LeedsZeppelin Posted October 30, 2022 Report Share Posted October 30, 2022 I went to my local clay ground this morning and commented on how quiet it was, only to be told that this was the new norm. This ground used to have a 100 or so people go through the gate on a sunday, and today they'd be lucky to have had two dozen. Are other grounds suffering from such poor attendances, or is this just a one off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samboy Posted October 30, 2022 Report Share Posted October 30, 2022 Normal crowd at my clay shoot today considering it was raining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wisdom Posted October 30, 2022 Report Share Posted October 30, 2022 A little quieter at ours too .But on a positive front some new people .It's steady though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centrepin Posted October 30, 2022 Report Share Posted October 30, 2022 My local is going from strength to strength under new management. I arrived at 1000 to shoot, first on. By 1020 queues on every stand. Fresh set up every week and today just 1 no bird out of 50. They've also started selling cartridges again not just in 12gauge but .410 also. Bodes well for the summer when they plan 2 shoots per week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pops_Hants Posted October 30, 2022 Report Share Posted October 30, 2022 I don't visit the same grounds week in week out, but my local today was probably twice as busy as it was a fortnight ago. However, it's their winter series kick off today, perhaps that's why it was busier. I also have a local shooting school that offers practice too, it's expensive at 45p /clay but there are never any queues. Maybe half dozen practice shooters through at the weekend but I think they rely more on lessons and have a go's being advertised as a school rather than a practice ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOPGUN749 Posted October 30, 2022 Report Share Posted October 30, 2022 (edited) It has always been a sport for those with a substantial disposable income,now due to a 50% increase in cartridge prices,over recent years,and entry prices going up from 25p a clay to 40p or more. Expensive sports are the first thing to be cut down on in a time of high inflation and cost of living.The wealthier shooters can easily spend £8,000-£10,000 a year on shooting clays including the travel involved,this is about what some have to live on in total.Myself I allow £1,000 a year for my clays,average of 100 targets a month.There will always be a hardcore of wealthy shooters entering registered shoots regularly,they will not be affected be the cost of living or inflation. Edited October 30, 2022 by TOPGUN749 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted October 30, 2022 Report Share Posted October 30, 2022 Everywhere I`ve been has been ultra quiet for the last 2-3 months basically since the current crisis hit home .Even the major grounds are very quiet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted October 30, 2022 Report Share Posted October 30, 2022 Not seeing any less shooters at the registered competitions we are shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charliedog Posted October 30, 2022 Report Share Posted October 30, 2022 reg comps still busy, practice grounds much quieter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HantsRob Posted October 30, 2022 Report Share Posted October 30, 2022 Location, location, location. Widdington was quiet this year and they had to stop doing CPSA shoots. But, it's not a convenient location or near a main arterial route. Shame as it's a lovely place to shoot and a great clubhouse. They have a really low no-bird count and take pride in their venue, but their members are just not able to afford to shoot as regularly at this time. Shame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centrepin Posted October 31, 2022 Report Share Posted October 31, 2022 11 hours ago, Pops_Hants said: it's expensive at 45p /clay but there are never any queues. How much!?😬 Not surprising there are no queues. Must be down south prices, factor in cartridges and that's about 15/- a bang. More than my first weeks wage when I left school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HantsRob Posted October 31, 2022 Report Share Posted October 31, 2022 24 minutes ago, Centrepin said: How much!?Must be down south prices, factor in cartridges and that's about 15/- a bang. Average in Hampshire is 40p a clay. 45 is higher than anywhere else, except maybe Bisley long Siberia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pops_Hants Posted October 31, 2022 Report Share Posted October 31, 2022 2 hours ago, Centrepin said: How much!?😬 Not surprising there are no queues. Must be down south prices, factor in cartridges and that's about 15/- a bang. More than my first weeks wage when I left school. I don't shoot there often 😆 It's a nice venue, free coffee tea and flapjacks. As the targets don't change much (if at all) it is a good place to see my base level skill either improve or worsen! 2 hours ago, HantsRob said: Average in Hampshire is 40p a clay. 45 is higher than anywhere else, except maybe Bisley long Siberia Yup, Bisely I think is 46p /clay, unless you're a member then it's maybe 36p? But you'd need to shoot somewhere in the region of 3 or 4k clays to break even (pun intended). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted October 31, 2022 Report Share Posted October 31, 2022 Local ground just stopped the Wednesday shooting, due to lack of numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samboy Posted October 31, 2022 Report Share Posted October 31, 2022 I shoot every week, 50 at one club 60 at the other. Cost of clays, carts, subs, petrol tea comes to about £1500 roughly. I would probably spend more than that if i smoked and drank which i don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stimo22 Posted October 31, 2022 Report Share Posted October 31, 2022 Sure that the bigger grounds seem a bit quiet, but at 40p a clay they can only blame themselves. Our small club run on a volunteer basis can put on a 50 bird shoot for £12 with free coffee. Consequently we have about the same attendance as normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wylye Posted October 31, 2022 Report Share Posted October 31, 2022 8 minutes ago, Stimo22 said: Sure that the bigger grounds seem a bit quiet, but at 40p a clay they can only blame themselves. Our small club run on a volunteer basis can put on a 50 bird shoot for £12 with free coffee. Consequently we have about the same attendance as normal. The key word is ‘volunteer’. No one is trying to make a living out of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOPGUN749 Posted October 31, 2022 Report Share Posted October 31, 2022 25 minutes ago, samboy said: I shoot every week, 50 at one club 60 at the other. Cost of clays, carts, subs, petrol tea comes to about £1500 roughly. I would probably spend more than that if i smoked and drank which i don't. Surely if shooting 110 targets a week it costs more like £3,500 a year? (5720 targets) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRINITY Posted October 31, 2022 Report Share Posted October 31, 2022 Many shooters also have to travel a fair way to get to grounds and the cost of fuel is another factor to add. I have also noticed that some shooters are still going as often but shooting a few less clays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpmilo Posted October 31, 2022 Report Share Posted October 31, 2022 3 hours ago, Pops_Hants said: It's a nice venue, free coffee tea and flapjacks. As the targets don't change much (if at all) it is a good place to see my base level skill either improve or worsen! And get licked to bits by the black labs, if its the place im thinking of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samboy Posted October 31, 2022 Report Share Posted October 31, 2022 1 hour ago, TOPGUN749 said: Surely if shooting 110 targets a week it costs more like £3,500 a year? (5720 targets) Sorry it should of read 50 a week at one club and 60 the next week at another club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted October 31, 2022 Report Share Posted October 31, 2022 Westlands never seems too busy, but it’s spread out over a big area. Crabtree is always busy dependant on what day and time you go, and Southwaite is always well attended. I think the quietest ground I’ve ever been to was Coniston, but have only been once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pops_Hants Posted October 31, 2022 Report Share Posted October 31, 2022 1 hour ago, mpmilo said: And get licked to bits by the black labs, if its the place im thinking of. It is indeed, highlight of the day those labs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRINITY Posted October 31, 2022 Report Share Posted October 31, 2022 1 hour ago, Scully said: I think the quietest ground I’ve ever been to was Coniston, but have only been once. I have heard good reports about coniston and it is nearer to me than some other grounds I visit. However its a terrible drive to get there, i have never bothered going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted October 31, 2022 Report Share Posted October 31, 2022 23 minutes ago, TRINITY said: I have heard good reports about coniston and it is nearer to me than some other grounds I visit. However its a terrible drive to get there, i have never bothered going. It’s not good for us to be honest. Once you sling a left off the M6 and head for K. Lonsdale, it’s like nursing a bad tooth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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