Branch top of the tree

Tuesday 25th August 2009, 2:29PM BST.

NICK BRANCH has claimed his second island full-bore rifle championship title.

Despite a magnificent effort by second stage winner Richard Perkins, who strung together a 75.10 and a 75.08 to record the only maximum 150 score in the final stage, Branch (picturedf) took the crown with a grand total of 400.45 ex 405.8 to Perkins’ 399.50.

Branch recorded a 75.08 at 500 yards and a 73.08 at 600 yards for a total of 148.16, which placed him fourth on the day, but his high score of 105.13 in the first stage gave him the necessary cushion over Perkins, who had scored a mediocre 101.11.

Peter Jory took third spot on 398.48.

Branch, winner of the title in 2007 and runner-up to Jory last year, is gaining the degree of consistency that will allow him to move ahead with his shooting career.