Locals on target against best from home nations

Locals on target against best from home nations

18 September 2013

THE Ballydugan estate outside Downpatrick was host venue for the Home Countries Sporting Clays tournament on Saturday.

Teams from England, which included Olympic Gold medallist Richard Faulds, Scotland, Wales, Republic of Ireland, Jersey and Northern Ireland had their shooting skills tested to the ultimate.

The visitors were full of praise for the event which was enhanced further by the terrain and back of the Ballydugan Estate.

A strong English team won all four team categories of seniors, ladies, juniors and veterans. The Northern Ireland team, which was captained by Downpatrick’s Stuart Clydesdale, had a superb result, taking the runners-up place in both the senior and junior categories.

South Down MP Margaret Richie attended the event and also the evening banquet which was held at the Burrendale Hotel, Newcastle, where she and Down Council vice-chairman Gareth Sharvin helped present the awards.

The chairman of the Ulster Clay Pigeon Shooting Association, Clifford Barr, who ran the event, said: “This tournament allowed us to show what County Down has to offer, our visitors were hugely impressed by the Ballydugan Estate, the surrounding area and the quality of our hotels, especially the Burrendale Hotel where we held the evening banquet.

Mr. Barr thanked Miss Ritchie and Mr. Sharvin for attending the event. “It allowed us to show our local politicians the positive and significant benefit our sport can bring to the local economy.”