Sporting Shoots; where- and how was it? (2018)

[Richard59]

On wednesday pm managed to swing up to Enstone  to shoot Oxfordshire SS small wid-week STR & ESP, looked very pretty with all the frost on ground & in trees, had a rude awakening in STR blanking first cage, quite possibly due to racing around like a headless chicken, re-shot the cage after completing round and found all 5 which was frustrating. As for the ESP in a squad of 6, which was a first there, in squad was four chaps Id never met before and as the day progressed we became a chatty group of pals. As for the shooting, managed to get more right than wrong, the ground is fibre only, used FBlack 8s through fixed 3/8ths, clays close & far one “vapourised” & chipped my way through so cant claim its a wonder or duff cartridge, I was more than happy with using it, only blight on day, and thats being over critical was the use of a rabbit target, the ground was so hard we all had a few no-birds, thankfully for me they were r/l rabbits which I quite enjoy, it was, towards the end getting very very cold and will admit to being plessed it was a 50 bird shoot, all done in just over an hour then a much needed tea.

Nick Portlock & his mucker Kev Childs shared HG on 46, 

 

[Westward]

Come on Richie don't be shy! Tell the world how you did.

 

[Richard59]

Come on Richie don't be shy! Tell the world how you did.

STR ESP had plenty of days mind

 

[chippy]

Northampton today another excellent round. Only one stand that you shouldn't miss on, the rest were testing some were very testing. I hit at least one of every clay so all hitable and I finished on 83 

 

[Sian]

Northampton today another excellent round. Only one stand that you shouldn't miss on, the rest were testing some were very testing. I hit at least one of every clay so all hitable and I finished on 83 

I shot like a mong  there but I rarely do well there.  Even targets I should get I was missing today.  Stand 4 only hit one of the first birds but to be honest my eyes just blur at things like that.  Did a lot better at Barrow, only one bird that was silly and simply because it was yellow, very hard for a lot of shooters to pick up, just saw it as it was dying near to the ground.  Only got one.  Really no need for yellow at all.

 

[Richard59]

Westfield Compak, bit blowy, so much so the 13st of me nearly over a few times, cant say I lost targets due to wind as Id more than likely lost them anyway, shot some well some not so, messed up a few sim pairs trying them “the wrong way round” all things said I had a good morning out.

 

[schmokinn]

A very windy Owls for me,some very awkward pairs and with the wind effect didn't do so well.

Pool shoot was interesting wind blew gun of target on the going away D bird a couple of times once taking 20st of me with it!

 

[Will Hewland]

A very windy Owls for me,some very awkward pairs and with the wind effect didn't do so well.

Pool shoot was interesting wind blew gun of target on the going away D bird a couple of times once taking 20st of me with it!

I started on the pool shoot. Rubbish first cage, even missed the single. Had a D bird climb an invisible flight of stairs in the wind too. 21 with a better last three cages wasn’t too bad.

The Sporting was awkward in places, but my usual “easy” target is a 30 yard battue and missed one three times today. No idea why. Shot pretty averagely with too many soppy misses elsewhere, especially in first half. 86. 

 

[P1Fanatic]

Also went to Owls for last cards. Missed some basic stuff at the start but had a good middle section and then checked my score with 3 stands left and fell apart like a cheap watch dropping 10. Stand 11 simo was probably the most wind affected for me as blew the 2nd bird into the ground so quickly that unless you got the first bird pretty much straight out of the trap then you had no chance and felt like I was just throwing the gun at it more in hope. Ended on 78.

 

[Sian]

Owls for us too.  Definitely windier  than I thought it was going to be.  Found myself leaning against stands at times to steady myself.  Sim teal was weird orange came out before black but then two buttons were being used.  Some clays definitely dancing in the wind, enjoyed it though.  Think I finished on 77 or 78 can’t remember.  Had a good breakfast after.

