Sporting shoots 2023. How was it?

[Martinj]

Suspect the scores will have something to do with it. Not that I shoot much but it looks to me that some like high scores and some like more challenging targets….

That's an interesting theory, last two averages at
Gunsite were:
8.10.23 - 81%
10.09.23 - 80%

Westfield:
12.11.23 - 74%
29.10.23 - 71%

So at a glance, Westfield appears to be the tougher shoot. TBH I think Gunsite is tough enough, but as they say, no pain = no gain.

 

[Westward]

That's an interesting theory, last two averages at
Gunsite were:
8.10.23 - 81%
10.09.23 - 80%

Westfield:
12.11.23 - 74%
29.10.23 - 71%

So at a glance, Westfield appears to be the tougher shoot. TBH I think Gunsite is tough enough, but as they say, no pain = no gain.

There's no doubt that you have to work for your points at Westfield. Perhaps one make up stand but most of Steve's targets are fair and shootable. Some can be fairly testing but without being at silly distances or very short windows.

Personally I like shooting at both places but they're a different experience. In the end the superstars score in the 90s at both places - and I may be wrong - but I don't thinks anyone's scored a 100% at Westfield.

 

[Martinj]

Fair comment Westward, but if we are looking for the reasons for Gunsite being better attended than Westfield (which we were,) it might be because people in general prefer a shoot that is not so much on the firm side.

of course it might just be down to geographical location or some other random factor

 

[Will Hewland]

Fair comment Westward, but if we are looking for the reasons for Gunsite being better attended than Westfield (which we were,) it might be because people in general prefer a shoot that is not so much on the firm side.

of course it might just be down to geographical location or some other random factor

I know Steve Lovatt has pondered this topic also. He has had the odd easier shoot and it didn’t seem to cause a stampede thereafter. Perhaps a mix of historic reputation and location. Gunsite is probably in a great location for a lot of South West shooters who aren’t otherwise spoiled for choice. But Sean Pontings other ground Hangmanstones is also a victim of its own success so he sure does something right.

 

[Timfish]

I remember Steve L running a few ‘extreme’ shoots a while back. I went to one (mid week) and it was very well attended. The targets were ‘serious’.

I started ‘competing‘ at Barbary back in the John King days and everybody shot 80% -which seemed fairly pointless to me…..

 

[Nick Selby]

Looks to me that the grounds with the higher avg score seem to attract more shooters. This suggest that people prefer ‘softer’ shoots than those slightly more challenging shoots… each to their own and all that. It’s not a cheap sport so the paying public will choose the most enjoyable shoot for them.

Like is said, some like a challenge, some like big numbers.

Personally I think that challenging yourself more will ultimately make you a better shooter in the long term..

 

[Martinj]

Personally I think that challenging yourself more will ultimately make you a better shooter in the long term..

Most people would agree, myself included, but there must come a point where being "challenged" is like banging your head against the wall and is just plain discouraging, it's a question of balance.

 

[Richard59]

There's no doubt that you have to work for your points at Westfield. Perhaps one make up stand but most of Steve's targets are fair and shootable. Some can be fairly testing but without being at silly distances or very short windows.

Personally I like shooting at both places but they're a different experience. In the end the superstars score in the 90s at both places - and I may be wrong - but I don't thinks anyone's scored a 100% at Westfield.

Sam Usher has a 100 straight at Westfield, I do believe he’s the only one, and it was just a few months after his RU at BO 2021 and few before he won BO at Barbury in 2022, some shot this young man

 

[Richard59]

I remember Steve L running a few ‘extreme’ shoots a while back. I went to one (mid week) and it was very well attended. The targets were ‘serious’.

I started ‘competing‘ at Barbary back in the John King days and everybody shot 80% -which seemed fairly pointless to me…..

Now those Barbury John King days are a looong time ago

 

[Sian]

Suspect the scores will have something to do with it. Not that I shoot much but it looks to me that some like high scores and some like more challenging targets….

I will always support Sean as he’s one of the nicest people even if it means freezing my lalas off and waiting to shoot. I find his targets just as difficult as Steve’s to be honest. It doesn’t seem to make my scores higher attending his shoots as opposed to Steve’s. In fact they are two setters of shoots I’ll put myself out fo now.

