Purely Theoretical But…..

General Skanky · Jul 30, 2024

If you could sell up and buy a home near a clay ground, where in the world is the very best place?

USA? Other?

Just imagining the perfect retirement even though it’s a while off.

Bebo · Jul 31, 2024

There would be other factors than clay ground availability that would make me not want to move to the US. Staying in the UK, my conclusion on it is that Market Harborough is the optimum location for access to clay shooting grounds.

General Skanky · Jul 31, 2024

Bebo said:
There would be other factors than clay ground availability that would make me not want to move to the US. Staying in the UK, my conclusion on it is that Market Harborough is the optimum location for access to clay shooting grounds.

Ignore the other factors for now, still Market Harborough?

Bebo · Jul 31, 2024

General Skanky said:
Ignore the other factors for now, still Market Harborough?

Probably, because we're a smaller country and there is less distance to travel between shoots. While they might have some huge grounds in the US there would be a lot of travel to get the variety that we can.

However, I can't ignore the rest. I could never live in a country where so many people believe that Trump is fit to be leader of the free world.

PhilR · Jul 31, 2024

As a trap shooter it would be Italy. Desenzano Sul Garda to be precise as there's several shooting grounds within a short drive. The most well known is Trap Concaverde at Lonato.
The food and wine isn't too shabby either.

Bebo · Jul 31, 2024

PhilR said:
As a trap shooter it would be Italy. Desenzano Sul Garda to be precise as there's several shooting grounds within a short drive. The most well known is Trap Concaverde at Lonato.
The food and wine isn't too shabby either.

Can I come visit? Love Lake Garda, but also love sporting, so not for me.

Paul120 · Jul 31, 2024

Bebo said:
Can I come visit? Love Lake Garda, but also love sporting, so not for me.

Trap gets the headlines but there is plenty of sporting in the area too.
Garda is the place I'd go to as well.
The USA looks good but not as appealing due to the distance between the grounds.

MartynB · Jul 31, 2024

The Italian lakes would tick all the boxes , nice people. , lovely area , fantastic food . More shooting than you can shake a stick at . For me the European culture is easier to get along with than the American culture . Or perhaps Spain somewhere near Malaga , Estepona would be nice , again good food , good weather , people , nice culture , the drive up to the Jarapalo shooting club is lovely

FreeShot · Jul 31, 2024

…France, Cyprus, Hungary, Czech…tho me looking from outside - you have everything there in UK and I wouldn’t bother

Freddypip · Jul 31, 2024

A quick second for Market Harborough - I'm Lutterworth so that's close enough.

This discussion makes me wonder if there are places too hot or too sunny to shoot.

etonwick · Jul 31, 2024

My personal choice would be Bisley - excellent rifle and clay shooting, right on your doorstep.

Bebo · Jul 31, 2024

etonwick said:
My personal choice would be Bisley - excellent rifle and clay shooting, right on your doorstep.

No Reg Sporting and 46p a clay for pay-and-play is taking the piss.

Bebo · Jul 31, 2024

Freddypip said:
A quick second for Market Harborough - I'm Lutterworth so that's close enough.

This discussion makes me wonder if there are places too hot or too sunny to shoot.

You've got so many options for registered sporting comps within 2hrs I'm deeply envious. I can confirm that Battle, East Sussex is possibly the worst location to live for clay shooting.

MartynB · Jul 31, 2024

I miss Clube de Tiro which was in Villamoura . Very civilised it was , the FITASC layouts in the woods , nice clubhouse , cold Sagres , you could have an enjoyable day there ( assuming you’d given the Sagres a miss at lunchtime of course ) . I don’t think the box pigeons that lived in a big aviary in the woods were that impressed though ..

Freddypip · Aug 1, 2024

The downside of Lutterworth is it's in the "golden triangle". That might sound glamorous but its the UK mecca for distribution. We have lorries everywhere and building and road works are constant.

The upside is the number of grounds. In no preference Doveridge, Sporting Targets, Northampton, Kegworth , Kibworth, Barby, Orston, Wedgnock, Edgehill, & Lakeside. There's also Rugby for DTL and Cosford for Skeet though I have not visited either recently. The first 7 have comps. I have travelled to Coley's and Barbury for comps this year but they don't really beat the local options. The Midlands is also good viz-a-viz prices - we are getting most of the northern benefits and theres very few of the trumped up charges associated with grounds closer to London.

Having shot three time at AGL this year that is worth the journey.

PhilR · Aug 1, 2024

Freddypip said:
The downside of Lutterworth is it's in the "golden triangle". That might sound glamorous but its the UK mecca for distribution. We have lorries everywhere and building and road works are constant.

The upside is the number of grounds. In no preference Doveridge, Sporting Targets, Northampton, Kegworth , Kibworth, Barby, Orston, Wedgnock, Edgehill, & Lakeside. There's also Rugby for DTL and Cosford for Skeet though I have not visited either recently. The first 7 have comps. I have travelled to Coley's and Barbury for comps this year but they don't really beat the local options. The Midlands is also good viz-a-viz prices - we are getting most of the northern benefits and theres very few of the trumped up charges associated with grounds closer to London.

Having shot three time at AGL this year that is worth the journey.

No DTL at Rugby, ABT and UT with Helice very occasionally.

Skeetstar · Aug 1, 2024

Freddypip said:
The downside of Lutterworth is it's in the "golden triangle". That might sound glamorous but its the UK mecca for distribution. We have lorries everywhere and building and road works are constant.

The upside is the number of grounds. In no preference Doveridge, Sporting Targets, Northampton, Kegworth , Kibworth, Barby, Orston, Wedgnock, Edgehill, & Lakeside. There's also Rugby for DTL and Cosford for Skeet though I have not visited either recently. The first 7 have comps. I have travelled to Coley's and Barbury for comps this year but they don't really beat the local options. The Midlands is also good viz-a-viz prices - we are getting most of the northern benefits and theres very few of the trumped up charges associated with grounds closer to London.

Having shot three time at AGL this year that is worth the journey.

And Honesberie if you have plenty of money. Lea Marston may not be too far either.

Jan Powell · Aug 3, 2024

Well, it certainly wouldn’t be the UK. Clay shooting’s slowly dying here. I’d probably head for the US. Not only is the sport safe but there ample high quality trap and skeet grounds with competition that’s several steps above the best in the UK.

Oh, and they shoot NSSA skeet. Much more enjoyable than English/National.

Paul120 · Aug 3, 2024

Jan Powell said:
Well, it certainly wouldn’t be the UK. Clay shooting’s slowly dying here. I’d probably head for the US. Not only is the sport safe but there ample high quality trap and skeet grounds with competition that’s several steps above the best in the UK.

Oh, and they shoot NSSA skeet. Much more enjoyable than English/National.

I tend to agree, although there might be more interest since Nathan's gold in Paris and Amber will with a bit of luck add to it.
I have seen some new faces at fast trap and OSkeet looks to have more participation too in the last couple of years as the GB team have clocked up some significant success at world / european championships and world cups etc. Not enough mind you. Hopefully, as long as cost doesn't continue to hamper the sport, it will improve.

RJD · Aug 10, 2024

Bebo said:
This is a clay shooting forum, go on X to post your right wing bollocks, you'll find more friends there.

Sorry Keir, hope you don’t choke on your quinoa

Right wing? Nope just open minded

Keep watching the BBC

Purely Theoretical But…..

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