Catamong Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 We all made an early start at 6.00am on a drizzly and windy Thursday morning, got around the M25 OK, (my goodness, the woodies were literally flooding into a stubble field alongside the M25 near the M11 junction, anybody there on that day would have had a mega bag with perfect conditions) Caught an 8.50 shuttle across the channel and sped on down through Paris to the shooting ground about 1.5 hours south of Paris, near a little village called Coullons, in the Loire Valley, a lovely spot. As is customary on these occasions, we got stuck into a rigorous practice session at the ground immediately upon arrival, Mine was a shandy..........of course. They had 6 out of the 8 layouts open for practice, here's Cheryl on one of them, We shot a couple of the layouts, loads of fast, whippy stuff, every bird orange, (of course), a bit of an eyesight test for some, then we set off for the formal opening ceremony at the nearby village of Coullons, the locals were waiting for us, all thoroughly bemused by the sudden invasion of beer swilling foreigners, There were many National teams there, here is a shot of some of them assembling for the parade, As the discipline of Compak Sporting is not officially recognised by the CPSA, no British team had been entered, so we assembled an "Ad Hoc" team of Seniors on the day comprising Martin Papworth, Jamie Brightman and Matt Hance, all outstanding shots with loads of experience in International events. Afer a quiet evening in the hotel discussing tactics over dinner, we retired for an early night around midnight. We woke early to get to the ground before 8.00, as some of us had early start times, but the weather was not at all good, with lots of very heavy showers mixed with brief dry spells, (ironically, the first wet day they'd had in more than a month ). We all shot different layouts at different times, here's my first one, (No 4), a real "easy" one to start, comprising one single bird, (full use of gun), followed by 2 simmo pairs on each of the 5 stands, I still managed to drop 4 floaters to finish on a very poor 21 The heavens literally opened whilst I was shooting, all I could hear was the rain pounding down on my earmuffs, and Martin & Jamie chuckling to themselves as they huddled under the brolly. (I'd foolishly left my waterproofs behind the stands). In betwen layouts, we wandered around to watch others shooting, here's one of the top French shots, Charles Bardou, shooting his first bird on layout 7, a curling edge on incomer, (he missed it clean with both barrels, much to my amazement).......but he didn't miss many more. Here's a shot of Matt, Martin & John Pool between layouts, You won't believe this but this guy got hit with a stray pellet in the shoulder, and was rushed to the French Federation "Caravan" for some TLC by this lovely young lady.....I had no such luck We met up with fellow PW member "Mr Potter" and his son Richard at the ground. Despite hailing from "Chard Country" they were remarkably friendly and we all had a good laugh, they both shot really well throughout the whole tournament, a real credit to the UK contingent, Here's the Catmeister getting to grips with some tricky zippers on layout 3, Note the difference in stance between us Brits and those Johnny Eyties, here's the legendary Spada on the same peg, They had a really stonking tower, but for some reason it was never used throughout the whole shoot, a bit of a waste, The competition went on over the three days, it was clear that Cheryl was on top form, shooting 23's on most layouts, powdering most of the birds, she went into the final day 7 birds clear of her nearest rival, a stunning achievement. Some "old" English FITASC shooters came out of retirement for this event, can anybody guess who this lovely couple are, on the right of young Chris.............answers on a postcard please, a clue, they're from "Ooop North"...? The organisation of the shoot was generally very good, things ran like clockwork, food and drink at reasonable prices, one small complaint, the toilet facilities were woefully inadequate, no portaloos on any of the layouts, still, at least the bushes got a good soaking, At the end of the final day on Sunday, we were all exhausted by the pressure of trying to grind out some decent scores, so we retired to the Champagne tent to seek some liquid refreshment a very modest 30 Euros a bottle, very reasonable for such a good vintage, The trophies were all laid out in front of the French "Ball Trap" Pantechnicon, (puts anything the CPSA have to shame) We all stayed on for the prize giving, Cheryl was the star of the show by winning the Ladies World Championship with a superb 186, a personal best for her over 200 birds and only 7 birds behind the winning score of Frenchman Jean Paul Mordefroid, here she is coming up to collect the trophy, And here she is on the winners podium, with the Champions trophy, a superb result, Both Matt and Jamie also shot really well, Matt did a cracking 189, to give him joint 5th place overall, out of nearly 500 entries, and Jamie did a 184, finishing joint 24th. Martin did a very tidy 179, and young Chris also did a very good 177 in the Juniors. I missed a bucketfull of "floaters" to finish on a 164....whoops..!! We all had a really great time, I need a week off work now to recuperate from all of that late night "team planning". Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmsy Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 good report its nice to see compac sporting without a skeet layout in sight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beretta Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 sounds like you had another great time away from our cpsa shoots cat and well shot the lass cant believe they didnt have the tower on for it as its in range. i take it pap is your bodyguard as he goes everywhere with you or is there more to it great pics as usual cat and even got mr potter on. great weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 Cat, nice piccs and good write up. More to the point, well done for bothering to go and to take your camera. And well done Cheryl; that is a proper achievement. I gotta say those Euro peeps know how to throw a jamboree. Remind me again the purpose of the CPSA It's all rather shameful really, but there you go, you know my views on that one.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yanibaby Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 A great write-up... Well done Cheryl!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 Well done to all that took part Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 Great write up and pics Cat thanks for sharing. And well shot Cheryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 Interesting thing looking at the different shooting styles. Looking at the guy in picture #6, clearly from what you say he is a very good shot, and his stance looks identical to my mates who is also a reasonable shot. My mate gets criticised for hunched up style, and has been advised to change it but it works for him (and obviously it works for this guy as well) so he has never changed. From the picture it doesn't even look as if the butt is in his shoulder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chard Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 Great write up as usual Cat, well shot all of you, especially Cheryl. Looks like the weather improved for you later on. Nice to see Mr Potter's ugly mug in there, and Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 Great write up as usual Cat, well shot all of you, especially Cheryl. Looks like the weather improved for you later on. Nice to see Mr Potter's ugly mug in there, and Richard Well not quite all of you! 164 What is all that about? Was there a good trophy for last place? I reckon I could have done at least a 170. