Shoot reports and news 2024

So, it’s 2024. Happy New Year to all, in both shooting and home lives.

Best to start a new thread for the year where we can mention how our day behind the gun has gone. Years ago, there was a slightly Sporting versus Trap vibe on here, which doesn’t really exist anymore, so I think we should all be fine to mention how our day went, whether it’s at any of the Sporting variants or indeed in other inferior forms of clay shooting. . We’re all in it together.

OK, I'll be the first to put my head above the parapet. E J Churchills today for their (and my) first ESP Reg of the year. No rain and no wind, felt like the first time for that combination for a while!

I thought it was an enjoyable and interesting set of targets. A few more sim pairs than usual - a sim pair of driven, big lr crosser and rl looper, lr battue and floppy lr, sim crows (one midi and one standard). The only one to really catch me out was the big lr crosser/rl looper combo - hit every crosser, missed every dropping looper. Definitely not a day for those not liking dropping targets as three of the four sim pairs required you to take one of the targets on the way down unless you were super-speedy (I'm not).

High point for me was going straight on the scaffold. I'm never keen on the limited lead rl crossers they throw on that stand. Made a plan - don't do my default maintained lead, let it get past the barrels and controlled swing through to just in front of the front edge. It worked and I managed to stick to the plan, even though I have to concentrate hard to not get in front from the start.

Finished on 83. Happy with that to start the year. I chucked away a random pair in the middle of Stand 7 and missed a very easy chondel on Stand 4 that I shouldn't have (amongst others), so could have been an even better start.

Agree EJC was a nice course and actually perfect shooting weather. Maybe could have done with one stand toughening up to create a talking point, but a good mix and plenty of good shooters not cleaning it all up. My story? Same as ever.. tossed a good result away by missing 3 targets most C class would have smashed. Sigh..

HNY all, EJC for me as well. The weather in the morning, as Will said, was spot on. The day earlier would have been a whole different story

Not been shooting much recently due to work commitments, so I wasn't expecting a stellar performance. Met them expectations rather well, dropping the odd stupid ones (on the last pairs, as well). Then had a total meltdown on stand 8, and dropped a shedload. Hurried the big crosser, thinking it'd give me more time on the sim looper, and screwed both up. Over led the first, then too busy kicking myself to hit the 2nd. Then pulled my finger out of my ****, and only dropped one for the rest of the round.

The way I was shooting, I was anticipating something in the 70's. Quite surprised with an 84.

Coleys, 3rd of four welcome Saturday registered shoots, and an even more welcome dry, albeit chilly and then quite chilly day. In a squad of chums which always bodes well, our 12.30 start was on time and muppet here was first up, despite myself managed to straight three of the first four stands, my short lived as on a 5pair simo going aways I made the cardinal sin of assuming Id shot both targets first barrell, even worse I did that three times! My error obvious to everyone but I. Did find second half of course very difficult was I, but thats just me as others seemed to “be on them” enough. Despite near half hour wait due to trap breakdown (when we really did feel / get cold) overall it did feel a decent enough course, just too good for me on the day in lots of places, and yes, I would shoot it again as I cannot believe Id shoot some of the stands so badly again.
High gun was 95 when I left, some squads still out, the breakdown effect just hope they didnt lose daylight

Richard59 said:

Coleys, 3rd of four welcome Saturday registered shoots, and an even more welcome dry, albeit chilly and then quite chilly day. In a squad of chums which always bodes well, our 12.30 start was on time and muppet here was first up, despite myself managed to straight three of the first four stands, my short lived as on a 5pair simo going aways I made the cardinal sin of assuming Id shot both targets first barrell, even worse I did that three times! My error obvious to everyone but I. Did find second half of course very difficult was I, but thats just me as others seemed to “be on them” enough. Despite near half hour wait due to trap breakdown (when we really did feel / get cold) overall it did feel a decent enough course, just too good for me on the day in lots of places, and yes, I would shoot it again as I cannot believe Id shoot some of the stands so badly again.
High gun was 95 when I left, some squads still out, the breakdown effect just hope they didnt lose daylight

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I booked in for next month already. They fill this shoot no problem. 180 spaces.

Put on decent targets and they will come….

Me too Will. Haven't shot there for a while so I'll see a few of you there.

Westfield today, also a big entry so Gloucestershire seems the popular zone. I reckon nearly 200 total. Very cool day but otherwise shooter-friendly conditions. Lovely course, nothing really nasty but consistent amount of good crossers and loopers at some distance, mixed with some more fiddly stands. Enjoyed it despite the usual collection of occasions where I missed and really feel I shouldn’t have, including last clay of the day after dusting first 7. Grrr.. Finished 93 which is no shame but I reckon there is a massive score out there for one of the stars.

Weekend away for us, Coleys yesterday, good course and we were one of the last squads out so got held up by the breakdown, got really cold and it was getting fairly dark by time we finished, we stayed over and shot Westfield’s today. Again another good course but freezing cold.
Have not shot for 3 weeks or so and felt timing was really out, had a headache whilst shooting yesterday which returned today with a vengeance and should have listened to my gut and not shot today, and just walked around with Phil and our friend and watched.

