PICTURES | Mostrim produce the goods under pressure to capture County Longford Shoot title

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The County Longford Shooting & Conservation Council (LSCC) welcomed 18 teams spread across Longford to compete in this year's 2023 County Shoot at Templemichael Shooting Grounds on Sunday, August 20. Teams were paired off and scheduled to start at three different times throughout the day.

Conditions proved difficult with the winds picking up across the Longford bog, right into the backs of the competitors. The competitors could blame the windy conditions but that would not take away from the top class shoot run by Templemichael Gun Club. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO

After the first six teams completed the morning loop it was Granard A in the lead with 1,495 ex 1,750 but it was the individual lead that belonged to Templemicheal’s David McCloughrey with a 330 ex 350.

Now that standard had been set it was on the remaining 11 teams to match or better these scores. The second batch of six teams dispersed with work to do.

It was Mostrim A that produced the goods under pressure in the second loop with an impressive 1,560 ex 1,750 and Kevin Gillen of Kenagh that matched David McCloughrey's score of 330 ex 350 to tie the Individuals competition. The remaining five teams went out in the afternoon with all to shoot for, unfortunately the remaining teams fell short of the high standards set earlier in the day.

The shoot wasn't enough to separate everyone, four shoot offs were required in a head to head format before prize giving could commence.

We had five people shoot off for the Peter Lyons cup where David McCloughrey won out closely fought by Barney Kenny. The veteran high gun was shot off for by Barney Kenny of Cashel and Martin Carberry of Templemichael sharing a score of 300 ex 350, Martin Carberry won out in this battle. Intermediate Team event 2nd and 3rd was shot for by Mostrim B and Templemichael B, this concluded with Templemichael winning out and claiming second.

The final shoot off and the most fiercely contested was the individual high gun where Kevin Gillen and David McCloughrey did battle over the entire course again. Kevin got off to the best start shooting a perfect score in the first stand with David behind by a half of a clay, it wasn't long lived as the tide turned in stand two when Kevin dropped two clays and David made no mistakes.

It was all there to be won in the last stand and Kevin did not give up showing great determination shooting the last stand perfectly putting all the pressure on David. David did not buckle and completed the job and matched Kevin and became the individual senior champion.

That concluded the shooting for the day and with that the LSCC would like to thank everyone who took part in not only at this county shoot but any sporting or conservation events run by the club throughout the year.

The LSCC would like to congratulate not only our winners but also the Templemichael Gun Club for hosting this even with the utmost professionalism and hospitality.