After four days of intense competition, the Hopton is drawing to a close for 2021. Rob Lygoe has been leading the Hopton from day one but with only a five point lead and no sighters in The Albert, a simple mistake could change the standings very quickly.
As it quite common for the Albert, the gentle winds that have been present during the Hopton were replaced by a fishtailing rapidly changing headwind. This proved a much sterner challenge at 1000x yards than earlier shoots. However there were still some strong shooting with 16 competitors scoring the maximum possible 75. Rob Lygoe lead the field with a 75.14v.
As the distances increased with the greater impact of the wind, the number of possibles reduced. John Pugleys put in the highest of 8 possibles at 1100 yards with a 75.14v. At 1200 yards, only Angus McLeod (75.2v) and Will Meldrum (75.7v) could manage possibles. With the increased winds today, the lower number of possibles was to be expected.
Congratulation to Alex Cargill Thompson who previaled to take home the Albert with 223.33v, after winning the Edge yesterday. In second place was Jon Sweet (223.28v), followed by Nick Tremlett (222.29v).
The top Under 25 and top tyro went to Kim Lindsay who placed 22 overall (218.22v). The Henry Mellish Challenge Cup, which is awarded to the top under 25 who has never shot in The Elcho went to Alex Harrison (214.21v), although he will no longer be eligible for this trophy having been picked for Wales tomorrow.
Final Hopton Standings
The Albert is the final competition in the Hopton, and despite Alex’s efforts (winning the Victoria Aggregate in the process) Rob Lygoe’s lead was too great. Rob wins The Hopton with a record breaking score of 1017.160v (ex 1025.205v). Second place Alex Cargill Thompson (1014.148v) and third Nick Tremlett (1012.137v) also broke the previous record (Nick Tremlett’s 1009). You can’t help thinking that this new record score will stand for quite a while. There were 11 competitors who finished with a score above the magical 1000 points, out of a maximum of 1025.
Fiona Day finished top lady with 1000.127v in 11th place overall, with Scots Zoe Woodroffe and Hannah Fisher 2nd and 3rd, and after a strong finish Kim Lindsay finished top Tyro with 975.99v, pipping David Firth and Stefan Kuppen into 2nd and 3rd respectively.
In the other awards for today, Nick Tremlett and John Lindsay III’s Inveterate Inebriates won the MR pairs, Rob Lygoe won the Ranken and the Tribe Memorial 1100 yards aggregate, and Nick Tremlett won the Councillors 1000yds aggregate. Angus McLeod took home the 1200 yard aggregate, dropping only two points out of 70 shots. And most importantly, Alex Hunter won the inaugural Hopton knockout with its cash prize.
This isn’t the end of Match Rifle at The Imperial Meeting as tomorrow sees The Elcho where Scotland, Wales and Ireland will be attempting to wrestle the Elcho Shield from the current holders England.
More details of the Hopton can be found on the NRA website, NRA Facebook page and also on our very own Facebook page
All photos courtesy of the NRA and Paul Deach.