AT BRAIDWOOD on Sunday John Ross (Whitburn) had the opportunity to defend the Ian Graham Cup.
At the same time, the Whinneybrae Rosebowl, for a member with the highest score who has not yet won a Braidwood trophy, was up for grabs.
Conditions were lovely, it was such a warm and balmy day – better than most summer Sundays – bringing out an excellent crowd of almost 60 guns to take part as well as several other groups and individuals in to practice.
Using a different gun for the first time, Ross shot a strong 33 ex-40 on layout one. Sadly, this was only sufficient to tie the third highest score. Stuart Dawson (Bedlington) and Gordon Boertien (Lockerbie) both carded 35 to force a shoot-off for the Cup, won by Dawson. Bobby Bruce (Broxburn) was only one adrift.
Michael Biggs (Kelso) had the highest qualifying score of 30 to win the Rosebowl.
While Dawson went on to slip back a couple of clays on the second layout, Boertien remained totally focused, picking up another 35 ex-40 to tie the lead with Bruce Todd (Dumfries). Tam Patterson (Galashiels), Donald Livingston (Edinburgh) and Neil Cattanach (Innerliethen) all came off the course having broken 34.
At the end of the day, Boertien was crowned high gun, having the highest overall score of 70 ex-80. Dawson and Livingston were closest on 67, with Cattanach right up there, too, on 66.
This was the last shoot of 2012 on summer opening hours.
For the next shoot on Sunday, November 4, when Dawson defends the New Trophy, and throughout the winter months, proceedings start 30 minutes earlier to allow for diminishing light conditions. Entries close at noon. All welcome.