Sporting Shoots 2020

[tiptop]

I may be completely missing the point but surely the best shooters will still qualify for the final and the best on the day will win the title, the rest who make it into the final will just enjoy the experience, maybe 1 or 2 may miss out and feel hard done by but they were never going to win it anyway?

Quite right, the best shooters will qualify for the final, and best shot on the day will be British Champion. The rest though, unless they have delusions of grandeur, are competing for their respective class medals. I don't see how it is right that someone can shoot badly, finish 70th in class, on the day of qualification, and come back and win a Class medal. The top 5 on qualification day go through in class, the others only qualified through category. When I enter any big competition, for me I am entering to try and win my class, I am not delusional enough to think that I could win the title or even the vets title. In my view, people are shooting for something they never actually qualified for. That is the point I am making. It's a bit like sneaking in through the back door.

Maybe it really is time to nominate, class or category at the time of entry. 

 

[Charliedog]

Quite right, the best shooters will qualify for the final, and best shot on the day will be British Champion. The rest though, unless they have delusions of grandeur, are competing for their respective class medals. I don't see how it is right that someone can shoot badly, finish 70th in class, on the day of qualification, and come back and win a Class medal. The top 5 on qualification day go through in class, the others only qualified through category. When I enter any big competition, for me I am entering to try and win my class, I am not delusional enough to think that I could win the title or even the vets title. In my view, people are shooting for something they never actually qualified for. That is the point I am making. It's a bit like sneaking in through the back door.

Maybe it really is time to nominate, class or category at the time of entry. 

I assumed you had to nominate that anyway but seemingly not by what you are saying

 

[tiptop]

I assumed you had to nominate that anyway but seemingly not by what you are saying

Nope, goes on your age and gender. You pay one fee and you can end up in 3 class/categories if it all falls right. You could be in juniors, ladies, and class, if you are female and under 21. Females over 60 get 3 goes in vets, ladies and class. If you happen to be female between 21-59 you get 2 goes in ladies and class, a male over 60 gets 2 goes in vets and class, a male between 21-59 you only get 1 go as you are only entered in class. So some people get 3 goes at the cherry, some 2, and some only get the one go at it. Although they put a senior category on just for this competition, that disappears off the prize list at the end, but to be honest unless you are AAA or AA, you would have little chance of qualifying through that, you could be cynical and say that it's just a thing to ensure there are enough top guns at the finals to make it look good.

So you see, if some people don't shoot well enough to qualify for their class, there is a chance that they can sneak in through other means, and some having more chances than others. That's why this is such a farce.

 

[donna]

Totally agree with your thoughts, it should be as every CPSA registered shoot is, class OR category and you state that when you enter.  I’m dreading next year when I get to the counter and they say “ladies, class or vets”  

Sometimes Ive entered ladies, then found if I’d gone in class I would have won something or vice versa, that’s the chance you take. 

 

[Sian]

Shot the BO ESP and STP today.  Both very good courses.   Early start and no time when we got there as we ran late so straight onto STP which just mad e me jittery and I started badly and didn’t get much better so let myself down on that. Nearly 3 hrs driving and then straight on does not work for me,  Tony shot off for 3rd in Class and got it.  ESP again my wits were not about me. Shot a few stands well but that was about it.   Took my battery powered cart which really did save my shoulders and back.  Only ran over one person’s foot but it was Adrian Balham so that was okay.   

 

[Bebo]

Shot the BO yesterday too.  First time at a major Comp.  Definitely a bit nervy and stiff as a result.  Everything much closer than I expected, much of which I misread and overled as a result. My shooting was pretty terrible all around, had about three decent stands I think.  All good experience though. The 420 mile round trip as well as taking three and a half hours to get around has left me absolutely knackered today.

 

[Richard59]

No reg within reasonable drive time so went to local straw baler, saw fair few similar such lost souls, sun was shining, the targets were all a test enough, was nice to be out.

 

[tiptop]

No reg within reasonable drive time so went to local straw baler, saw fair few similar such lost souls, sun was shining, the targets were all a test enough, was nice to be out.

Barbury for a little gang of us today.

 

[bisondan]

British was well run at Garlands, fair targets with nothing silly.

I was doing reasonably well until stand 12 with the 2 driven, where I dropped 4; didn't get my feet right at all and pulled off line.  This just then put a bit of pressure on the last 3 which were pretty tough - 93/120

Some work to be done on the longer stuff, think I'm being a bit keen and putting big gaps on but not really moving/connecting with the clay.

 

[chippy]

Shot Northampton today. Another good round 13 varied stands. 95 was high I hit 90.

