George's Dad

Good evening Trev, another welcome addition from the People's Republic! Any chance of a quick few lines about your personal shooting history - type of shooting, weapon. experience etc? Myself, I'm just a claybuster these days - I tell everyone that the OH is anti-bloodsports, but in truth the knees are past spending hours on the mud up scotch in December!

From memory (once I knew such stuff off by heart), a Police Officer could demand the production of a shotgun certificate from anybody in possession of a shotgun in public, and if that person failed to produce one (a certficate), then the PC could seize the shotgun. Having seen what happens to property in Police stores, do you really want plod to be trusted with your pride and joy? Ask for a temporary certificate is my advice. PS Look at this - my memory isn't as bad as I thought! http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/27/section/48

Yes - I know, I've been (twice). Good point about the Post Code though - follow the one on their website and you'll end up at a controlled barrier on a private lane - which means a swift about turn! The best route for me from the 'south' is up to the Wolverston turn-off, follow the A689 towards Hartlepool (Stockton bypass?), see a big pub on the RHS - Travellers Rest, turn left, to the end, Farm Foods on the corner, turn right (and there is a brown finger board to confirm). Down the lane, and the ground now has a sign at the entrance (it didn't when I first went). I did OK when I shot their first registered sporting there at the beginning of the month.

2nd North Region Sporting Team selection shoot for me at Oak Lodge, Nr. Hartlepool (Andy Calvert's place) Sunday 1st June. Need to get some scores on the board after the last one!

Regarding the CPSA 'walking away' from this ground, it is worth pointing out that it is the ground that cancelled - not the CPSA. And this is not the first time that this ground has cancelled a Registered shoot at short notice. I personally shoot CPSA Registered events (nearly) every weekend, but my support for grounds that pull the plug so close to the event date tends to fall away somewhat.

I wouldn't get too hung up on your shooting Class - if you have one, fine - you will basically be competing against others in the same one. If you don't currently have a Class, you will be classed 'on the day', and there is a set formula for arriving at this - worked out on your performance over a set number of pre-determined Stands if memory serves me right. Either way you will a) enjoy the experience or b) get a reality check! Usually the latter for me.

It's also on the Sunday (31st) as well. This might be a good place to look to book on - https://championships.cpsa.co.uk/ Not sure what you mean about hoping for the best.

The British Open Sporting has been 120 targets the last couple of years - certainly at Hepworth Hall last year, and Hodnet the year before. It's the same this year as well. Also, the Inter-Regional team competition runs alongside the main event at the British. There are other differences.

No idea - maybe just another career pathway opened up??

Thanks for that PhilR. Do you know how the cost of a ZZ target compares to say a blaze (or black for that matter) Standard Clay?

It's good tarmac now all the way - almost to the gate. From then on it's gravel - judging by the number of low slung sporty jobs (self included) that frequent there, there's no drama. (And I once lost a rear bumper at Worsley!)

Is it right that even if you miss the first target that's it - you're out?

Mr. Watson has moved on to pastures new. Nigel H is currently doing some work there.

A quick phone call to Park Lodge Shooting School at Snaith might pay dividends. A couple of good qualified coaches regularly hold sessions there, and it's only 40 minutes or so 'down the track' for you.

Again, I agree. There's a certain referee who you find at quite a few of the East Midlands grounds who announces the name of the person to shoot, but also the name of the shooter who follows, and then tells the NEXT shooter after that to 'get ready'. Simple really, and if all refs adopted this, it would stop the 'tree proppers'. Don't know what you can do about the dirty hedge-stake though - short of a weapons inspection before competition starts (that was tongue in cheek by the way).

Absolutely right on that! Rules can be a pain sometimes, but anything that helps to get a competition moving along at a decent lick has to be welcomed. The 'newbie' thing might be a whole different ball-game (and thread).

You are right Frenchieboy, but also wrong! Let me explain further; I am a qualified ref and also a regular competition shooter. There is nothing more frustrating when carrying out either role than the following two examples: 1. The guy who hands in his card to the ref (thus indicating that he is present at the stand and wanting to shoot it), he then fannies about chatting to his mate, picking his nose or whatever until the ref calls his name - maybe once, maybe more. He steps into the cage, and then asks to see a target. WHAT? Where has he been, what has he been doing, and hasn't he read the rules (if not, why is he there?). The other shooters are waiting to shoot behind, they are ready, and they just roll their eyes. The cumulative effect (multiply this by 100 entries or more) is that everyone spends longer at the ground than necessary, and then the ground (not chummy-boy) gets a bit of a reputation. You can guess the rest.... 2. The other guy who hands his card in as before, but instead he has spent a few minutes watching the clays, sight/mounting with his non-shooting hand, picking his pick-up and 'sweet' spots etc, and then it's his turn to shoot. In the cage, he repeats all of the above, adjusts his glasses/plugs, checks his 'safety' catch, hitches up his pants, wipes his palms on his vest and stares at the ground for a few more seconds getting 'into the zone' and then FINALLY calls 'Pull'. No problem with that you might say, all very noble and professional - but see point 1 about cumulative effect above. I must confess I don't know the reason behind this rule or rule change, but to me it seems totally sensible and correct. I was always taught that you only step into the cage when you are ready to shoot, know where the targets are coming from, and are 'good to go'. If people don't agree with that, one of us is wrong.

Wellies would be OK.

...... just make sure they are clean, not ripped or torn, and not military spec! Just had a thought, speedos(?) - what about growing a dodgy moustache as well!

No names, no pack drill as we used to say in the Tufty Club! I can't see anyone but the most bloody-minded ref pinging anyone for taking too long, but at least now there is more power to the elbow to stop the shufflers,dry-mounters, feet twitchers, trouser-hitchers, and they can be told to JUST GET ON WITH IT!

Managed to rip the bumper off my S-Line Quattro last autumn - mind you, that was down to a certain 'utility' company who didn't discharge their responsibilities correctly when they were doing some work on the Viaduct, and were pumping out over the lane. I now have a new bumper, and they are over a grand lighter!

Has anyone any comments on the amendments to CPSA Booklets 5 & 7? (Can be viewed on main CPSA website under 'News'). From an ESP point of view, the showing of a maximum of 2 pairs on simultaneous pairs is common sense - especially if they can be shot either way round (as a good sim pair should be!), and I like the '10 second rule' - which, if enforced, should help to speed things up a little. (I know of at least one Northern shooter who is going to have a problem with this one!) Common sense has also kicked in (pun intended) regarding the wearing - or rather NOT wearing of sandals/flip-flops. Still digesting the rest.

Sorry, should have read 'your own' - my English no good toneet! Also worth looking at Booklet 5, points 2.00, 2.01 and 2.05

Still room on the Sporting Referee's Course at Park Lodge on 27th April. That way, you will be able to answer you're own question.

Was on 12. In the sunshine, all day, both days - me being the righteous type and that.