Catamong Posted April 30, 2011 Report Share Posted April 30, 2011 You may be thinking "why is the Belgian Champs being held in Northern France?", the answer is that Belgium has now effectively banned lead shot on pretty much all of its clay grounds, so they've moved the event over the border into France to get around this silly ban. The event was a 200 birder shot over 8 different layouts at the Arras Ball Trap Club, about an hours run down the Autoroute from Calais. We travelled down on the afternoon of Good Friday, the M25 was an absolute nightmare, we zipped through the tunnel and were glad to get checked in to our hotel. After such an arduous journey, immediate refreshment was a must, here's young Chris drowning in a massive jug of Hoegarden Arras is a very quaint town, with a couple of very picturesque town centre cobbled squares, here's a nightime shot of the Place Des Hero's We arrived at the ground bright an early on the Saturday, basically a flat field with a Tower and plenty of earth bunds, (a bit like Sporting Targets), and got checked in. Here's a pic of the tower, which held 4 traps As with all Compak Sporting events, the targets are not hard, every bird is (in theory) within 40 yards, but the trick is to get them both in the simmo pairs, you must have a game plan before you start shooting, it does pay to study carefully the squad in front to get a feel for the birds. There was a big prize list up for grabs at this event, good enough to attract the very best in the World, recognise this guy..?? Yes, it's big George himself, to say he shot steady was an understatement, he did a 24,24,24,25 on the first day, total 97. These events are truly International, here's Philip from Denmark, pretty gutted after missing a single "easy" bird with both barrels Day 1 went OK, the weather was superb, hot with no wind, ideal for shooting, we took the time to visit a couple of World War 1 sites after the shoot to pay our respects, here's Mont St Eloi, an old abbey wrecked by shellfire in WW1 as it was being used as an observation post And here's a nearby Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, full of brave lads who fell in the area during the Arras offensive in 1917, very moving Day 2 dawned bright and sunny, we knew we'd have a problem catching up with Digweed, particularly as word soon spread around the ground that he'd shot a 25 straight on his first layout. Here he is scoring for the squad following his, under International rules 2 shooters must stay behind and score the next squad, (under penalty of 3 targets), so nobody refuses to score..!! George continued to show just how is the best Sporting shot in the World by shooting 25 straights on the next 3 layouts, that was 100 straight for the day, and a total of 197, miles clear of the chasing pack. Here he is, seconds after his final straight, coming over to shake hands with his other squad members We all had our moments, Brits won the top places in the Seniors, Veterans, Juniors and Ladies, so it didn't leave much for the locals. Here's George on the podium with his prize, a Beretta UGB semi auto Here's young Chris on the podium, his prize was a .243 rifle and scope, God knows what he's gonna do with that..?? This guy even shot well enough to walk off with 500 trap shells And here's pretty much the entire UK contingent, well pleased with such a good result..!! That's our 3rd trip abroard this year, we did Portugal a month ago, then Arras, (same ground), a couple of weeks back, some of us are off to Estonia in June, then Spain for the European FITASC, then back to France for the World FITASC in July, followed by the World Compak in Italy at the end of August, never a dull moment..!! Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicky T Posted April 30, 2011 Report Share Posted April 30, 2011 Top notch report as always Cat - well shot to all the Brits out there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tam Posted April 30, 2011 Report Share Posted April 30, 2011 (edited) Well shot guys - is that you with the shells Cat Take it that was the Vetrans Would have thought you were in the juniors :lol: Edited April 30, 2011 by Tam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigweed Posted April 30, 2011 Report Share Posted April 30, 2011 Nice one Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
100milesaway Posted April 30, 2011 Report Share Posted April 30, 2011 Well done to the boys and Cheryl. from Auntie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted April 30, 2011 Report Share Posted April 30, 2011 Nice report and piccies. Don't forget you can get more than 500 carts at JJs on the 1st Sunday of each month. Less air miles and tigers tokens too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted April 30, 2011 Report Share Posted April 30, 2011 As usual - superb photos and excellent commentary. Thanks and well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted April 30, 2011 Report Share Posted April 30, 2011 Nice write up and pics Cat Some good shooting by the British contingent too. A fantastic score from GD, :o he seems to be on fire this year. A .243 and scope seems a strange prize in a shotgun comp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twitchynik Posted April 30, 2011 Report Share Posted April 30, 2011 Well done! What was Trevor doing there?! Didn't think he had time for anything other than his deers and foxes..! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted April 30, 2011 Report Share Posted April 30, 2011 Thanks Cat, a lot of effort on your part but well appreciated , you ought to put that up on the other site too maybe . Superb shooting by George. