Sporting shoots. Your personal accounts. 2022

[donna]

Westfield for us and it was nice to finally meet Richard from above!  We went std 3-12 then 1&2!  Didn’t have a good start but picked up and had some really good stands that I was pleased with.  The platform wasn’t good for us either, hit all the green trap birds but only 1 of the looping rabbits.  Finished on 71 for me and 84 Phil and he dropped all the loopy rabbits from platform so wasn’t a happy bunny he just doesn’t feel comfortable on those platforms!  We both ended up stripping off layer after layer as it was a beautify.  Lovely cakes afterwards which finished the shoot off very nicely. Only our 4th time here and even though I’ve never had a score much above my average here I thoroughly enjoy the layouts.  

 

[Chrisessig]

Went to Westfield as well today. Nice weather and good targets. Didn't shoot as well as I could , but not far off. Did enjoy the shoot though. 

 

[Westward]

, not expecting to challenge in class, missed too many for that. 

Well done Richie. Class win.  :clapping:

 

[Richard59]

Well done Richie. Class win.  :clapping:

Well thank you, am somewhat surprised and most pleased. 

 

[Martinj]

Well done Richard

I did my first clay shoot since early January on Sunday at a well attended Gatton Bottom, I had been doing a few game shoots and defending Oilseed rape so clays have had to take a back seat. 

I surprised myself by shooting 91 which is about as good as it gets for me, I sometimes find a break from clays will produce surprising results and I managed a "class win" too 

 

[Richard59]

Coleys today for their first reg of 2022, was sold out 155 entries online, near 20 didn’t / couldn’t make it. Weather early doors was pretty wet I hear, ( did see MrHewland looking a tad  damp ) was due to start at 1.50, an earlier trap breakdown pushed that back to 2.40, thankfully the rain had stopped, still a bit chilly though. The grounds have had major tree work undertaken, looking pretty sparse in areas, actually pretty isn’t the word, more ravaged. An excavator atop a mound of dug spoil was also a sight. Shoot wise, cannot dress up my day as I did wobble a fair bit, few I just didn’t have a clue on, some just took too long to find, the few orange clays did struggle to pick up, most on squad found them easy enough so it was the eyes nowt else. Scores suggest I wasn’t alone in finding the shoot a tad awkward.

HGun Mr JBD 94.
 

I feel Barbury next week will offer a different sort of challenge. 

 

[Will Hewland]

Coleys today for their first reg of 2022, was sold out 155 entries online, near 20 didn’t / couldn’t make it. Weather early doors was pretty wet I hear, ( did see MrHewland looking a tad  damp ) was due to start at 1.50, an earlier trap breakdown pushed that back to 2.40, thankfully the rain had stopped, still a bit chilly though. The grounds have had major tree work undertaken, looking pretty sparse in areas, actually pretty isn’t the word, more ravaged. An excavator atop a mound of dug spoil was also a sight. Shoot wise, cannot dress up my day as I did wobble a fair bit, few I just didn’t have a clue on, some just took too long to find, the few orange clays did struggle to pick up, most on squad found them easy enough so it was the eyes nowt else. Scores suggest I wasn’t alone in finding the shoot a tad awkward.

HGun Mr JBD 94.
 

I feel Barbury next week will offer a different sort of challenge. 

Nice to see you briefly Rich. Weather wasn’t great, nor were the multiple trap issues. 
The course is clearly set to be tricky and for me, using my old gun that doesn’t really fit, I did struggle on the fiddly technical stuff and trashed my scorecard on 3 stands particularly. A lot of very good names there today, which is the only reason a few made it into the 90s. 

 

[Richard59]

Nice to see you briefly Rich. Weather wasn’t great, nor were the multiple trap issues. 
The course is clearly set to be tricky and for me, using my old gun that doesn’t really fit, I did struggle on the fiddly technical stuff and trashed my scorecard on 3 stands particularly. A lot of very good names there today, which is the only reason a few made it into the 90s. 

Traps, oh you weren’t alone, we had our quota of “technical issues” think the traps had enough of being out in the early wet weather too! Yes some superstars in attendance, when course feels set to pinch a few targets off those chaps the knock on effects down the classes can be brutal. That said a few flourished out there.

 

[Johnyh]

I shot Coleys on Wednesday. 2nd to last on the scoreboard, but I enjoyed being out shooting a reg shoot again (I haven’t been out much recently) Traps and weather aside, how can I not hit an incomer that virtually lands at my feet?. Will and Richards comments above have made me feel a little better about my performance. 

 

[Will Hewland]

Incomers at no distance are tricky, as the pattern is smaller than the clay. I always reckon the easiest targets are at 20 yards as there is usually a 20” pattern to play with. I spoke with Matt, who set the course at Coleys and I think the next shoot will be better. (Although he’s never learned in the past..)

 

[Westward]

I used to ref their Wednesday shoots until I had the temerity to post on here that I couldn't understand the point  of throwing clays at 3 metres range when the terrain was virtually begging for more imaginative target setting. That was the shoot that recorded some of the lowest scores AA scores I've ever seen which was why I posted my thoughts.

