Richard59
Well-known member
Firstly no I did not shoot this event, secondly Im C Class and this shoot was the first England Team Selection Shoot, and the West Midlands Area English Sporting Championship, add then its at Westfield and in April too boot, all the ingredients (perfect storm?) for it being, as MrLovatt described this very morn as being "a tad too hard" Now the shooters all competing for an England place will have expected nowt else (if it was the last selection shoot then things would have been different Im sure), those for the WM Area much the same, but for the vast majority of As, the Bs and Cs that booked in you must have expected a very very tough day?I shot Westfield over the weekend for the first of the England selection shoots. It was certainly a firmer shoot but everything was hittable. A few head scratchers that you only work out after you've shot it and walk 50m away to realise there was a twist to the clay that you couldn't easily see from the cage. Classic Lovatt/Westfield!
Looking at the basic average score from each class the scores were down below the CPSA cutoffs for each class, but that should surely be the case for a team selection shoot?
- C Class. Average 55.6% - CPSA class range 70.77-0
- B Class. Average 64.4% - CPSA class range 78.13 - 70.78
- A Class. Average 72.8% - CPSA class range 84.77 - 78.14
- AA Class. Average 77.6% - CPSA class range 88.90 - 84.78
- AAA Class. Average 82.9% - CPSA class range 100-88.91
My thoughts:
Really enjoyable (after the first 5 stands). Felt the start was a bit firm which possibly broke people? Targets were of a high standard, enjoyable and left you questioning your reads most times.
Would certainly shoot that sort of shoot again but maybe an approach to the selection shoots could be have them un-registered? Can still go on to the CPSA site but have them sit outside of your averages. Possibly something to do for the majors as well?
There is no point having a standard shoot where we'd have 15-20 people on 94+ for a selection shoot based on points difference.
EDIT: I should say that I shot 77/100, which is 6 below my average (in A class). I was pleased with that, especially as that score was an average AA score. No complaints from me
Me, as mentioned Im jobbing along C class, so the England bit is pie in sky as is the WM Area Champs, I don't possess the all round skill set for such, nor is one likely to, so no I won't be flogging myself to "improve" as is a common retort.
It must be though a devils job getting any shoot right for the 100+ differing opinions, this shoot being described as "too hard" some, due to a shot or two having a blinding day as being "too soft", course setting is not a job Id want nor do I have the rhino hard skin for.