The choice of gun you make as a beginner to clay target shooting can be crucial.

It can mean the difference between gaining that all-important confidence early on, and quickly becoming despondent as you thrash around in search of that magic gun that’s going to change everything.

Let me tell you now there is no such gun, but there is a difference between something that suits you in terms of weight and balance and is appropriate to the kind of shooting you are going to do, and something that’s not.

As a complete beginner to shooting, avoid specialist guns at the outset – those for Trap shooting in particular – and I speak as an avid Trap shooter.

Instead, you need something you can use to learn the basics of hitting most kinds of moving target.

If you intend to shoot clays, an over-and-under is the best choice, a principle established beyond doubt many years ago.

Weight should be around 7½lb, barrels 28” or no longer than 30”. Hand detachable screw-in chokes are very useful, but if you choose a fixed choke gun, make sure you avoid very tight constrictions.

For the benefit of this series of articles I am going to begin with less expensive guns that can be bought second-hand and, at the same time, a make and type that I can recommend.

There are multiplicities of makes available but with a quick look around any gun club you will notice there are two brands that dominate: Browning and Beretta.

Why? Because clay target shooters buy into competition success, and though different, both are of excellent design and are made to standards few come close to at the price.

I will give you a potted history.

These barrels have seen better days – surface rust, and a dented rib point to neglect.
Walk quickly the other way!

Browning

The Browning over-and-under appeared some years earlier than the Beretta. Designed by John Browning in America, it was the first volume production gun of its type, which is to say it was made by modern methods of the time and manufactured in numbers.

When first introduced, the Browning sold for $125 in the USA. Made in Belgium by Fabrique Nationale, prices now begin at around £11,000.

Fortunately, nearly 40 years ago, Browning went to Japan and persuaded Miroku to make a copy of their gun; in fact the Japanese company was already making something very similar.

Miroku now makes most of the over-and-unders under the Browning brand, and older examples can be second-hand from around £600. As always, second-hand prices are determined by age and condition.

I would recommend the Browning 325 and its successors the 425 and 525. In the sub-£1,000 price bracket, which is enough to pay for a beginner’s gun, there are a lot to choose from: the Citori models, if made in Japan, are also excellent quality and represent good value.

Make sure your second-hand Browning was made in Japan as the Browning brand has in the past occasionally been put on a few guns of far lesser quality.

With a Miroku-built gun you can’t go wrong, but as with all guns still look for signs of obvious neglect, for example rust or pitting in the barrels.

Japanese-made Brownings – the 325, 425, 525
and its variants – represent good value for money, with many examples available at less than £1,000

If you buy from a reputable dealer you are unlikely to encounter that kind of condition, but buying privately you may.

Going the private sale route as a beginner, you need a knowledgeable friend who may be as close to you as your father – if not, make sure your adviser is an experienced gun owner.

Among the second-hand Brownings in this price bracket you may occasionally come across a first-grade Belgian-made gun. If so, rather than Browning stamped on the barrels it will have Fabrique Nationale, Herstal, Belgium.

There is a certain cachet attached to these Belgian-made guns, but unless it is in good condition and to the original specification, especially the choke constrictions, be wary as in most cases you will be better served with a much newer Japanese-made gun.

Beretta

Beretta’s volume production guns represent a very different kind of manufacturing process, introduced in the 1950s.

Before that all the component parts that comprise a shotgun were produced unfinished, or in the white as it is described, and then put together by hand.

When everything had been fitted carefully the gun was disassembled, the components hardened, finished and then reassembled.

The Italian company’s new and revolutionary production methods involved finishing component parts before assembly, reducing the time it took to make the gun and therefore the cost.

Beretta’s motive in this was to retain the production of its high-quality guns in its own factory in Italy, and at the same time retain competitive pricing.

It involved a huge investment in technology other manufacturers could not contemplate at that time, but it paid off.

Today, Beretta’s high-quality volume production gun is a market leader and is sold in great numbers and at good prices throughout Europe and North America.

Second-hand Berettas represent excellent value, in part because they are so durable. Always manufactured from the latest rustless steels, requiring minimum maintenance, they are practically indestructible.

Multichokes should be easy to remove – avoid guns where the chokes are difficult to extract

There are a good number of second-hand Beretta 680 series guns available, first introduced in the 1980s though most examples are much newer than that.

Average prices for a good 686 model start around £750, while newer guns can be just under £1,000. It’s worth mentioning that the 682 models originally the higher grade clay target gun, were built around a heavier dedicated action.