That shoot was so painful for so many shooters that it led to a significant fall off in attendances, nevertheless, as a result of my post I was banned by their management from reffing there.

It is my nearest reg ground and I have shot there a couple of times since, but really not enjoyed it at all as not much has changed in respect of the course setting. Personally I'm not addicted to shooting at every every available opportunity and avoid places where I don't enjoy the event, therefore perfectly happy to spend my hard earned elsewhere.

 

[wynno]

I used to ref their Wednesday shoots until I had the temerity to post on here that I couldn't understand the point  of throwing clays at 3 metres range when the terrain was virtually begging for more imaginative target setting. That was the shoot that recorded some of the lowest scores AA scores I've ever seen which was why I posted my thoughts.

That shoot was so painful for so many shooters that it led to a significant fall off in attendances, nevertheless, as a result of my post I was banned by their management from reffing there.

It is my nearest reg ground and I have shot there a couple of times since, but really not enjoyed it at all as not much has changed in respect of the course setting. Personally I'm not addicted to shooting at every every available opportunity and avoid places where I don't enjoy the event, therefore perfectly happy to spend my hard earned elsewhere.

I remember that shoot very well, and tbh I thought 90% of it was good, but it did pi*s a lot of people off.

To ban you from reffing there’s is such a short sighted and silly thing to do, just because you commented.

 

[Westward]

I remember that shoot very well, and tbh I thought 90% of it was good, but it did pi*s a lot of people off.

To ban you from reffing there’s is such a short sighted and silly thing to do, just because you commented.

At Coley's the refs are taken round to see all the targets before kick off, which BTW is a very good idea. On that day we all more or less agreed that there were at least 3 maybe 4 card wrecking stands - not just for C/B classes but potentially for  A/AAs too - and so it proved.

IMHO setting targets with the idea of beating up and demoralising shooters isn't appropriate at a routine monthly reg shoot.

 

[Will Hewland]

At Coley's the refs are taken round to see all the targets before kick off, which BTW is a very good idea. On that day we all more or less agreed that there were at least 3 maybe 4 card wrecking stands - not just for C/B classes but potentially for  A/AAs too - and so it proved.

IMHO setting targets with the idea of beating up and demoralising shooters isn't appropriate at a routine monthly reg shoot.

I agree. Grounds can forget that they are selling entertainment. As long as the course is interesting, varied and hard enough to find the right winners then job done. I find that the better shots who set courses usually get it right. Look at Sean Ponting, always great shoots that are so popular they are turning people away. He’s a brilliant shot himself, so isn’t on some mission to see shooters struggle, to try and make himself feel better..

 

[jasper]

Sean's one of the best around at the moment.Really lovely fellow too always happy to chat and cuddle the Mrs! Also happy to chat about his targets too. Good or bad. Pity he's  a two hour drive each way  

Jasper

 

[Will Hewland]

Redricks today. I do look forward to when the ground dries out there, but a pleasant shoot. Some high scores, but 16 AAA shooters turned up.

If you didn’t do well today it was likely due to needing to be better on fast loopers and quartering stuff, but there was a good mix of targets. A freezing wind made me a bit sluggish and made it tricky to react fast enough on a few targets. I’ve got my Blaser back with new heavy barrels so that didn’t help. Hope my light chokes turn up soon.  A bit of settling in to come for sure, but happy enough with 90. 

 

[chippy]

Redricks also. I've finally shot stand 12 ok, 9x10 behind the first battue. Worst stands were 4 away on stand 2 behind the quick looper and Infront of the 1/4 away. And 3 away on stand 8 one rabbit jumped and missed two of the quick midi's above them I think ,apart from that it was just silly odd one's. Finished on 85.

 

[Will Hewland]

Redricks also. I've finally shot stand 12 ok, 9x10 behind the first battue. Worst stands were 4 away on stand 2 behind the quick looper and Infront of the 1/4 away. And 3 away on stand 8 one rabbit jumped and missed two of the quick midi's above them I think ,apart from that it was just silly odd one's. Finished on 85.

Also a bouncing bunny got me. And the other bird with it, I was just surprised broke each time. Was frightened of it!

 

[Chrisessig]

Barby registered today. Bit windy in places but the banks kept most of it out. No rain , thats always a positive for more.

Went targets only as I have been since starting doing these registered shoots, and I came top of C class!! No prize money for me!!(but I'll take ego boost)

 

[Richard59]

Barbury today, early afternoon squad, after a pleasing start on 5 simos on St1 the wheels wobbled badly, just couldnt get it together on some decent targets, yes bit windy in places but cant blame conditions for some poor decisions. In golfing terms on the “back six stands” one did better to then find a few (lot) more including a couple of monster l-r loopy card wreckers on st8, not a fantastic score but not a horror (given class) card either. HGun when I left was Nick Portlock 93, not many 90s despite a good sized AAA AA entry 

HGun R Faulds 94, last squad out was told