Three-way shoot-off decides .410 World Championships

The competition?s 2009 champion Tim Smith scored 41 out of a possible 50 points, as did newcomers Nick Beavis and Bob Agar.

Mr Smith, from Worcestershire, held his nerve to shoot both targets of his last pair to take the title by one point.

Mr Beavis won the resulting shoot-off for second place.

The event was held at the Mid Wales Shooting Centre, near Caersws in Powys.

The course, designed by Arthur and Jonathan Williams and their staff, was set with 50 sporting targets including driven, quartering, incomers and crossers.

The .410 is the smallest of the popular shotgun gauges, firing a light charge of pellets, and would normally be used as an entry-level gun for young people and for close-quarter pest control.

This year saw a record 92 entries. All of last year?s winners returned to defend their titles.

Katie Cowell from Wrexham successfully retained her ladies? title for the third year running with a score of 31 and William Allan from Oxfordshire retained the junior class title by posting a score of 37.

The championships were sponsored by the UK?s leading cartridge manufacturer Eley Hawk Ltd, which provided 3,000 cartridges as prizes.

Meurig Rees, BASC Wales country officer and event organiser, said: ?This event using the smallest gauge shotgun is becoming more popular. This year saw a record 92 entries with Eley Hawk Ltd providing fantastic sponsorship and prizes. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mid Wales Shooting Centre for their continued support to BASC Wales, David Scott of Eley Hawk Ltd and to all the old and new competitors who turned up to take part. I look forward to doing it all again next year.?

Results

.410 World Championship ?Open?
1st: Tim Smith 41*
2nd: Nick Beavis 41*
3rd: Bob Agar 41*
*after shoot off

.410 World Championship ?Junior?
1st: William Allan 37
2nd: Connor Gorsuch 33
3rd: Morgan Williams 12

.410 World Championships ?Ladies?
1st: Katie Cowell 31
2nd: Angela Agar 30
3rd: Hayley Wood 29