Dsg & Hepworth ...

So 2 lots of shooting. Firstly a quick trip to Hepworth hall to shoot 120 bird supersporting, sir George had shot a 119 and several others between 105 and 114 so thought it must be a sensible round then to my surprise saw a 107/8 in C class . That would take some Beating and told mr Dyson I'm going after 100. 

I started on stand 5 half way through the round and joined a team shooting the auto layout . Those who haven't shot supersporting it's 3 targets per stand . Generally a o/r b , a o/r c then you repeat those combinations then finish with b and c simmo. Historically I haven't shot simmo well however it seemed to be my day. I had one or two targets throughout the round I struggled with. Notably a quartering right to left rabbit on 8 or 9 . Also I struggled with a white going away bird over the pond and then a left to right close white bird for the better of me a couple of times . Other than that I was delighted with my shooting and finished with a 103. That left me second Saturday morning and it kept me there for the rest of the weekend. It was good to shoot with some new people notably Natasha and to shoot with Phil moss for the first time.

Saturday afternoon I shot at Nottingham with the DSG . It was a really disappointing turn out to be honest only 6 turning up. Just 4 members. 

We started on skeet and I started really goo getting to peg 4 not missing a bird then I missed the right to left single. I then missed peg 6 single right to left and also missed low house on peg 7 single . All silly birds and a 22 which really should have been a 23 minimum. Darrel and Jamie pipped me by 1 and Adrian tied with me.

We then went onto dtl and I changed to 1/4 1/4 choke . I probably should have gone tighter but stuck them in thinkin I wouldn't have to change for the rest of the day. Again I started strong shooting my first 6 with first barrell. Then had a couple of  second barrells and a couple I misses. However I finished appalling missing 3 of my last 4 birds ending on a 20. Jamie shot a 21. 

Onto the most exciting the sporting . It wa very steady and shot over 4 stands. I only dropped 2 clays giving me a 28/30 . Adrian and Darrel shot mid twenties and Jamie tied with me on 28. So we shot another stand to decide and i pipped him.

After a short break we shot the sportrap which was difficult mainly down to having more than 5 targets so you really had to think about the combinations . Again started well with a 5 and a 5 but then some tricky birds meant I slipped down to a 20/25 in the end . Again Jamie pipped me with a 21.

The 4 disabled shooters shot very strong it was just a shame more didn't manor the effort to attend Nottingham really looked after us with good reffing and targets.

So all in all a successful weekend .

Roll on dartford on 27th sept

Cpsa awards

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In march this year I was very Unexpectantly nominated for one of these very prestigious awards , I hadn't been shooting registered competitions for even a year and when i received my invite in the post I was shocked and very excited . Even more amazing was that I won the award and it's safe to say it really put me on a pedestal to perform this year . The ceremony itself was full of people I didn't know apart from seeing their faces in the pull magazines but after shooting a full year now I would know exactly who they are.

So here's my interpretation and opinions on each of this years categories; forgive me for being a little biased however I am only being honest ...

School of the year: I have not come across any schools in my shooting experience however I would class Phillip thorold a shooting academy a school of shooting but not sure that counts ? The academy has done amazing and it's nice to see it reaping the rewards with so many young shots getting podiums and wearing thise very recogniseable orange and black hats.

Initiative of the year  : for me without a shadow of a doubt this has to be Julie Sperling and Nicola herons efforts getting a group of disabled shooters over to Germany from scratch in such a short amount of time to represent GB to attempt getting clay shooting in the Paralympics . This would have not happened without the efforts of all in our clay shooting family that we all love so dearly and without Matt Rutherfords shootclay forum auction and the crowd funding. . So many people pulled together to raise huge sums it is refreshing and I was gob smacked that the figure was achieved and surpassed . 

Volunteer of the year : for their efforts above I am going to go joint Julie Sperling, Nicola heron and Matt Rutherford 

Special contribution award : I am now going to pick one if the above and it has to be Nicola . She was so focused and driven on the project and still is. Shooting needs more of her. .

Ground of the year : It's hard to make a decision as in my DSG capacity we go to so many grounds and are so warmly welcomed of all these the 2 I have most enjoyed this year are dartford and Orston  . Practise wise I like Cambridge a lot and have my coaching there with phill Gray. However for my personal  registered shooting experience and locality I have to go with barrow Heath . The targets are always different and testing and I always struggle to get a good score there which means I am learning something. Phil and Marie are always welcoming and recognise their local shots also which is refreshing . Those 4 for me take some beating.

Disabled shooter of the year : it's a tough one to suggest anyone however there has been some top shooting this year. Sitting wise there are 4 people that must be considered ; Paul Bailey who won the world sportrap earlier in the year after a shootoff with Adrian last. Paul has also medaled at the British open sporting and sportrap. Alec Sperling who has excelled in OT this year but on top of this won the English skeet at bisley. Newbie Darrel white who has shot skeet and dtl particularly well his year and won the British open wih an incredible 90 and finally my good friend Adrian last who has continued to shoot well winning the English open sporting , been runner up at both skeet championships , runner up in the world sportrap and medaled at the British open this weekend. He's so been consistent in the DSG shoots throughout the year.

Standing wise I am sure Andy Womble from the OT will be a contender however Jamie Gutteridge and graham Evans have shot well this year both in disabled and able bodied categories . Jamie has won the British and worlds sporting and graham the british and world sportrAp both putting in good scores. The one to mention for me is mick Kirby though who has entered the British and English opens for sporting and skeet. His enthusiasm and desire should be noted .

Young shot: whilst I would love to say Joshy after him improving immensely this year gong from an average c class shot , into a top b class shot I have to go with his suffolk team mate Aaron Harvey who for me he just pips Taylor Hedgecock . Aaron's shooting superb at the moment and I was proud to shoot off alongside him. At the British last weekend and get to wear his dads pilla glasses for the weekend after my own glasses were taken.

Coach of the year : whilst Philip thorold has been amazing with the 2 lads above this is an easy decision for me and is phill Gray . He has improved josh and I as shooters this year with just a handful of lessons and he has to take a lot of the credit. All you need to do is look at our scores . They say it all. His professional beyond his years at the same time he makes you feel comfortable and at one stage I felt unbeatable this year because of him .

Shooter of the year:  there's a few for me . Steve Scott was awesome on the TV at the commonwealth games , Joy Hirons in the ladies skeet has been untouchable and is also a great person with it. But sporting wise there have been 3 terrific shooters and well known names and hope one of then wins the accolade ; sir George , mark winser and ed solomons. George was a class above the rest at the worlds , an mark and ed hasve had their share also at majors this year . I would like to see mark get it as he had a real purple patch and it takes someone special To win then win again in a short time.

Hopefully I haven't offended anyone and not sent anyone to sleep :)

Back to work & reality

So it's back to work and reality after a few days of being a serious clay pigeon shooter.

In reflection from the weekend I honestly don't feel I could have done any more than I did on the targets and am pleased with my score. This week the only shooting I may do will be on the foreshore with my pal Stuart Clarke on the River Stour.  I then head up to Nottingham the following weekend with the DSG to shoot our final all round of the season.

I have shot the DSG season well generally and should have some silverware coming my way as long as I can put some steady scores together. I am aware Adrian and I are in competition for the Sporting challenge shield so hoping I can pip him to that.

Our trophy presentation is on Saturday the 18th October and that's at Sporting Targets where we will shoot 100 bird sporting. I love it there as they put on several different targets and always look after us. Hopefully we have good attendance from members , guests and friends of the DSG. We will all be staying for a bite to eat afterwards also.

Have a good week everyone.  I probably wont be writing again until the weekend.

Happy shooting!