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stark Posted April 30, 2011 Report Share Posted April 30, 2011 Well done Cat and the rest of the Brits! I haven't spoken to Philip yet.. What happened? Can't find his name on the results page. I'm already booked for Estonia - should be good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Potter Posted May 1, 2011 Report Share Posted May 1, 2011 Good write-up and pictures Cat, well up to the standard we've come to expect Knocks some of the efforts in Pull and Clay Shooting into a cocked hat. Have seen the results on the FITASC website, I don't like the new results format, not enough information! Didn't count up but it looked like a low turn-out? Good luck with the remainder of your globe trotting, I'm just doing Dorhout Mees this year, steel I know but should be an enjoyable weekend. Catch up on Saturday. Mr P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted May 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2011 Good write-up and pictures Cat, well up to the standard we've come to expect Knocks some of the efforts in Pull and Clay Shooting into a cocked hat. Have seen the results on the FITASC website, I don't like the new results format, not enough information! Didn't count up but it looked like a low turn-out? Good luck with the remainder of your globe trotting, I'm just doing Dorhout Mees this year, steel I know but should be an enjoyable weekend. Catch up on Saturday. Mr P Hi Mr P, the ground wasn't very photogenic, a bit dull, certainly no Hodnet..!! I take your point about the FITASC website, but for some reason there are only about one third of the scores on there, there were actually 17 squads, (102 shooters), but a lot of the French and Belgian shooters for some reason entered direct with the ground, and their scores are not shown on the website. The ground will publish a complete list of the scores on their website pretty soon. I've heard good reports about the Dorhout Mees shoot, will give it a go one day. Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexf Posted May 1, 2011 Report Share Posted May 1, 2011 Excellent write up, very interesting. Well done to everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheryl Posted May 6, 2011 Report Share Posted May 6, 2011 Cat excellent report as usual I do however think that you are being a little harsh about the shoot I think it was a little more than a flat piece of ground with a tower, the targets were testing and challenged the best of us George just simply is in a class of his own. The prizes were fantastic for such a low entry I know that Trevor won for veterans a hunting trip which I am sure he will pass to me given some persuasion lol. I do think that the rifle prizes were slightly awkward and odd however fair play to get some reward that will be more than the entry fee. We certainly will be returning to shoot there as it is really easy to get to and the hotel de golf is literally two minutes away and extremely reasonable. It has been a hard struggle for Trevor and I to pull ourselves away from the rifle shooting however juggling both is working just fine. we are looking forward to the forth coming shoots so see you fellow pigeon watchers soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted May 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2011 Hi Cheryl, yeah point taken, but I don't ever want too many ground owners to get complacent about their set ups, (even the Froggies), you shot very well, (as usual), and Trev excelled himself in the Vets class, I hope you both do the same in Estonia. I can't do Estonia, (work commitments) , but I'm obviously doing Orville and, hopefully, Italy at the end of August. See you soon, Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sodit Posted May 9, 2011 Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 (edited) Having shot at Arras and Orville I much prefer Orville and its closer to where I live. I normally shoot at a little Stand in the Canche valley (Flers ball trap club)and the guy that runs it was full of praise for Mr Digweeds performance at the Belgium Compak competition as a matter of fact most of the French are impressed by his performance. Edited May 12, 2011 by sodit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted May 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 Yes, got to agree with you there, Orville has a lot more character, superb for FITASC. I'm thinking of doing a FITASC shoot at the Bois St George BC, near Hesdin, have you shot there..?? Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted May 9, 2011 Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 Seen him on telly, never seen him shoot FITASC though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sodit Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Yes, got to agree with you there, Orville has a lot more character, superb for FITASC. I'm thinking of doing a FITASC shoot at the Bois St George BC, near Hesdin, have you shot there..?? Cat. If it the one I think it is I have been there a couple of times but never found it open. Its next to the Permit De Chasse exam centre and an Off road buisness. I may not of seen all of it but there dont seem to be a lot there normally, but having said that the French can organise these things well. When is the FITASC at St George? Neil (sodit missed again) Page Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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