As with all Berettas, they are exceptionally durable, and there are some still around.

A development of the 682 was the Supersport, as the name suggests available only in a sporting specification. These are older guns but you would expect to pay between £850 and £1,000 for good examples.

Miroku

Miroku, the manufacturer of the Browning over-and-under since 1978, as I mentioned, was already making a similar gun to a very high standard.

Miroku still produces its own gun, though for obvious reasons it is, apart from some specification differences and cosmetics, identical to the Japanese Browning.

Early models dating back to the 1970s and 1980s were rather different in some areas. For example, they incorporated leaf springs instead of the coil type.

Early 800 series guns from the pre-Browning era are priced accordingly at around the £600 mark, and there are a few nice examples, although there might be a spares problem.

Later 3800 series guns on the Browning pattern range from £650 to £1,000, and good examples represent excellent value.

Miroku has made Browning’s mass production shotguns since 1978, and second-hand Mirokus are worth acquiring in their own right. Older guns, such as the 800, are still around but are becoming rarer, while the 3800 series based on the Browning pattern remains a good choice today

Winchester 101

In the context of this article the Winchester over-and-under I refer to is the 101 and its successors the 5500 and 6500, all made by the Olin-Kodensha factory in Tochigi, Japan, between 1959 and 1989.

Originally designed by Winchester in New Haven, Connecticut, it is undoubtedly a crib of the John Browning design but with some mechanical differences.

Most notably the jointing of the barrels to the action by means of under bolting, which have barrel lumps of similar dimension to the Browning but do not locate through the trigger plate and so is not quite as substantial.

Manufactured to a high standard in significant numbers, in Britain they were marketed through Edgar Brothers and from 1979 a wholly owned Olin/Winchester subsidiary.

In its lifetime the Winchester 101 had a number of incarnations, but between 1970 and 1986 the European range comprised the 101XTR, the Super Grade, and the Grand European, followed by the short-lived Diamond Grade line.

Then, in the period until the factory in Japan closed, the 5500 and 6500 guns were introduced. Some of these guns still fetch relatively high prices, with 101 and Super Grade models ranging from £500 to £700.

The later 5500 and 6500 models are prized for their handling qualities and, depending on condition, prices are from £600 to £1,000.

Clearly the Winchester brand still holds a magic for some, and guns based on the 101 action are good ones. Spares are an issue, however, in America making 101 parts has become something of a cottage industry;

www.midwestgunworks.com offers packs of the most wanted spare parts, firing pins, top lever springs,and so on.

Picking a second-hand gun from a myriad examples is rather daunting – and there are plenty of pitfalls that can catch the unwary

General pointers

With almost every kind of second-hand artefact, price is determined by condition.

The closer it is to the original, the more it’s worth. In this respect, guns are no different in that they are in some ways very durable, though they inevitably deteriorate with use and time.

If looked after, shotguns can last several lifetimes in good order. Neglect, misuse or misguided modifications diminish the value of clay target guns.

Neglect usually amounts to not cleaning the gun properly or, in some cases, not at all.

Although modern nitro powders are not nearly as corrosive as the old black powders, if left sufficiently long without a clean, build-up can still damage a gun and reduce its value.

In that area, take particular care with detachable chokes – it is amazing how many people don’t unscrew and clean them.

Lack of regular cleaning can also damage the breech face, so check that too. Damaged woodwork can be repaired, but avoid guns with serious cracks in the stock, particularly in the area of the grip.

Gun stocks soaked with oil at the head, due to having been stood on racks for long periods with oil gradually seeping downwards, can be a problem in very old guns.

Any kind of stock alteration that isn’t well done detracts from the gun’s value. Stock extensions, non-standard ill-fitting recoil pads, and especially shortened stocks mark a gun down in value.

As regards stock alterations for yourself however, do not hesitate to have them carried out if you are advised by an expert gun fitter to do so.

Persisting in using a gun that doesn’t fit you makes no sense and wrecks any chance of you becoming a proficient shot.

Alterations executed by an expert may add value, but even if it doesn’t, it’s worth the price.

Barrels

Few shotguns, it seems, last their entire life without some alterations to the chokes, and sometimes it may be for a good reason.

A gun too tightly choked for its intended purpose may seriously handicap performance.

In the case of clay target guns, however, the kind of choke constrictions for a particular discipline are well understood, and so the right gun can be easily bought from the outset to meet this requirement.

