The Southern Hunters Competition 2018 - 2019

The Southern Hunters has been in existence ever since I started shooting and under the watchful eye of Charles Peal, this superb winter series has been going from strength to strength and is increasing in popularity every year. 

2018-19 consisted of 10 events and these covered the length and breadth of the South East. We shot all the way down on the South coast at Mile Oak and then all the way up to Deepest Darkest Essex at Maldon and District and everywhere In between. 

For round 10 we were lucky enough to go to Bisley and I have to admit, It was one of the best courses that I have ever shot. Bisley had set a wonderful course and placed targets that were tough and thought inducing and certainly worthy of a place, that is known as the UK’s home of shooting. 

With a slight breeze that was throwing pellets around, we found ourselves having to be very creative in the way we shot the course. On many of the targets, you were having to shoot between lumps of wood and the sound of splintering, followed by mild swearing was heard all the way up and down the firing line. For me though, it was a good day. 

I have been working hard on my shooting this winter and it seems to be paying off. However, in the springer class, that chap Nigel Wood has been working even harder and came in with a stunning 57 with his TX200hc and took the win on the day, this was only slightly eclipsed by a perfect 60 in the Open class by Simon Vant. The .22 was taken by Ed Tandi, the ladies by Abi Maw with her S400 MPR, the juniors by Scott Somerville with his FTP900 and the team event was won by Death to Simmmo 

The series, however is set over 10 rounds, with the 6 best scores to count. Charles Peal our benevolent dictator and impresario has been working hard all year to give us a great series and as usual, it was an absolute success. It has been close in all the categories and the finals winners were, In the Open Class, Simon Vant took top honours, in the recoiling, Nigel Wood was top boinger (Tx200HC), the ladies was taken by Debbie McNaught (HFT500), the .22 by Jason Lockett (AAS400), the Juniors by Scott Somerville (FTP900), and Veterans was Mike Burgess (FTP900) and the Team events was Taken by Death To Simmmo, who for 2019 will have a name change to Simmmo’s Hero’s. 

This gives Air Arms the win in 5 of the 6 classes. The series was sponsored by Air Arms and they provided goody bags at every round, but, for shooters who had shot at least 5 rounds, there was a chance to win a lovely TX200 and the lucky swine who took the gun was Ewan Hobbs. 

Air Arms are a truly stunning company and their generosity and support of the shooting world is always appreciated.