THE Okehampton Smallbore Club?s championship race produced its usual tight finish between the two best shooters in the club,with the final result going right down to the last round.

The championship is decided over the 18 rounds of the Devon County Winter League, and through the winter season the lead see-sawed between Bernard Rendle and Paul Batten from round to round.

Bernard started in much better form, leading Paul all the way to the halfway stage ? after nine rounds he was three points ahead. Paul pulled back a few points, to draw equal after 13 rounds and over the next three rounds he was one point in front.

After round 17 results were declared, the two were dead level so all depended on the last round. Bernard shot his third successive 99 to Paul?s 96 and so took the title by three points.

As far as the four club teams were concerned, the best final result came from the A team who finished third in division 2 behind Bideford A and Rousdon A, having ten wins and one draw from their 18 matches.

The B and C teams were respectively bottom of divisions 3 and 5, and the D team was fourth in division 7.

Results of the last three rounds: Round 16: Okehampton A: Glen Farley 96, Paul Batten 99, Bernard Rendle 99, Ivan Trickey 99, Di Johnson 94.

Total, 487 beat Exeter A 478.

Okehampton B: Graham Spier 98, Malcolm Flemons 94; David Denford 93, Carole Saunders 95, John Southwood 89.

Total 469 beat Plymouth Electric 463.

Okehampton C: Sarah Hortop 96, John Pettitt 94, Vic Floyd 94, Lucy Bullock 88, Glyn Flemons 94.

Total 466, lost to Cullompton 473.

Okehampton D: John Cook 96, Chris Short 92, Graham Mackriell 93, Joe Chamness 93, Dave Saunders 87.

Total 461, drew with Exeter School B 461.

Round 17: Okehampton A: Farley 98, Batten 98, Rendle 99, Trickey 98, Johnson 95.

Total 488, beat Budleigh Salterton 475.

Okehampton B: Spier 98, Flemons 97, Denford 98, Saunders 93, Southwood 93.

Total 479, beat Tiverton B 471.

Okehampton C: Hortop 94, Pettitt 94, Floyd 97, Flemons 95, Cook 94.

Total 474, drew Exmouth 474.

Okehampton D: Bullock 96, Beeden 85, Short 93, Mackriell 89, No 5 did not shoot.

Total 363, lost to Bampton B 445.

Round 18: Okehampton A: Farley 97, Batten 96, Rendle 99, Trickey 94, Johnson 94.

Total 480, lost to Plympton 489.

Okehampton B: Spier 94, Flemons 97, Denford 96, Saunders 97, Southwood 96.

Total 480, beat Tavistock A 474.

Okehampton C: Hortop 95, Pettitt 94, Floyd 93, Flemons 93, Cook 89.

Total 464, lost to Budleigh TSC D 466.

Okehampton D: Bullock 94, Beeden 92, Short 88, Mackriell 90, Paterson 89.

Total 455, Beat Fonthill D 408.

l In the North Devon League, after 15 of 18 rounds, the A team is in runner-up position in division 1 behind Bideford A, having won nine and drawn one of their matches and the B team is next to bottom in division 2, having won only one of their?s.

Round 15 results: Okehampton A: Glen Farley 95 Bernard Rendle 98, Ivan Trickey 99, Graham Spier 96.

Total 388, beat Tiverton A 387.

Okehampton B: John Pettitt 92, Di Johnson 95, Malcolm Flemons 95, Glyn Flemons 94.

Total 376, lost to Bogey 377.16.