WITH a prize fund of almost £1,000, and a host of medals, Okehampton Smallbore Club  has shown its strength in the recent competitions held at the club incorporating the South West Open Championships.

Okehampton club members took positions in the top three of all categories in all divisions, with some also becoming South West champions.

The club’s teams also performed well, coming first in rifle, and second in pistol, and lightweight sporting rifle disciplines.

Rifle discipline saw the men’s open championship won by  OSBC member Paul Batten in a closely fought match in class A. Paul also went on to win the Veteran Open Championship and to ultimately become South West Open champion in the rifle discipline.

The ladies’ rifle Open Championship was won by Okehampton club member Di Johnson, who came top of Class B, and went on to win the Ladies’ South West Open rifle championship.

Congratulations also to Okehampton members Martin Elliott and Andy Brown who took first and second place in class C of the rifle meeting and Jason Ponsford for coming second in class D.

The LSR competition saw Lawrence Bennie of the Okehampton club take top spot in class A, and also win  the South West  championship.

Class B was won by Mark Pomeroy from Bideford Club with Dave Pote from Okehampton taking the silver medal. 

Class C saw Robert Beard from Fonthill taking the gold medal, closely followed by David Goodwin-Hughes from Okehampton for the silver.

In the pistol classes Okehampton club members Dave Pote and Richard Elliot won gold and silver in class C.

The rifle team event had a good entry. Members from 11 clubs fired their way to the end which saw Okehampton A take the lead, with silver going to Witchampton and Truro A gaining a bronze medal.

The LSR team competition had six teams entered, in a nice tight tournament with only 69 points between first and third positions.

Fonthill A came out on top followed by Okehampton and Westland teams.

The pistol team event had the smallest entry of just three teams, Bideford taking a commanding lead over Okehampton.

The club thank all competitors, sponsors and the catering team and congratulate all the champions and medal winners for braving the inclement weather and making it a memorable competition.