| On a perfect spring morning, teams representing the Royal London, Royal Solent, Royal Southampton and Royal Southern Yacht Clubs met in the Meon Valley to contest the Solent yacht clubs inter-club clay pigeon shooting competition for the Southern Bowl and the Royal Southampton emerged triumphant. |
| Jamie Butler had his Meon Springs layout looking its best and had provided a set of eight stands, with five pairs of clays per stand, simulating springing teal, driven pheasant, bouncing bunnies, departing grouse and other delights. None were easy but none were impossible and as breakfast settled, the teams got to work. |
| With the top four scores counting for each team, the Royal Southampton's captain, Bobby Kemp, led from the front with a spectacular 70 ex 80 to take the High Gun prize of Averys of Bristol fine wines and his team of Brenda Forbes, Michael Garvey, Rupert Smalley and Robert Young delivered an unbeatable 225 ex 320. |
| Defending champions, the Royal Solent, chased hard but as their captain, Charlie Anderson, noted ruefully as he waved goodbye to the trophy, his team of David Connisbee, John Cork, David Fentum and Robert Fisk were strangely off the pace and could only deliver a collective score of 201. |
| Andrew and Christopher Dawson, Mark Hickmott and guests, Andrew Smith and Richard Seaton delivered a 188 for the Royal London and the host team of Jeremy Fox, Anton Skillman, John Stelling, John Walker and John Wittey trailed in with a rather disappointing 168. A fine lunch was taken in the new River Room and a generally good time was had by all. |
| John Walker |
The winning Royal Southampton team of [L-R] Bobby Kemp, Rupert Smalley, Brenda Forbes, Bob Young & Mike Garvey.
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The Royal Southern hosted the day and were represented by [L-R] John Wittey, Jeremy Fox, coach Audrey Skillman, Anton Skillman, John Walker, Oliver Dog and John Stelling.
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Brenda Forbes in pursuit of crossing pheasant. |
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