First registered shoot.

[Al-Nitro]

Three months now since my son and i took our first shooting lesson, received our licence and bought ourselves a shotgun each that we were comfortable and happy with.

Have now got us registered on the CPSA although a little nervous, we look forward to our first registered shoot this sunday.

Not been down to watch any comp/registered shoots, so have no idea what to expect.

Are there any DO's and DONT's we should be aware of ?

Have any tips for us newbies ?

Thanks

 

[teepee1234]

Most importantly, relax!

Book on and get your card, tell them it's your first time and they may find a regular to go round with you. If not, just rock up at stand one, tell the ref it's your first time and you're not sure what to do. Pay absolutely no heed to the guys behind you waiting to shoot - they all had to start sometime, and for the most part, they'll understand and probably offer words of advice!

Whatever happens, always remember you paid your money and have as much right to be there as everyone else!

And enjoy the experience. It's bloody great!

 

[Jeremy Baker]

Turn up

Eat Pig

Drink Coffee/Tea (delete as appropriate)

Sign On

Show CPSA card

Birds only or Competetion (delete as appropriate)

Tackle up

Glasses and ear protection required.

When approaching stand hand score card to referee at each stand

Ask to see a pair from outside cage if you havent already seen the targets.

Shoot layout as normal

Thats it really its still a clay shoot as you have done before.

Hand score card in.

 

[ExSCA]

Al - I was the same (it only seems like yesterday) but 18 months ago now.

• Rock up and book on - I'd mention at the counter that its your first registered, they may squad you up with someone that will take you round.
  
• You can enter the comp, or targets only - depending on your assessment of your chances of winning C - you might want to save the couple of quid for the first few rounds, but you are more than entitled to enter and win
  
• Head to a stand - hand your cards in - and wait for them to call your name
  
• Remember - glasses and ears required - some grounds (EJC) need a hat as well
  
• Watch the signs for what the targets are (some scorers/refs don't tell you)
  
• Always ask to see a pair (you need to stand outside the cage to see them)
  
• Away you go - shoot them all!
  

Most of all - enjoy! You'll get to see some top boys and girls shooting around you, great way of learning.

Make sure you come back afterwards and tell us how you got on!

When you have completed - make sure you hand your cards in, however

 

[Darkside]

The single most important thing to do is.....................................just enjoy it!!!

 

[elmoog]

iv'e only been too two reg shoots at hornet so i'm also a noob and i would say get there early and do take your time and relax rushing to load the gun or pulling the trigger faster won't help you.

talk to the pepole in the que there's a good chance they will offer advice.

you dont have to shoot the stands in order so if there is a big que you can move on but do take your time.

some scoreres say last pair some don't

drink tea eat pig

 

[Al-Nitro]

Thanks all, after searching the net, this is the perfect info i need

Elmoog, what do you mean " some scoreres say last pair some don't "

We will be shooting after lunch time, so hopefully not too big of a que then.

Looks like comp is only a fiver more, so may as well go for it, never know might get lucky on the day

 

[Skeet UK]

Thanks all, after searching the net, this is the perfect info i need

Elmoog, what do you mean " some scoreres say last pair some don't "

We will be shooting after lunch time, so hopefully not too big of a que then.

Looks like comp is only a fiver more, so may as well go for it, never know might get lucky on the day

The scorer, who also launches your targets when you say "Pull" or "Put-em-up" or "Yip!" or whatever weird and wonderful call you may have....should tell you when you are calling for your last pair of targets. So say it is 5 pairs on a particular stand. Once you have dusted your 4th pair, the scorer may or may not say "Last Pair", so you know that the next pair ... is your last.

Some people prefer not to know it is their last pair, not wanting any distractions. You are not required to respond, but I normally say thank you, as I am loading the gun.

Don't put up with any crap from the scorers. Many are fine, but some are less than interested (perhaps who can blame them). If you call pull and nothing happens, don't worry about stopping and readying yourself, while glaring at the scorer, because the have their iPOD on or are texting...obviously your call should be loud enough, but you should not need to shout.

Likewise, if you call pull and nothing happens (when you would expect it to)...if a bird suddenly appears because they have been pressing the button trying to launch a bird, then one has finally come out...don't feel you need to shoot that bird if you were not ready.

If you get a no bird, or a broken bird of a pair, feel free to ask them to clear the trap and only call/shoot when you are ready.

 

[teepee1234]

Al, a little more info regarding competition - you won't be able to get a temporary classification from the CPSA until you've shot 300 registered targets. Once they have the scores in at the CPSA, you can e-mail them and ask for a temp classification. Until then, you are likely to be "classified on the day", which means if you put in a good score, they may pop you into B or even A, depending on the rest of the scores that day (or however they do it - it's a mystery to me!)

So get 300 in quick (competition, not birds only), then e-mail for your temp classification, which will last until the next issue.

 

[Will Hewland]

I was probably very unusual (coming from the world of motorsport; full of rules and regs), but I went on to the CPSA website and dowmloaded and read the rules before my first registered shoot. In all reality, you likely dont need to do this; but I would make sure that you understand the `first bird established` rule to avoid confusion. You might even need to remind the ref about it if they are new themselves.. It may well crop up once or twice on your shoot.