Beretta’s approach of producing component parts before assembly
over the last 60 years have seen the Gardone gunmaker become a hugely dominant force in the competition clay shooting arena

That said, there are a number of emasculated Trap guns with ½ and ¾ chokes instead of ¾ and Full in the racks of gun shops, and equally so in the hands of individual owners.

Regardless of the reasons for these choke alterations, no matter how justified, the gun has been devalued, so even if you have a use for it, pay less.

The action

Of fundamental importance to good gun design is the way barrels are joined to the action.

It is therefore no coincidence that the four makes of gun I have recommended are particularly sound in this important area.

The Browning, Miroku, and the Winchester to a lesser degree, share John Browning’s substantial under bolting that not only keeps the gun secure, but the bearing surfaces it incorporates spread the stress and general wear and tear of hard usage.

The Beretta’s design, though different, does the same job very effectively by placing the locking bolt above the explosion of the cartridge and incorporating bearing surfaces at the sides of the action.

Both systems were created to keep the barrels breech ends firmly in place against the breech face.

Guns that shoot loose easily because of insufficient bearing surfaces tend to recoil harder, because the barrels more easily come off the face, as gunsmiths describe it.

There is far more to a good gun than fancy wood and engraving – good design is critical, and as the guns I have recommended demonstrate, doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

Vic Harker

The Great Britain Universal Trench team had a tremendous season internationally in 2012

On an uncharacteristically cold Friday in March, the greats of the clay shooting world descended on Ian Coley’s shooting school, near Cheltenham.

The event was, of course, Clay Shooting’s glittering Clay Shooter of the Year Awards – a chance for the true stars of 2012 to be recognised for their achievements.

Despite a few vacancies because of the snow the turnout was impressive, with companies and shooters alike gathering for a morning of shooting followed by a three-course lunch.

The snow forced the ground to reduce its Sporting course to eight stands instead of 10 but, nonetheless, the layout was testing and varied. Spirits were high, with some not-so-friendly competition suggesting many are eager to get cracking for the 2013 season.

Ed Ling in action amid the
snow on the Sporting layout at Chatcombe Estate SS

The day was not about the scores, however, and many were pleased to head off to the warmth of the awards venue for the main part of the day.

The location this year was The Frogmill Inn, only a mile or two from the ground, and now owned by world-renowned chef Marco Pierre-White. After lunch, the room settled down for the winners to be announced.

Our first winner of the afternoon could not be with us, although he certainly needs no introduction. No shooting award ceremony (in fact it seems no award ceremony at all) would be complete without Peter Wilson making an appearance.

His victory at London 2012 was the product of six years of hard work by Peter himself, British Shooting, Ian Coley and Muhammad Al Maktoum, and as such Peter left us with a video message in his absence to thank his supporters over the years, including his father, who collected his award.

In the message Peter assured us that he will be back to defend his medal in Rio, and is back in training in order to get there. No doubt we will see him at many ISSF World Championships in the months to come.

Rachel Yardy had an excellent result at the European UT championships – and is now set to focus on OT with Rio 2016 in her sight

And our second winner couldn’t join us on the day, the great George Digweed. George received this award in light of his 20th World title won last year in Nicosia, Cyprus.

That achievement topped off a great year for the most decorated shooter ever – winning the Pan African Compak and FITASC in March, the European Compak and FITASC in May and June respectively, and the Jack Pyke English Open.

And, with this latest win, George proved himself a worthy recipient of our award for the second year running.

Though it was a shame neither of these two greats could make it on the day, it does show that our sport’s stars are becoming less accessible, owing to wider commitments – a shame for those of us used to rubbing shoulders with them, but satisfying to know that their skills on the clay range mean they are perhaps being recognised in the same league as professional sportsmen.

Third up was Ian Mullarkey – one of the best-known DTL shooters on the circuit. With some great wins over the years, including team wins at the World and European DTL championships, 2012 was no different.

Kicking off with a victory at the Krieghoff Classic in June, Ian followed this up with High Gun at the Perazzi DTL at Bywell with an impressive 200/597 in tough conditions.

Next was our Junior winner, a title which this year fell to Helice star Nathan Hales. Last year culminated in an overall silver medal and a Junior gold at the World Cup in June for the 16-year-old, building on his European Junior title.

