Hossack wins county title by a whisker

SCOTTISH International shot David Hossack of the Hailsham Rifle Club snatched the Sussex County Rifle Association's premier prize on a sun-drenched day at Bisley on Sunday. He pipped fellow Hailsham shot John Payne by five central bullseyes for the county championship and the Sussex Daily News Cup.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Jun 2009, 12:03 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 04:31 BST

Hossack, Payne and the ten other finalists faced a stiff test on the Stickledown range, shooting fifteeen shots at each of 900 and 1000 yards in a replica of the Queen's Prize Final course of fire. Carrying forward scores from the annual prize meeting their aggregate totals would decide the home for the Cup for the next twelve months.

Despite the sun a deceitful headwind waited to trap those not paying attention as it switched swiftly from one side of the range to the other. At those distances wind judgement is at a premium and a moment's indecision can take you from the security of the bullseye scoring five, to the extremities of the magpie (three) and outer (two) rings.

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As the final started George Cotton of Horsham held the lead on 198 with the top six covered by just three points. By common consent the wind 900 yards proved difficult yet readable, but Payne and Tony de Launay (OMRC) each carded maximum 75s with Sam Dash (Chichester) making 74. Hossack managed 73 while leader Cotton dropped three points to produce a major upheaval on the leaderboard.

Points in the bag at 900 yards are a must when the altogether different 1000 yards distance is to come. The same size targets are used with their 24 inch bullseye making them a much harder and smaller proposition thanks to the extra 100 yards. The running order saw Payne on 271.32, Cotton 270.29, de Launay 270.23 and Hossack 269.27 as the wind started to produce swirls and eddies that at times were unreadable.

Payne finished quickly with a 72 for a total of 343.36. Cotton managed 69 for 339.33 and de Launay slipped to a 68 for 338.27, overtaken by a charging Mike Ball of Horsham with a 72 for 339.28. To win outright Hossack needed a nigh impossible maximum 75 or a 74 with a good handful of centrals. He made it home with a remarkable 74 with 13 central bullseyes for 343.41.

The Mhow Cup for the non-finalists produced another good contest in which holder Patrick Pelly (OMRC) outshot the rest to retain the trophy by two clear points ahead of English international Reg Roberts (Horsham). Peter Terry of Chichester was counted out to third behind Roberts on central bullsyes.

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The afternoon's shoot for the President's Prize at 1000 yards had to be abandoned after some three-quarters of an hour were lost while fire services were called to a blaze in the heathland behind the targets, shooting being suspended as a safety precaution while inspections were made. This meant that insufficient time was left for all competitors to complete the lengthy course of fire before the end of the shooting day.

RESULTS

Sussex County Rifle Association

Sussex Daily News Cup & County Championship

1. David Hossack (Hailsham) 343.41; 2. John Payne (Hailsham) 343.36; 3. George Cotton (Horsham) 339.33; 4. Mike Ball (Horsham) 339.28; 5. Tony de Launay (OMRC) 338.27; 6. Lou Lou Brister 336.34; 7. Martin Woolger 336.33; 8. Colin Johnston (Horsham) 334.25; 9. John Holdsworth (Horsham) 330.30; 10. S Dash (Hailsham) 333.19; 11. Derek Hanson (Chichester) 329.29; 12. Martin Parker (Hurstpierpoint) 328.31.

Mhow Cup

1. Patrick pelly (OMRC) 143.15; 2. Reg Roberts (Horsham) 141.20; 3. Peter Terry (Chichester) 141.11.

Related topics:HailshamHorshamChichester