So, one thing I did learn today, don’t change my mind about where to shoot a target because no one else did it! On the platform, the incoming rabbit, I was going to take it on early but everyone I watched left it til really late so like a stupid sheep I copied them and missed first 3, took last one early and hit it

Dozed most of the way home so not sure if coming down with anything but don’t feel right etc but it’s not the way I really wanted to start 2024 shooting wise!

Every year we say we are going to have a break Jan-March and just train and practice, I think this year we will stick to that plan!

Westfield yesterday in the miserable damp and cold.

Despite two (would've been if I'd entered comp) class wins in Cefn Tilla and St Dials over the last few weeks I performed dismally. I didn't really warm up until stands 10-12 but the damage had already been done.

A very disappointing 70/100.

Also worth noting the poor target setting on the far side of the ground which meant that people on stands 2-4 being were peppered with incoming shot. I took one to the back of the leg on stand 4 which was a real stinger through a pair of wind/ waterproof trousers and thermal leggings. One lad took one to the face as he took to stand 2 which left him in pain and with a visible mark on his upper lip.

Westfield is well known for this so you'd think they'd factor that in when setting out the targets.

Clear Miss said:

Westfield yesterday in the miserable damp and cold.

Despite two (would've been if I'd entered comp) class wins in Cefn Tilla and St Dials over the last few weeks I performed dismally. I didn't really warm up until stands 10-12 but the damage had already been done.

A very disappointing 70/100.

Also worth noting the poor target setting on the far side of the ground which meant that people on stands 2-4 being were peppered with incoming shot. I took one to the back of the leg on stand 4 which was a real stinger through a pair of wind/ waterproof trousers and thermal leggings. One lad took one to the face as he took to stand 2 which left him in pain and with a visible mark on his upper lip.

Westfield is well known for this so you'd think they'd factor that in when setting out the targets.

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Blimey, I thought Westfields was a premier ground but if people are getting peppered with shot how can the CPSA allow them to hold competitions under their name? Especially when you say that they are well known for it…

I shot it early so not so many shooters generating shot. I had no issues, but I admit the ground is a big circle so any shots into the circle are towards other stands potentially. On stand 10 (sim orange where I saved three cartridges) I could clearly see a fella loading a trap in the distance. It’s still a great bit of ground though.

I shot for a year or so 20+ years ago and came back to it around 1 year ago. Really enjoying it but usually only getting out once per week for 50 birds locally. Time is the limiting factor for me.
Anyway, 50 birds ESP at the weekend, (not registered) and retuned a 39.
Tried a round of skeet for the first time in 20 years and second time in my life. I was quite happy with 19 out of 25.
Hoping to improve given some extra time.

(Westfields) I agree, it's a great ground but the first time I shot there I was shocked by the amount of falling shot and bits of clay onto shooters. As Will says, the layout is a big circle so you would think that the stands would shoot outward but that was not always the case on the day in question.

Another decent course at Hornet / College farm today but wow was it biting cold. I knew it was 1 degree so had dressed as well as you can and still shoot but.. We started in the shady corner by the field platform where a North wind blew at us. Two stands there and missed a few as just struggled to move properly. It got marginally better once we had more tree cover elsewhere, but wow, plus it was gusting and mucking clays around. Managed to scrape my average. I have two more shoots booked this week and thankfully it’s not quite as cold for them. I hope..

Went to Northamptonshire Shooting Ground for their regular bi- monthly 100 ESP, weather was cold but dry with cloud cover. Good turnout as always with a good mixture of targets, started off well averaging 6 per stand but came unstuck on the last 7 as the difficulty ramped up. Had some fun and laughter with my squad of six as well as some encouragement and friendly advice. It was my last 100 targets to get my classification, I managed a 54 which i wasn't too disheartened with as im starting to break more clays on the difficult stands gradually. The easy targets are now sorted now its time to work on the more challenging targets to fill the gap. Walked away with C classification, so it's something to build off of.

College Farm today for us. Cold but not unbearable, no wind as such and a good squad. Enjoyed the shoot but the last stand was frustrating. The first bird a tricky chondel type from the left going away from you and appearing suddenly paired with an orange looper from the right but not crossing in front of you. Even the good shots found it tricky. It bit into my score missing 5/8 but ended on an 81 which these days is good for me and most importantly I enjoyed it.

I’m knackered. I’ve shot 5 days out of the last 8, much of it freezing weather. I did get through today well enough at Redricks. Wasnt my highest score of all the shoots, but I only missed 1 clay that I would call “silly“, so a decent end to the marathon. I’m now having a huge break and will not reappear until Thursday at EJC.

Will Hewland said:

I’m knackered. I’ve shot 5 days out of the last 8, much of it freezing weather. I did get through today well enough at Redricks. Wasnt my highest score of all the shoots, but I only missed 1 clay that I would call “silly“, so a decent end to the marathon. I’m now having a huge break and will not reappear until Thursday at EJC.

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Pure dedication right there. Enjoy the break, well earnt.