 

[jonz]

I will always support Sean as he’s one of the nicest people even if it means freezing my lalas off and waiting to shoot. I find his targets just as difficult as Steve’s to be honest. It doesn’t seem to make my scores higher attending his shoots as opposed to Steve’s. In fact they are two setters of shoots I’ll put myself out fo now.

I agree , Sean is one of the friendliest ground owners I’ve met so perhaps that’s the answer, on the very rare occasions I have been to his grounds the atmosphere is upbeat and enjoyable.

 

[Sian]

EJC today with my favourite people Natasha Vadasz, Martin Nobbs, the hubby and Amanda Foster and a gent called Neil who was very nice. No big score for me, the orange got me today on a few stands, second to last squad out and the light didn’t suit me. Enjoyed the shoot and the company. Very glad we just had a little spit of rain for a very short while. Double bacon bap was my reward at the end.

 

[Richard59]

That's an interesting theory, last two averages at
Gunsite were:
8.10.23 - 81%
10.09.23 - 80%

Westfield:
12.11.23 - 74%
29.10.23 - 71%

So at a glance, Westfield appears to be the tougher shoot. TBH I think Gunsite is tough enough, but as they say, no pain = no gain.

Thing is with ESP there are too many variables, if the entry itself is top heavy with AAA AA & A one would expect a high scoring shoot, these AAAs have to bang in 90+ and more just to be in class, and 95 and more to place, have a decent number of those and the plethora of 90s makes it look a jolly, where there’s lots of blaggers like myself bulking out the entry the exact opposite shows in the shoots stats.
If the software could use the cumulative total average of each entrant, compared with the actual cumulative submitted scores one could gauge whether the shoot shot “steady” or “tough”, that does of course mean that all scores do have to be returned, sadly there are those that still think that if a score is below their expectations it doesn’t.

 

[Will Hewland]

Barbury today and right from the off, it was a bit tougher than usual. My worst stand was actually stand 2 where I missed three 15 yard orange dropping crossers! Just caught me out. I also missed a few more steady targets on the way round, usually because I was trying so hard on the tough ones I didn’t focus on less worrying stuff. I do that a lot.. A shame as I really enjoyed the course and was happy with much of the rest of it, which continued in a firm vein. Finished 88. The shoot is averaging 68 with 87 scores in so far.

 

[jonz]

Barbury today and right from the off, it was a bit tougher than usual. My worst stand was actually stand 2 where I missed three 15 yard orange dropping crossers! Just caught me out. I also missed a few more steady targets on the way round, usually because I was trying so hard on the tough ones I didn’t focus on less worrying stuff. I do that a lot.. A shame as I really enjoyed the course and was happy with much of the rest of it, which continued in a firm vein. Finished 88. The shoot is averaging 68 with 87 scores in so far.

I think we have all been guilty of not focusing on the less worrying stuff and coming unstuck, if you know of an easy solution to that problem please let us know, it’s so frustrating to hit the hard ones and then miss the simple ones, I just can’t stop doing it time after time…

 

[jasper]

They are just targets . They are not hard , easy , steady or anything else. This is the way forward.

 

[Will Hewland]

I’m organising a little competition. I will shoot 5 pairs of 10 yard dolly up loopers. My opponent will have 5 pairs of sim 70 yard battues that don’t turn and show face. Loser pays £5k. Who is in?

 

[Richard59]

They are just targets . They are not hard , easy , steady or anything else. This is the way forward.

That maybe the case for you AA superstars but to us lesser mortals they are mostly devilishly difficult &!@$%^* things that escape our best endeavours to hit, I jest of course or not in my experience

 

[jasper]

It just the mind set you need. It nothing to do with what class you are in. Just prepare for every target the same. They all score the same .

 

[jasper]

I’m organising a little competition. I will shoot 5 pairs of 10 yard dolly up loopers. My opponent will have 5 pairs of sim 70 yard battues that don’t turn and show face. Loser pays £5k. Who is in?

Well you say you keep missing the dolly up targets . So.........