Call Sign November 2003 - Page 15 - HAS DONNA MERRY FIRED HER LAST SHOT?

Donna becomes British Champion 2003

Call Sign has been sponsoring DaC call taker Donna Merry and her Mirkou MK30 shotgun since June 2001 and during that period, Dial-a-Cab’s blonde bombshell has made herself the UK’s number one lady shooter – someone who could also beat most of the men!
   Now Donna has told Call Sign that she may have shot her last round…
   "My last year at university begins soon and shooting takes up such a lot of my time. When it comes down to it, my degree has to be more important to my future than shooting – as much as I love the sport."
   Now 22, Donna has been shooting since the age of 14 and has held numerous ladies shooting titles including all the home countries championships, culminating in September this year when Donna went to the British Championships at Bisley and defeated all the country’s top ladies including Diane Dowara, Jennie DelRosso and Lesley Adams, to become the British Ladies Champion for the second time. Call Sign’s shot of a radiant Donna and the British Championship cup gave us our most talked about cover for years! Has anything topped that title win, we asked Donna…?
   "In November 2001, although I had represented England before, I went to

HAS DONNA MERRY
FIRED HER LAST SHOT?

Telpin in Wales for the first time as England captain. We beat Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man, Jersey and Wales. That was very special – not quite David Beckham perhaps, but captaining your country must always be very special."
Two months earlier, Donna had gone to the National Skeet Shooting Association (NSSA) World Championships in San Antonio, Texas as a total UK unknown to the Americans. She returned home with one Silver medal, two Bronzes and a Plaque for winning her class! Her quote to Call Sign on her return, in addition to giving us another great cover was simple and to the point: "They know me now…" she said!
Other than the World and British Championships, the tail end of June 2002 saw one of skeet shootings biggest and strangest tournaments of the year – The Dial-a-Cab Classic. Call Sign had been wondering how our lovely blonde star would cope against the UK’s top men. Fate gave us the opportunity to find out when the original sponsor of this tournament pulled out at the last minute and Call Sign stepped in

with the dosh and the tournament was renamed the DaC Classic. Our stipulation? The top man and top woman had to shoot off at the end to find just one real champion.Our fingers were tightly crossed that Donna would reach the Final!
   Among those taking part in addition to Donna and DaC’s John Wells (K68), were former England Captain Steve Taylor, "Mr Calm" Matt Usher and World Championship Gold medal winner Craig Lakey. The end saw Donna beating Matt Usher to take the title.
   "It may not have equalled my World Championship silver medal," said a happy Donna, "but boy did I enjoy that victory over a top man!"
   Donna arrived at DaC in 2000 as joint-holder of the Ladies Team Championship and has steadily moved to the top in her chosen sport. Is that all to come to an end now? Time will tell, but Donna is right to put her education and future prospects at the top of her priority list, even if it means that Call Sign won’t get any more great cover shots featuring gorgeous blondes holding a rifle!