2010 Surrey FITASC Sporting Championship

Southdown SGC Friday 10th Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th August

FITASC at Southdown never disappoints, and it was great to see the baton for imaginative and enjoyable target setting has been firmly grasped by Sean Peckham as he takes up the target setting at the ground.Four varied layouts awaited the 19 county members taking part in the Surrey Championships, as part of a competition shared by Kent, Greater London and Sussex.The Gallops and Valley layouts, both accessed via 4x4 transport, made good use of the recently harvested terrain and needed solid concentration. But it was the rabbit target on the Ashes layout that bamboozled even the best shooters. Thrown on a very deceptive line many couldn’t believe their eyes as they watched the clay roll on unscathed, often across all three pegs.Windy weather on Saturday made the course shoot several targets harder for those unlucky enough to be shooting that day, so Danny Smith’s 82 is particularly worthy of mention.Sunny, calm conditions on the Sunday though meant that the Championship would be settled between those shooting on the final day.Martin Rudling, rarely off the Surrey podium in recent competition, matched Danny Smith’s 82, to leave the pair tied on third at the finish, Martin taking the Veteran’s title ahead of Tom Hicks on 78.Ludo Anthony, short on practice after laying off shooting for much of summer, had arrived in determined mood and hardly missed a beat throughout the competition to amass an impressive 87. Surely good enough.But he had reckoned without an in-form Alex Cobb, who’s 91 would only be beaten by Mark Winser’s 92 for overall high gun. More usually found cleaning up around the local sporting shoots on a Sunday, former England sporting team member Alex proved his versatility and it will be good to see him shooting for Surrey in the upcoming Inter-Counties FITASC competition.

With the Inter-counties team selected from the highest finishers in the county championship, all the aforementioned will be included in a strong line up that also includes  Chip Smith, who earned his place with a decent 79, and the Ladies Surrey FITASC Champion Sarah White. Good luck to all.