 

[Sian]

Shot Northampton today. Another good round 13 varied stands. 95 was high I hit 90.

I shot it too just not very well

 

[chippy]

I shot it too just not very well

Those midi's over the high banks have always been my downfall at Northampton but yesterday I shot them well. I wish I knew what i changed.

 

[Sian]

Those midi's over the high banks have always been my downfall at Northampton but yesterday I shot them well. I wish I knew what i changed.

The sim pair, I shot 3/6.   The one in the bowl at the far end, direct in the sun for us. I got the second one even though every time Imshot it at the sun, blind I could barely see the first one.  Shot with very good shots and it really pissed me off to see them miss due to the sun.

 

[Richard59]

Oxfordshire today, bit chillier than the forecast I saw, I do now go out fully prepared for all weathers and had appropriate clothing! Not with usual chums as they went to AGL for the Express Masters(?) and joined a gang of similar aged / ability more social than serious competitor type shooters. For those not been Oxfordshire is quite a compact ground compared to most, nice clubhouse and loos that put many a hotel group to shame, fairly decent tea, cakes & judging by plates hot food too. My P gun is away at the surgeons so it was the MK38 which got a very very rare outing toady, although fit wise they are near identical, I cannot say that they are like for like. Shoot wise a bit of of a mixed bag for I, shot some splendidly and some some not so, afraid the not so were all usual l-r bogeys, the last shoot here wasn't set by the usual chap and some high scores were not going to be repeated he warned, overall I though it was a fair shoot, yes some big birds and a few difficult to read too, it was though a fair enough shoot with plenty of all, me I finished well enough and it was more a smile than frown day. 

 

[Bebo]

Just home from AGL. I found it tough today. Tricky, technical targets a fair few of which caught me out. Finished on 63, another score helping with my rapid descent back towards C class.

The extra 20 birds at the end won't get me buying lyalevale cartridges. Good breaks, but too punchy for me.

 

[Will Hewland]

Just home from AGL. I found it tough today. Tricky, technical targets a fair few of which caught me out. Finished on 63, another score helping with my rapid descent back towards C class.

The extra 20 birds at the end won't get me buying lyalevale cartridges. Good breaks, but too punchy for me.

Me too today. I started well then had a poor second half which was fairly tough and so it may be how most did. I think I did 81/100 plus 19/20 on last three Express stands.
 

Those Super Comps are too punchy for me. The Supremes are smoother but at £295/1000 they are reserved for sponsored shooters or beginners who think they will help.

 

[Bebo]

Me too today. I started well then had a poor second half which was fairly tough and so it may be how most did. I think I did 81/100 plus 19/20 on last three Express stands.
 

Those Super Comps are too punchy for me. The Supremes are smoother but at £295/1000 they are reserved for sponsored shooters or beginners who think they will help.

Stand 10 was poor target setting, that orange midi teal was really tough to see. Stand 12 was the usual big targets they put on in that area. I actually got on them and hit the last 2 pairs for a 5.

16 on the last 20. Dropped three driven and one of the first birds on the first stand. I think I slowed the gun bracing for the impact! Hit all four of the looper and saved them three cartridges as well.

 

[Doug Pinnegar]

Oxfordshire Shooting School for me as well. After looking at the scores from the last two months I was expecting an easy ride.... 

Nice shoot. Even the close stuff had some interesting angles (not silly though). Shot with a great squad and met some friendly new faces. 

Sadly, didn't get my first 90, ended on 84.

 

[bisondan]

Not a bad morning at AGL Express Masters; 85 on the registered and 18 on the 3 stands shot with supplied cartridges for 103.

Sim pair with the OH midi and L/R standard was silly with the wind behind it, then stand next to it I could see the midi teal only as it was in blue sky, the crosser that followed it though was like a razor and I think it was supposed to open up and show a bit of face but wasn't.  

Lots of coloured clays again which doesn't suit everyone, they almost get it right but get two or three stands wrong.

 

[Bebo]

Not a bad morning at AGL Express Masters; 85 on the registered and 18 on the 3 stands shot with supplied cartridges for 103.

Sim pair with the OH midi and L/R standard was silly with the wind behind it, then stand next to it I could see the midi teal only as it was in blue sky, the crosser that followed it though was like a razor and I think it was supposed to open up and show a bit of face but wasn't.  

Lots of coloured clays again which doesn't suit everyone, they almost get it right but get two or three stands wrong.

The sim stand with the OH was the only one I straighted yesterday. It was all over the place, but I think I got lucky and they weren't too bad.  The next stand was just stupid. I saw a triple A hit 2 on it.