 

[Will Hewland]

 

So, frustrated with hitting 86 yesterday at Owls, I went out and made it a whole new day at Westfield. Hit 86.. 



Yet another bad start and reasonable finish. Great course as ever, weather improved hugely from 10 am (while we hid and had breakfast) Shame only 11 stands today. 

 

[Sian]

Gunsite and Westfield today, Gunsite rain and wind and watery eyes and then wind at Westfield.  Both shoots very enjoyable but like Will I prefer less 5 pair stands, 6 is too many.

 

[Steve Lovatt]

Hi Will 

I’m glad you enjoyed it 

sorry it was only 11 stands today but I had a ref say yesterday morning he was unwell and just couldn’t find a replacement 

its the first time in years I’ve done it and don’t want to make a habit of it but some grounds still use 10 or 11 stands as the norm 

 

[Bebo]

Stuck with my decision to not shoot Reg comps in high winds or freezing temperatures.  Went to the local shoot at Mill Farm down near Pevensey.

 

[Turkey]

westfields early with Porky & doug....

Porky 92 .me..91 Doug 75..

I dropped 4 on stand 10 a long dieing crosser that cost me i  overlead it and paid the price

Good shoot 

Then to Gunsite i managed an 88 ,,,Porky 88 ...Doug a solid 84 ...we just couldnt straight stands ....but they were all there to be had! Some good targets...incredible shooting 2 x98s

 

[Bebo]

Nice morning out at Court Farm today, with the hubby, Woodie and another mate who hadn't shot a Registered comp before.  Lots of stuff to shoot straight at, as usual.  Surprisingly windy up at the top of the hill.  Foolishly skipped a stand along the bottom on the way through and went back to shoot it later.  Forgot how badly sun affected some of the high targets can be there at this time of year.  Hadn't had too bad a round, but dropping 6 from 10 on that last stand didn't help.  Finished on a 76.

 

[woody]

Permission to look smug?..... Granted. 

New PB at court farm today. 5th registered shoot and the 1st that starts with a seven for a 71. 

I'm pleased with that. I know you more experienced shots don't rate Horne shoots as much, but as our closest reg, and also the first I went to, its a good benchmark for me to measure progress against. 

 

[chippy]

Sporting targets today. Quite  a tough round Martin Myers high on 92. I hit 85 which iam fairly pleased with, as within 10 of HG is good for me.

 

[P1Fanatic]

Permission to look smug?..... Granted. 

New PB at court farm today. 5th registered shoot and the 1st that starts with a seven for a 71. 

I'm pleased with that. I know you more experienced shots don't rate Horne shoots as much, but as our closest reg, and also the first I went to, its a good benchmark for me to measure progress against. 

Well done. Always nice to hit such a milestone. Ignore what some folks say about Horne. They may not put on monster targets but usually some fairly fiddly stuff and for all the mumblings of it being an easier shoot rarely see massive scores there. At the end of the day you gotta shoot whatever is in front of you.

I went to 4C and shot like a blind man. Started on stand 1 as unusually it was empty. Simo going away that crossed and I just took too long to take them on. Dropped 4. Pretty much the same story all around and cant blame the wind or sun for any of my misses. Ended on 67 which is my worst score for some time. Still the weather was lovely - car said 15c on the drive home.

 

[donna]

Permission to look smug?..... Granted. 

New PB at court farm today. 5th registered shoot and the 1st that starts with a seven for a 71. 

I'm pleased with that. I know you more experienced shots don't rate Horne shoots as much, but as our closest reg, and also the first I went to, its a good benchmark for me to measure progress against. 

Well done you onwards and upwards but you will have days where you just don’t feel right and it goes wrong believe me! I remember the first time I shot in the 70’s, I was so chuffed. Seemed to stay there for ages then before Christmas shot an 80 at sport trap and Owls, was even more chuffed!!!  Since the Xmas shoot at Owls I’ve only had one round of skeet due to family bereavement and illness’s in family but am shooting Tuesday so hope it’s not too bad!