The event could not have run without the oversight, and hands-on graft of David Phelps and Robert Warnes, who constructed the targetry on range, and ran the match very smoothly over the course of the weekend. The targets worked perfectly throughout even with the odd cross-shot being sent through to test them..!
From the get-go home advantage helped the many Welsh athletes on this, one of the trickiest of ranges to read. Sian Corish's 617.1 saw her top her elimination, but the 9s were a feature of every target this weekend with imperceptibly subtle changes in the flags sending the red spot deep into the 9 ring (or sometimes even worse!).
Equipment control was stoically managed by Northern Ireland's Charlie Cooper, who kindly supported the ESSU in this event.
Saturday saw the English 50M Prone Championship fought out with Vivien Minett taking gold for the ladies with a 614.8, Duncan Farmer taking silver for the men with 609.4, and Christopher Hunter sealing the win for the men and overall with 617.8.
Chloe John-Driscoll was awarded the consolation Dairy Milk for top junior score (as a non-ESSU member).
The Sunday brought the 3P matches - the English Confined Championship and the Grand Prix of St George, alongside another round of the prone Grand Prix of St George.
With the weather more clement, athletes felt confident of good scores.
However, Tondu had different ideas with the subtlest change in direction sending the shot out for prone and 3P alike.
There was definitely time to reflect on choices...
Ultimately, Olivia Beech took the Women's 3P Champion title for 2026 with a solid 567+20X, just pipping Wales' Sian Corish with 566+22X.
James Wellsted is the English Men's 3P Champion for 2026 with 529+10X.
The Grand Prix of St George 3P saw Alun Evans shoot an unassailable 584+33X. A worthy winner with a massive score!
Aidan Healy came 2nd with 558+17X and James Wellsted, third with 532+11X.
Paige Fryer took the Women's gold in the 3P Grand Prix with 564+19X.
She was closely followed by Olivia Beech, with 560+17X.
In the prone, Wales' David George battled valiantly for 3rd with 615.0.
Derbyshire's Robert Grice put in a sterling effort for silver with 619.6.
And the Grand Prix winner with 621.5 was Christopher Hunter.
A fantastic and challenging weekend - the ESSU looks forward to welcoming you to the 10M Air Championships in November - hopefully with less wind to contend with!
With thanks to Niall Evans of Tondu, who kindly supplied the photographs!