Nathan Hales receive his award from
Clay Shooting magazine’s advertising sales
manager Lucy Wilson

And it seems Nathan has talents elsewhere too, recording his first 100-straight at Skeet in 2012, and being chosen to represent Great Britain at the World FITASC in Chicago.

These successes hold him in good stead for his ultimate goal, too – Olympic gold – and to this end Nathan has made a start on Olympic Trap.

Next up was our Lady shot Rachel Yardy, who, despite not being a part of the official Great Britain team, managed to bag gold at the European Universal Trench Championships in Lonato.

At the time of the championships, Rachel hadn’t picked up a gun in six months – adding to her delight at taking the gold. Rachel now has her sights set on Rio 2016, and will be concentrating on Olympic Trench this year to start her preparation.

Staying with the Universal Trench theme, the team award went to Great Britain’s team, who managed to bag medals at the World Championships in Portugal.

Not only that, they proved a force to be reckoned with at the European Championships, with silvers for both the Junior and senior teams.

With the European Championships coming up on 14 –16 June and the World Championships on 22–25 August this year, let’s hope they continue their run of success into 2013.

And who could forget World Sporting winner Stuart Clarke, a man who fought off tough competition from George Digweed, Ed Solomons and Pat Lieske of the USA to take the prestigious title?

Ian Coley MBE’s 45-year career in clay pigeon shooting saw him win a Lifetime Achievement Award this year

With 15 years since his last major win, Stuart is hoping to get back in the game and concentrate on FITASC in 2013, as well as retain his title at the World Sporting in America.

Lastly came a special Lifetime Achievement award.

The winner has been an Olympic coach for 24 years, six consecutive Games and two Olympic gold medals, and despite hinting before the London 2012 that he may retire, we might well see Ian Coley on the Olympic circuit for a while yet to come.

Although never having competed in the Olympics himself, Ian made his mark on the Trap scene in his youth, and now runs his shooting school to impart his knowledge to others.

Ian is a real ambassador for our sport and a true inspiration for future generations of British Olympians.

Forward allowance is just part of the picture when
shooting a clay at distance. What’s its line? Is it being deceptively presented?

We have discussed lead, or forward allowance, in these pages previously. It should be a subject of abiding interest to clay shooters.

The basic skill of our sport is to shoot where the target is going – to make due allowance for its forward movement.

In this context, we have talked about methods such as swing through, maintained lead, point and push, and pull away (there being a subtle difference between the last two mentioned, just as there are variations in swing through and maintained lead too).

But, thus far we have not really considered lead other than in one plane or direction.

One must master the basic techniques of forward allowance in order to determine the specific style that suits you best, especially in different situations.

There are circumstances when one must not just consider being in front of a target, but allowing space above or below it as well.

Depending on the presentation, one may need to combine forward allowance with an allowance above or below the intended target.

Sometimes, no forward allowance is required at all but a vertical axis correction is. Occasionally, a situation arises where shoot directly at a bird, or its bottom or top edge, will suffice.

A big part of the skill is reading the bird well and noting its line. Is it being deceptively presented? Or rising or falling faster or slower than the norm? Distinctions can be very subtle and this can prove to be quite complicated.

Once I have taught a student the basics of shooting one method, I get them to try a few others and apply them to specific situations. Swing through is good for finding line, maintained lead can buy time, and point and push and pull away can get you out of a muddle.

Once the essential lessons have been learnt with each technique, one may graduate to tougher stuff. Let’s illustrate it with some specific examples.

At my home ground we shoot quite a lot of crossers from high towers. These tend to drop, and one will often need to come under line a little to connect with them consistently (over shooting the line seems much more common in clay shooting than game).

Oddly enough, this under allowance is often combined with good upward pressure from the front hand, which controls the process more than the rear.

The fatal mistake is to raise the head or roll off line because of poor body rotation. Excessive or wild gun movements can also be a problem – most top performers have a very economical style, which reflects their control.

One important principle is to keep the barrels of your gun perpendicular to line (that is, not canted relative to line).

I often find myself saying things like, “hand up-head down,” meaning that the upper body and gun must remain as one.

On targets quartering away, shooting the front bottom edge is often a good idea. When shooting teal, mount the gun to the intended break point and, assuming you shoot both eyes open, bring the mounted gun back down the line of flight to the halfway point.

Call for the bird and lift the gun to it without any hesitation or perfect visual contact. It works on all teal presentations including those angled away. I call this the ‘halfway’ method.

