NICK BRANCH (pictured) took the honours with yet another maximum score in the W. P. Mahy Trophy.

In the competition which comprises two sighting shots and seven shots to count over all three distances of the Fort Le Marchant range, Branch opened his account with a 35.04 at 300 yards and at this point trailed Rob Waters by a single V-bull.

At 500 yards the two became tied as Branch excelled with a 35.05 to Waters’ 35.04 and the stage was set for a nail-biting finish up on the 600 yard firing point.

Waters finished first with a 35.02 for a superb 105.11 ex 105.21, but he could only stand and watch as Branch coolly built his score for a 35.05 and a grand total of 105.14 to take the trophy.

Phil Ogier regretted the single shot he missed at 300 yards as his score of 104.14 could so easily have been a winning score.

Unluckiest man on the day was Bob Cushing, who for his last shot at 300 yards had a momentary loss of concentration and suffered the ignominy of a magpie, scoring three points.