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Life at the range – Gary Chillingworth

Gary Chillingworth reports from UKAHFT Nationals Round 7 at Anston, where Anne Higgins secured victory in the Ladies class with a superb 55

Credit: Gary Chillingworth

UKAHFT Nationals Round 7

With the HFT Nationals now well past the halfway point of the year, it was time to visit a ground that is new to some, familiar to a few, and feared by many. The mighty Anston is a fantastic venue that has been both missing and missed from the world of HFT for far too long.

For those of us who shoot the Paul James Recoiling Championships or dabble in FT, we still get the chance to stomp through its lush foliage. And for those who shot here many years ago, we still remember the bite from the legendary Anston Alligator—so getting to return is always a real treat.

The course was a great mixture of targets, with a strong emphasis on height. Anston loves a target up a tree, and if the wind had been blowing, there would have been plenty of shooters questioning their life choices. One particularly interesting competitor to watch was Anne Higgins. Recently, Anne has been woken from her slumber, and we’ve seen her attending more and more National events. As a former 10m shooter, the 35-yard stander is bread and butter for her, and even though this one was tricky, she dropped it with ease. She went on to shoot a brilliant 55 and secured first place in the Ladies class.