Hornet SG - 13th May 2012 - Nervous Breakdowns?

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Fairly late decision - headed over to Hornet SG for their 100 ESP Reg today... bright morning, a little bit chilly to start but no need for big coats. Met Clever SC3, David B, Clever Dad for a bacon roll - also saw Banger, Steve Scott Smith and a special guest Hamster appearance on the way round.

Bit of a strange day all up - lots of edge on crossers, nothing unhittable - but no gimmes out there - every time you saw an easier target it was either part of a sim pair or was coupled with something quite tricky. I found it difficult to get any rhythm going due to some delays along the way - more on that later.

We kicked off with a sim pair of right/left crossers followed by a rabbit / overhead going away combination - and then up to stand 1 which was a sim pair of incomers - one std from the right with a midi straight in front of you, I straighted that and then we headed down out of the woods. Below the platform was stand 9 with a left/right edge on quartering followed by a right/left crosser, and then into the main field we had another couple of stands with whippy fast crossers. Right at the end of the track was an incoming high right/left crosser with another fast left/right crosser which I really struggled with, leaving a nasty 4 on my card.

At the corner of the field - there was a tough battue followed by a tower g/a bird then a lovely pair (for me) of a long, flat incoming bird o/r with a high right/left crosser that disappeared behind a tree - I straighted that, and was pleased to hear I was the first 10 of the day on there. We finished up on a sim pair of a quick left to right blaze with a long range incoming r/l bird - which did not feel like a sim pair at all, there was only one way round to shoot it and the delay between the first and second target made it feel more like an o/r pair.

All sounds idyliic? The only problem for us was a ton of trap breakdowns - possibly 5 or 6 really long delays, the further stands away took 45 minutes to cover so it was really difficult to get any sort of rhythm or focus going and there seemed to be a lot of waiting around. Kevin and the team were working really hard to keep everything going, but it seemed like Hornet were really unlucky with breakdowns today.

Nice day out with good company - I finished with a 65 which I am a little unhappy with, but given the days trials and tribulations I'll put down to experience of switching on and switching off focus all day. Managed to get home 10 minutes after the F1 started.

 

[GavB]

first time there and now and my second official registered shoot, will definately return, saw a lot of shootclay members saw a guy with a synthetic stock

who travelled 130 miles to shoot, now thats dedication

struggled with everything fast and close left to rights, the blaze going away with the dropping sim incomer and the blaze left to right with the midi right to l

left, dropped all 10

really need some help with these fast close targets, not sure if its an eye thing , i do wear a patch in the top left corner of my glasses :frown:

only dropped one of the fast going away right to left but again missed all the left to right rising crossers

didnt straight any stand but managed a 61,dropping a massive 15 clays of left to rights, didnt experience any delays luckily

nice to shoot in the sun for a change

 

[sscottsmith1234]

Good to see you again,

I was looking forward to shooting Hornet for the first time in about 4 months, wont be rushing back i must admit.

Things had improved recently, however after a morning of no birds, broken traps and even watching a trap FALL OVER, they seem to have gone back to the Hornet of ten years ago.

Finished on a good score after dropping some silly targets, but will just go to newbold or westfield next time!

 

[Hamster]

first time there and now and my second official registered shoot, will definately return, saw a lot of shootclay members saw a guy with a synthetic stock

who travelled 130 miles to shoot, now thats dedication

struggled with everything fast and close left to rights, the blaze going away with the dropping sim incomer and the blaze left to right with the midi right to l

left, dropped all 10

really need some help with these fast close targets, not sure if its an eye thing , i do wear a patch in the top left corner of my glasses :frown:

only dropped one of the fast going away right to left but again missed all the left to right rising crossers

didnt straight any stand but managed a 61,dropping a massive 15 clays of left to rights, didnt experience any delays luckily

nice to shoot in the sun for a change

I had to do 262 miles there and back so you count yourself lucky :.: , the synthetic stock guy was prolly me by the way.

You did very well to straight that stand Matt, I dropped one of each and watched Alec Cobb drop 3 of his last two pairs :huh: .

Stands 2,3 and 4 beat me up, really liked the targets and no excuses but I agree with you they had too many stands with TWO tough birds so you couldn't catch your breath. I was luckier with fewer breakdowns but not so keen on the super lenient scoring on one stand where broken clays were being fired at and scored as kills. Lost 10 birds on the stands mentioned earlier so mustn't moan at my 83; must do better.

I caught a round at Gatton Bottom on the way back and managed to pick up some money with joint 1st in AA with 94, could have been a oner had I not missed the last pair on one stand, Mark Marshall's 96 went unchallenged.