If you shoot with one eye I usually advise going back about three-quarters of the way on teal. On vertical, double presentations another simple tactic is to shoot the first bird slightly above, and the second bird just under.

However, this is only as a starting point as there is a vast amount of variation, as you will appreciate when you become more lead aware. Experimentation will be required.

For droppers, one may need to shoot below, but occasionally side-to-side as well. This is a big deal. Watch the bird very carefully as it comes in.

Is it really straight, or are the low scores on the stand just a consequence of a slight angle being misread by the majority?

On the double at Skeet Station 4, if you shoot them in deliberate Sporting style, I find the first bird needs plenty of lead and should be broken by the halfway point, but the second does not require as much and will also require a slight allowance under.

This is a subject that requires further detail and I will elaborate in a later issue.

I always advise shooting rabbits on the bottom front edge as well. If you are still having particular problems with clay bunnies after applying that advice, and are shooting with two eyes open, try squinting an eye – it can be a magic cure for the bunnies and the second bird of the pair.

Conversely, many make too much of an allowance underneath battues and loopers. I find most people fail to give them sufficient lead and fail to trust themselves; they do not always give a generous allowance underneath.

Although there are exceptions, I have observed that most people on these presentations need to think about the forward lead element and their unconscious mind will do the rest.

On a true chandelle, I often impose an imaginary grid over the bird made up of imaginary, foot-square boxes. If the bird is top left (assuming a left-to-right crosser) I shoot bottom left.

There are some other oddities. When you shoot down onto grass, I have found there is often a natural reluctance to ‘dig out’ the target sufficiently.

Pointing the gun towards the ground flicks a switch on some psychological mechanism for many shooters, and prevents them from going far enough.

One must over-ride this and push on. Missing over the top is generally common as are wild gun movements, which impede subtle control.

In nearly all cases I like to keep my shoulders level with the line of the bird if possible; I like to assess it with reference to the horizon and other markers, and I never forget that pre-shot preparation is vital.

Where do I first see the blur, where do I see the target clearly, and where do I want to break it?

No article is going to teach you how to deal with complex presentations, but it can make you aware of some the things that some advanced shots must factor in.

Nothing will replace practice or developing your own ‘library’ of pictures for different presentations.

Mike Yardley

It’s true that most shooters prefer to take part in as few layers as possible – thick clothing has a knack of impeding gun mount and reduces mobility, but removing heavy winter coats and sleeves means there are a sudden lack of pockets.

Where then do you hold cartridges, phones, wallets, and all the essential paraphernalia essential to good performance.

Here’s some shooting vest choices, at a range of prices dependent on budget if you’re after some new garb this season.

Napier Regent Skeet Vest

Napier of London launched the Regent Vest last year, introducing Active Weight Distribution – simple enough, the vest spreads the weight of the cartridges in the front pockets and eases the load across the shoulders and front of the body.

All the materials are washable and snag-free, and there are plenty of pockets for wallets, ear defenders, glasses and other accessories.

Available in sizes small to XXXL, there will be one to fit you. £93.49

www.napieruk.com

Napier Chilton Plus Jacket

Another jacket suitable for the trap range, particularly on colder days – but cleverly convertible to a vest.

The dual-layer fleece is warm and light, but the sleeves can be removed quickly to turn it into a practical vest.

With a heavy-duty, two-way zip it’s a versatible garment for use all year round. £89.95

www.napieruk.com

Alan Paine Compton Tweed Shooting Waistcoat

This pure wool, water-repellent vest carries an air of distinguishability about it.

The soft contrast shoulder patches cushion recoil, and there are several gusseted pockets to carry all the paraphernalia needed, plus a secure internal pocket.

The Compson has three tweed colours available to choose from, in sizes from S to XXXXXL. £129.99

www.alanpaine.co.uk

Garlands Club Interchasse Blaine Waistcoat

This traditional-looking Club Interchasse shooting vest is available from Garlands in sizes from medium all the way up to XXXXL, for the tall-and-rotund among us.

The vest is manufactured from 100 per cent cotton moleskin, featuring colour-contrasted yoke, and it is also fully lined to help keep the warmth in.

The zipped game pockets are useful for stopping phones and wallets from slipping out while shooting. £129.95

www.garlands.uk.com

Peter Wilson is the most enthusiastic person I’ve interviewed. He talks as fast as he shoots, and as we catch up just a few days after he received his MBE at Buckingham Palace it is clear he is still on a high.