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 Nice write up Cat and great pictures!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter De La Mare Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 An enjoyable read as always Cat Very well done Cheryl, we're all proud of you! Cat, if it's any consolation, I have trouble with floaters as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 Cat, if it's any consolation, I have trouble with floaters as well. Me too, especially after Sunday lunch - my tip, flush and hold. Also, well done to ladies 3rd place and what I believe is a dusky beauty from Spain? Lets hope we see some more of her on the international circuit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chard Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 Me too, especially after Sunday lunch - my tip, flush and hold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beretta Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 you might be up for that this time next year chard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chard Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 you might be up for that this time next year chard You never can tell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beretta Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 im compacting tonight if your up for it. think mags coming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter De La Mare Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 Me too, especially after Sunday lunch - my tip, flush and hold. I was expecting that... I'll tee them up, you can bat them away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulos Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 Well shot everyone and good write up Cat It certainly looks a well organised affair, are there any shoots over here which compare? In my limited experience of the Majors over here (very limited for Sporting shoots) they seem rather dull in comparison to these European jollies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leaseone Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 (edited) Cat We have tried to get permission to shoot by junction 11 but the landowner said NO Good trip by the sounds of it the French do shooting well as they treat it as a party event that they all enjoy Edited September 9, 2009 by leaseone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 Well done to Cheryl. Cat - excellent write up - as usual - and photos which capture the occasion. My guess for the FITASC couple from "Oop North" would be Colin and Elaine Foden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beretta Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 i had a look but didnt see anyone. colin was at the british saturday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Potter Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 Brilliant write up and report Cat, you knock most of the shoot reports in the magazines into a cocked hat. Only one tiny error and that was the photo! you really didn't catch me on my best side, I usually get compared to Adonis or a middle aged David Beckham but you managed to find the one tiny angle that made me look like the Fat Controller from Thomas the Tank Engine But the shoot, what an experience, I had never shoot Compak before only a little bit of Sport-trap (the CPSA version) but had read up and taken advise beforehand on the rules so there were no surprises. The event ran like clockwork with just one minor delay on Compak 1 on day one but it was between showers so it didn't bother me much. The refs were all completely fair and impartial, mostly French but can't complain as there isn't a single Brit registered with FITASC as a Compak referee. I can't speak from experience but I thought the targets were a tiny bit bland, no high driven and no going away from behind, don't think there were any midis either but I may well be wrong about that, I don't get hung up on whether it's a standard or a midi I just (try) and shoot them. Don't get me wrong they were not easy but did take some getting used to. Richard, the boy, and I bumped into Cat and his team on the practice day and later on at the opening ceremony in the local village market square. There wasn't a GB team but one of the French organisers produced a Union Jack and insisted that the entire British contingent of shooters, about 11 of us, take our place in the opening parade with our two ladies, Cheryl Hall and Linda Pearson carrying the flag. I don't know how Cat and his gang had the energy to be out wining and dining till late into the night discussing tactics and strategies, with the early starts and long days at the ground by the time we got back to our little hotel, showered, changed and had found somewhere to eat in town I was knackered and was probably back, fast asleep for 10:30 every night. I need to practice this high living lifestyle if I'm going to shoot more of these Euro events. The shooting, I had mixed fortunes with my shooting, I was very consistent on the first day, 21, 21, and yes a 21. Second day not so good, a 20, a very disappointing 18 and then back up to scratch with a 21. I saved the best till last and finished the final 2 layouts with a 23 and a 22 so a grand total of 167 which placed me 18th out of 77 in the veterans class, a respectable score but I know I missed at least 1 or 2 birds on each layout that I should have killed . The boy had a torrid time really, he is a much better shot than I am (I taught him all I know and then he just kept on learning!) He's in AA whilst I can't get out of A class, the Monday before the shoot he'd shot a 90 at Catton Hall (would have been =1st in AA except he entered birds only.) I secretly had quite high hopes he would do well, I'm not saying I expected him to win but I genuinely thought he would be into the 180's. It was not to be, he struggled on all three days with the targets, tried everything he knew to get back on track but whether it was big stage nerves I don't know but he finished on a very disappointing 140. I wanted to make him walk home in disgrace but he rang his mother and I got a ####ing!!! All in all a fantastic experience which I wouldn't hesitate to i) repeat and ii) recommend to anyone. A still knackered Mr Potter PS Re the mystery couple, come on beretta you won plenty of money at their shooting ground :blink:. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beretta Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 glad you enjoyed the event mr potter. still cant see anyone in the pic mentioned. :blink: pm me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 Well done Mr potter looks like you beat Cat :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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