THERE was a large increase in participants at the local meet at Throckmorton Clay Pigeon Club.

Competitors faced up to the usual Down the Line, Skeet and Sporting layouts, while also dusting off their trusted friends for a Side-by-Side tournament.

Club captain John Tarplee pulled out all the stops to win first prize in the latter event.

Across the other side of the ground, there was an equally competitive nature to action in the DTL and Skeet disciplines with Gary Shaw taking the honours in the former with a near perfect 74/75 losing just a single point with an unfortunate second barrel.

Veteran John Hadley also recorded a 25/25 but Shaw wasn't to be beaten.

Pat Smith bettered her earlier shooters with a straight 25 in the Skeet before Stuart Emms matched that effort with a perfect score on his sixth card to ease into top place.

The day's Sporting layout was shot over a 60-target English Sporting layout including driven and looping targets that kept competitors on their mettle.

And, it was Emms again who was perched at the summit at the finish with a fantastic 57/60 to complete an excellent day's action.

Results - Side by Side: John Tarplee 52/60; Adam Barnfield 50/60; Dave Hart 49/60; Tom Partridge 49/60; Dave Coe 48/60; Dave Crowley 46/60; Natalie Jones 44/60; Mark Knight 39/60; Dave Lindup 38/60; Graham Shewell 34/60. Down the Line: Gary Shaw 25/25, 74/75; John Hadley 25/25, 71/75; Alan Ayres 24/25, 72/75; Paul Muzyka 24/25, 69/75; Brian King 24/25, 68/75; Tony Smith 23/25, 69/75; Robert Haines 23/25, 68/75; Paul Colley 23/25, 67/75; Pat Smith 23/25, 67/75. Skeet: Stuart Emms 25/25; Pat Smith 25/25; John Boraston 24/25; Paul Colley 24/25; M Harris 24/25; P Hughes 24/25; N Reece 24/25; Graham Shewell 24/25; Brian Smith 24/25. Sporting: Stuart Emms 57/60; Simon Jones 53/60; John Boraston 51/60; Phil Clarke 51/60; Paul Colley 51/60; Chris Vale 50/60; Brian Smith 48/60; Nigel Haines 44/60; John Mates 41/60; S Childerley 40/60.