was Robert Kingston 105, Nichola Hasle was first in ladies on 86. Highest scores in class worth £50 were: AA Toby Reed 107, A Shayne Johnson 104, B Ricky Nash 100, C Daniel Laddiman 99, U/C Shane Mitchel 94. Pool Stand (sponsored by BASC) was: Richard Bunning 15. High Tower Challenge high gun of the day was Mark Bowes 42. Tony Johnson took home the Jack Pyke gun slip, Tom Lawrence won the Cens Mino set, Dean Quince won the Edwards Earwear glasses, Kevin Bland won the Swatcom set, Richard Smith took home the Shellplant coat and Shane Mitchel took home some Gateway1 socks. As it was the final day of the shoot we drew a winner from all the entries that took part to find the winner of the Jack Pyke Golden Ticket, this years lucky person was Pinky Leeder, Pinky won Jack Pyke; polo, skeet vest, glasses, slip, pouch,towel, cool bag & Range bag. We also had a pair of Gateway1 Woodwalker boots donated by Bob at Gateway1, the luck winner was Gordon Nichols.
Well done to all the winners.
This year with all the prizes we gave out £14370 plus the goody bags to every competitor, a BIG Thank You again to all the sponsors and shooters who came and supported the Jack Pyke English Open 2023, we hope to see you all next year.
A special thanks go to all the team at Sporting Targets who worked really hard to make the event such a success and whose constant efforts made the shoot run like clockwork, from the publicity, making the goody bags, sorting the flowers, all the referees, the shop, grounds team, clubhouse and reception team without all these people and their hard work we would have no event, we received many great comments and it was so nice that many shooters took the time to thank the team.
Thank you all and see you all next year.