Ayre Clay Target Club held their annual 100-bird English Skeet Handicap shoot at Blue Point range on New Year’s Day.

The blustery but dry conditions made for interesting targets and lower than expected scores.

Nineteen shooters took part hoping to win the Brew and Corkill trophy.

Highest score in the first round was 21; achieved by Jeff Corkill, Tony Cuffe, Marty Kneen and Kevin Oates.

Stan Cross picked up from a poor start to shoot 21 in the second round, matched by Oates which meant that he led at the halfway stage with 42 ex 50.

Kneen was in second place on 41 with Cuffe third on 40.

Corkill fared best in the third round with a 22, closely followed by Kneen and Peter Fabrizio on 21.

The highest score on the day came from Cross in the last round, dropping just one target for a 24.

Oates was one behind on 23, as last year’s winner; Dave Corlett shot his highest round of the day with 21.

Oates finished high gun with a total score of 85/100. Stan Cross was second with 82 and Marty Kneen took third place on 80.

Handicap results: 1, Kevin Oates 82; 2, Stan Cross 80; 3=, Marty Kneen and Peter Fabrizio 80. Junior prize: Jack Kneen 72.

This Sunday ACTC will hold the second round of their English Skeet winter league, entries close at 10.15am.