Competitions

[metho]

Just received my CPSA membership taken out full veterans I'm 60 and have been shooting mainly sporting since June this year. How does a newbie as such look at entering competitions.

 

[Yorkshire Clay Shooting]

Just received my CPSA membership taken out full veterans I'm 60 and have been shooting mainly sporting since June this year. How does a newbie as such look at entering competitions.

I fairly recently did my first competition I did for moral support talk a couple of shooting friends into doing it and did our first competition at a ground that didn’t automatically put you in a squad was brilliant fun and the extra spice and pressure of being scored and officiated I really enjoyed. Good luck

 

[metho]

I fairly recently did my first competition I did for moral support talk a couple of shooting friends into doing it and did our first competition at a ground that didn’t automatically put you in a squad was brilliant fun and the extra spice and pressure of being scored and officiated I really enjoyed. Good luck

I'd be going it alone as I do when I go for a practice

 

[Yorkshire Clay Shooting]

To be honest everyone I have met at the couple I have done have always been incredible helpful and a really good laugh. We are all there for the same reason I suppose. Could try on here and see if you could find anyone in your area who you could buddy up with ? Always more fun with likeminded people in my opinion.

 

[metho]

To be honest everyone I have met at the couple I have done have always been incredible helpful and a really good laugh. We are all there for the same reason I suppose. Could try on here and see if you could find anyone in your area who you could buddy up with ? Always more fun with likeminded people in my opinion.

Did put a post on here while ago see if anybody shoots at Nottingham district gun club and cocketts lane both on my doorstep as they say to see if anyone shoots alone and looking for shooting buddy

 

[chesterse]

Just received my CPSA membership taken out full veterans I'm 60 and have been shooting mainly sporting since June this year. How does a newbie as such look at entering competitions.

Look for a ground which is doing squaded entry. This is normally a group of six people who rotate the order in which you shoot. You would be very unlucky if your fellow shooters weren’t friendly and helpful. You can enter on a competition basis or birds only. Birds only you are not competing for any prize money but your score will go towards your classification.
You will have a temporary classification on the day and then after I think three shoots you get your classification which is reviewed every six months.
Non squaded shoots you just turn up, hand your card in and take your turn on a stand. There can be significant waiting times on this route and you are less likely to get to know other shooters.

 

[PeeJay]

My shooting buddy is keen to do a comp, but I’ve said I want to see a couple first to make sure I’m not the worst by a country mile. I don’t mind coming last but I don’t want to be humiliated

 

[metho]

My shooting buddy is keen to do a comp, but I’ve said I want to see a couple first to make sure I’m not the worst by a country mile. I don’t mind coming last but I don’t want to be humiliated

That be me hold everyone up

 

[Daz W]

My shooting buddy is keen to do a comp, but I’ve said I want to see a couple first to make sure I’m not the worst by a country mile. I don’t mind coming last but I don’t want to be humiliated

You won't get humiliated. We all had the same feeling. My first comp I shot in the 40's One of my mates, who I've been shooting with for a few years, struggles to hit that still. Don't worry about your score. First thing I learnt from my first shoot - nobody really is interested in anyone elses score, unless your going to rob them of high gun/class win. Unless you pay the extra fiver for the comp entry, rather than targets only entry, you're only competing against yourself at the beginning. Some people don't care where they finish, it's all about being out shooting. Some do.

Shoot a squadded event, tell the rest of the squad and the ref that its your first comp, and 99.99% of the time they'll guide you through.

Read the rules beforehand, they're available for download on the CPSA website.

Etiquette - be aware of how much noise you're making. Phones ringing, people talking etc can put people off when they're in the cage. Likewise with movement. If someone is shooting, make sure you're not in their field of view. I've had people from the next squad along come and stand right next to me (and in my FOV) as I called pull, so they could see the targets before the rest of their squad.

Relax and enjoy it. Any competition pressure you may feel is self induced. I found my mentality changed from "trying to hit the target" when practicing, to "trying not to miss" when competing.

 

[PeeJay]

You won't get humiliated. We all had the same feeling. My first comp I shot in the 40's One of my mates, who I've been shooting with for a few years, struggles to hit that still. Don't worry about your score. First thing I learnt from my first shoot - nobody really is interested in anyone elses score, unless your going to rob them of high gun/class win. Unless you pay the extra fiver for the comp entry, rather than targets only entry, you're only competing against yourself at the beginning. Some people don't care where they finish, it's all about being out shooting. Some do.

Shoot a squadded event, tell the rest of the squad and the ref that its your first comp, and 99.99% of the time they'll guide you through.

Read the rules beforehand, they're available for download on the CPSA website.

Etiquette - be aware of how much noise you're making. Phones ringing, people talking etc can put people off when they're in the cage. Likewise with movement. If someone is shooting, make sure you're not in their field of view. I've had people from the next squad along come and stand right next to me (and in my FOV) as I called pull, so they could see the targets before the rest of their squad.

Relax and enjoy it. Any competition pressure you may feel is self induced. I found my mentality changed from "trying to hit the target" when practicing, to "trying not to miss" when competing.

Thank you for that, very helpful and it’s much appreciated.

 

[DaveJH]

Did put a post on here while ago see if anybody shoots at Nottingham district gun club and cocketts lane both on my doorstep as they say to see if anyone shoots alone and looking for shooting buddy

I shoot at NDGC and Orston (I've visited Cocketts but haven't tried it yet), usually on my own but sometimes with my son. I'm in a similar boat to you, just started doing a few CPSA registered this year. Happy to buddy up for a practice round or enter a comp with you - message me if you're interested and we can get something arranged.

 

[metho]

I shoot at NDGC and Orston (I've visited Cocketts but haven't tried it yet), usually on my own but sometimes with my son. I'm in a similar boat to you, just started doing a few CPSA registered this year. Happy to buddy up for a practice round or enter a comp with you - message me if you're interested and we can get something arranged.

Yep have to sort, only go Wednesday and Saturday to either

 

[Martinj]

To find nearby fixtures on the CPSA site click "What's On" then "Fixtures"



Fill in the filters using your post code, dates, distance in miles etc and click search (see below)




Then you'll get a list of venues available within the dates you have specified and within the specified distance from the postcode you used



You can click on the orange titles to find more info about each ground that came up

 

[metho]

Great thanks local notts dgc they only do Sunday registered comps, unfortunately my working week starts Sunday was looking as newbie getting into comps and seeing what grade I come under

 

[Martinj]

If you want Saturday shoots you have Blyton, Orston, Normanton on Friday within 50 miles of Notts DGC - NG25 0RQ

Let your fingers do the walking

 

[metho]

If you want Saturday shoots you have Blyton, Orston, Normanton on Friday within 50 miles of Notts DGC - NG25 0RQ

Let your fingers do the walking

View attachment 11059

Thanks mate not had a look yet was just putting feelers out, your help appreciated