 

[Dog Tyred]

So get 300 in quick (competition, not birds only), then e-mail for your temp classification, which will last until the next issue.

Is this correct? Do you need to shoot 'competition' to get a CPSA classification? I thought you just needed to shoot birds only provided the shoot is registered??

My lad has been shooting birds only to get a classification and I've been telling the sign on chappie as much so I'd be pissed off if he doesn't get one after shooting 300 registered birds.

DT

 

[Skeet UK]

Is this correct? Do you need to shoot 'competition' to get a CPSA classification? I thought you just needed to shoot birds only provided the shoot is registered??

My lad has been shooting birds only to get a classification and I've been telling the sign on chappie as much so I'd be pissed off if he doesn't get one after shooting 300 registered birds.

DT

No.

Only needs to be registered targets.

Comp is nothing to do with the CPSA.

If you go on the CPSA website, look on Members Scores then either search by his CPSA number, or type his surname in then pick from the list, you should be able to find scores registered to his name.

 

[Dog Tyred]

No.

Only needs to be registered targets.

Comp is nothing to do with the CPSA.

If you go on the CPSA website, look on Members Scores then either search by his CPSA number, or type his surname in then pick from the list, you should be able to find scores registered to his name.

Phew! Thanks for clarifying that. Thought I'd wasted a lot of time and money for a minute!!

DT

 

[wylye]

This thread highlights the general lack of knowledge about shooting at registered sporting shoots. Not surprising really. Point one - learn the rules! There is no excuse at all for not knowing them, they are available for everyone to read. For instance, don't ask to see a pair of targets on every stand if there are people there shooting when you arrive. There are refs out there who know the rules and they will tell you that you have had the opportunity to see the targets and it may rattle you when they refuse. The same refs will also know that they are not obliged to 'clear the trap' after one no-bird so don't ask them to.

When you have finished shooting the stand and having placed all your cartridge cases in the bins thank the referee as you leave. Courtesy costs nothing.

Above all, have a great time and tell us how you got on.

 

[Skeet UK]

@wylye

Did not know I was wrong about the clearing the trap bit. I presumed if a clay came out broken, that you could request the trap be cleared.

So would that be after two consecutive no birds?

 

[wylye]

@wylye

Did not know I was wrong about the clearing the trap bit. I presumed if a clay came out broken, that you could request the trap be cleared.

So would that be after two consecutive no birds?

No, three

 

[Salopian]

Al-Nitro,

It would be a very smart thing to do to get there early and walk the course, pick out the stands that you think may cause you a little trouble and work out a strategy to cope with them. Get yourself relaxed and organised, then go out and enjoy yourself. Don't worry about the scores, the hits, the misses, just do your very best on every target. If you find a particular troublesome target that is causing you problems do something different to hit it.

 

[Mr Potter]

Al - I was the same (it only seems like yesterday) but 18 months ago now.

• Rock up and book on - I'd mention at the counter that its your first registered, they may squad you up with someone that will take you round.
  
• You can enter the comp, or targets only - depending on your assessment of your chances of winning C - you might want to save the couple of quid for the first few rounds, but you are more than entitled to enter and win
  
• Head to a stand - hand your cards in - and wait for them to call your name
  
• Remember - glasses and ears required - some grounds (EJC) need a hat as well
  
• Watch the signs for what the targets are (some scorers/refs don't tell you)
  
• Always ask to see a pair (you need to stand outside the cage to see them)
  
• Away you go - shoot them all!
  

Most of all - enjoy! You'll get to see some top boys and girls shooting around you, great way of learning.

Make sure you come back afterwards and tell us how you got on!

When you have completed - make sure you hand your cards in, however

Sorry Boss but that C class bit isn't right! Newcomers or those who don't have a classification don't automatically shoot in the lowest class. For registration purposes they are "un-classified" If they wish to enter the competition (as above totally separate from the registered bit) they should go through a process of "classified on the day". This is an archaic process were the ground identify a number of stands at random, keep them secret from the shooters and compare the un-classified shooters score against those (secret) stands. The shooter is then allocated a class, just for the day, based on the current CPSA classification averages.

As you can see this is a complected task and I don't think there are many grounds which go through this palaver so they do one of the following

• Dissuade the the shooter from entering the comp & just shoot birds only
  
• As they are an unknown quantity enter them in the top class.
  
• Assume they are beginners and enter them in the bottom class.
  

As above, non of these is correct but tbh my view is that the CPSA rules should be modified to exclude un-classified shooters from competition.

The 300 targets rule mentioned above needs clarifying as well. This applies to a newcomer starting registered shoots at the beginning or middle of a classification period. If he or she shoots 300 targets they can apply to the CPSA for a temporary classification until the next one comes into force (every June & December). If you shoot only one shoot, 100 birds (or targets for the PC amongst us) in the qualifying period then you will get a class for the subsequent period.

I think it is a very common misconception amongst newcomers that they need to enter the competition in order to gain a classification.

Mr Potter

PS I don't think (shorthand for I haven't bothered to look it up) there is a definite rule on how many no-birds (or no targets) before the ref,/scorer/marker should attempt to clear the trap.

 

[Will Hewland]

My first registered was at a ground that was squadded, so it made the whole thing a bit easier I suppose as you get guided around. If convenient, might be worth starting in the same way; but its no big deal.