 

[GavB]

The penny has dropped yes it was you I was talking to, we discussed your stock and your local grounds in kent on the sim pair stand of right to left crossers in the woods.

Nice to put a face to the name and well shot

 

[Will Hewland]

Sorry to miss you Hammy.

I dropped 7 on the corner stand with incomes and r-l crosser by tree. Hence 81..

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[Hamster]

Sorry to miss you Hammy.

I dropped 7 on the corner stand with incomes and r-l crosser by tree. Hence 81..

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I watched a few people shoot that stand rather well, the incomer wasn't straight if you think about it so needed a tiny right edge slant, the crosser was cleverly set up to be shot before the tree which probably tensed a few people up.

In fact there were a lot of clever teasers there today, the L/R fast looper and over shoulder incomer needed completely different footwork with no time to adjust, the R/L rising incomer/crosser followed by the fast quartering away L/R also needed footwork.

 

[GavB]

I watched a few people shoot that stand rather well, the incomer wasn't straight if you think about it so needed a tiny right edge slant, the crosser was cleverly set up to be shot before the tree which probably tensed a few people up.

In fact there were a lot of clever teasers there today, the L/R fast looper and over shoulder incomer needed completely different footwork with no time to adjust, the R/L rising incomer/crosser followed by the fast quartering away L/R also needed footwork.

the second bird completely got the jump on me, took the remaining pairs with my feet lined up for the second bird and hit the rest

out of interest on fast quartering/crossers as per the blaze targets mentioned earlier whatds your prefered method of shooting, i seem to be slashing through them and not being in control

 

[Hamster]

If they're really fast then it's usually best to come from behind and shoot just as you reach the bird, the trick is to not give conscious lead as the speed of catching up has enough momentum.

If the bird is a bit slower like we had on one of the stands followed by a R/L going away crosser, then it's easier to use a front nose maintained lead which helps with keeping in touch with the line in case it dips for instance.

 

[GavB]

Many thanks

ive definately been giving lead to those shots, ill see if i can find a ground that can simulate those targets and experiment

on the target you mentioned i think i may have to turn my head further toward the trap as with the patch over the left eye birds are getting the jump on me a bit

 

[sscottsmith1234]

Sometimes moving your gun further along the flightline can help, means your not always trying to chase or catch up.

 

[GavB]

thanks i will give that a go

hard to find a place that replicates these targets as even the skeet range targets are not fast enough

 

[sscottsmith1234]

They usually have that sort of thing on at the E.J churchill registered shoots, especially in the woods at the far end.

May be worth poping down for a pop or two

 

[** Pending Removal **]

Come on Elvis.........

Tell all about your 96 here.

Laugh out loud.

 

[GavB]

They usually have that sort of thing on at the E.J churchill registered shoots, especially in the woods at the far end.

May be worth poping down for a pop or two

came unstuck last week there lots of fast close stuff

 

[Hamster]

Many thanks

ive definately been giving lead to those shots, ill see if i can find a ground that can simulate those targets and experiment

The quartering bird is one of the fundamental birds you need to suss for your scores to climb properly. The hard part is knowing what is a crosser which needs daylight, and what looks like a crosser (because it starts from one side and goes to the other) but isn't . It is a revelation when you realise how much better they break when you cut back the lead, as mentioned earlier some look as though you're shooting straight at them but any more and you're in danger of poor breaks or worse missing.

You need to find out what works for you address wise obviously but in general you need to engineer a situation that lets the bird get the jump on you otherwise you end up panicking and shooting maintained lead which is perfik for missing these.

 

[Will Hewland]

Hamster is totally correct Gav.

Often what happens is the bird is first seen rushing across you (as you look to the side, to see it), but at the kil point, it is barely more than a going away. That is often what causes you to add lead and get a miss in front.

At hornet there were about six targets like that..

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[** Pending Removal **]

So guys as the CPSA scores are not up yet......does anyone know who won this shoot?

By the way Elvis.......... 'congratulations on your 96'.........think everyone has missed my earlier post.

Was it enough to win the shoot????

 

[Will Hewland]

Dunno.

Hornet are hopeless with their own site and the CPSA system makes it physically impossible for the scores to appear before Tuesday -and that relies upon Hornet sending scores in on a Monday- which they likely won't. All very infuriating.

Steve Leonard hit 95 and was leading when I left. I know Mickey Rouse intended to visit after Westfield, but dont know if he made it.. 96 sounds ample to win it IMO. It wasnt that easy..

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