“Peter Wilson MBE sounds very odd,” he says. “I’m struggling to take it all in.

“I won Olympic gold in London just over six months ago and now I’m a Member of the British Empire. I don’t think it will sink in until I have a moment to relax.”

Finding time to do that will be tricky. His medal win, combined with youth, enthusiasm and sheer niceness makes Peter a hugely marketable sports personality.

As such, he is now managed by Roar Global and has taken on brand ambassador roles for Holland & Holland and the Gleneagles Shooting School.

“I’m extremely proud to be representing both Holland & Holland and Gleneagles and am thoroughly enjoying working with them both. I am also in the process of developing two Apple applications, the first launching in May. Watch this space.”

Not surprisingly, given the calls on his time, Peter hasn’t done much shooting since London 2012.

“I haven’t shot much Double Trap at all. The rules changed in January, with pairs of clays now randomly thrown from three traps, so I’ll need time to get my head around the new discipline. My guns went in recently for servicing and once they’re back I hope to start training full-time.”

Peter started back in earnest in mid-March and will fly out to Dubai later this spring to start training with his coach, Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum.

“I want to start what I call bulk training, shooting at least 1,000 rounds a day, with the goal of getting my head around the new discipline.

“I love training and relish structure in my life, so after the last few months of juggling commercial commitments, I’m looking forward to getting back into a routine where I know what I will be doing on a daily basis.”

Given his enthusiasm its no surprise that Peter views the new double trap discipline as positive.

“For me it’s great. I set out to achieve one thing, and that was to win the Olympics. On top of that I wanted to set a world record, which I did in March last year.

“Being able to tick off both life-long goals at the age of 25 was not in the plan. The rule change has definitely had an impact on my decision to compete in Rio. It couldn’t have come at a better time in my competitive career.”

After six months off Wilson has
training in his sights again

Although Peter admits that he has absolutely no idea what technique he will use to shoot the new format, he’s relishing the challenge.

“The new discipline appears to suit a more natural way of shooting. Being able to hunt the target, rather than mechanically control the way you shoot and move will, I believe, encourage more people into the discipline.”

Clearly though it will take more than learning a new discipline to get to the Rio Olympics, as Peter explains. “Going to Rio is not just about rocking up. I really hope to be there and am confident I will be there, but it’s four years away.

“To get there means winning or medalling on the world stage, then winning a quota place. But if someone else comes along and deserves that place more than me, they will go instead.

“If chosen, I then have to show I’m in the best form to win a medal, only then will I go to the Olympics.”

Whether or not Peter competes on the global stage this year is something he has yet to decide. He explains that his current focus is on training harder and smarter without the pressure to compete.

“It may be that I don’t shoot very many, or any, competitions this year. I want to see just how good I can be and have an opportunity to do just that this year.

“If I’m in really good shape at the end of the year then I’ll put my name forward for the World Championships but nothing is set in stone.”

Training harder than ever before involves more than just breaking clays, and Peter is looking to make improvements in all areas in what he calls a “no stone unturned” philosophy.

To this end he is working on improving his physical fitness, strength and diet, and has recently started working with a statistician to work out how to break that extra clay in a training session or competition.

The training regime will be managed by Ahmed Al Maktoum, who is clearly one of the most significant people in Peter’s life.

“Ahmed and I spent a great deal of time looking at every aspect of my technique in the build-up to the Olympics and I was shooting an unfathomably large number of targets while simultaneously training my brain to cope under the most immense pressure.

“I don’t use a sports psychologist because I train my mind and my body in a very specific way. He’s one of the greatest coaches I have ever come across.

“Not many people have achieved the success that he has on the global stage and then chosen to coach for free.”

Peter also points to the role other people have played in his success, which he describes as a team effort.

“I have to thank British Shooting (UK Sport), Ian Coley and my parents, all of whom played an integral role in my Olympic success.

“I harp on about Ahmed because he is unpaid and does it because he loves it. As for Ian, he is a great manager and has always been there for me.”

While the team behind Peter Wilson has obviously played a significant role in his success, there is no doubt that there is something rather special about this 26-year-old.

A combination of innate talent and unfettered enthusiasm for hard work is one thing.

Combined with his sheer determination to be the best he can be, this is sure to mean that any betting person will be putting their money on another Wilson gold in Rio.

Helena Douglas

As the evenings get lighter and the world begins to look a little greener, many of you will be preparing to get back onto the clay ground – if you have not already done so.

It’s an exciting time, with competitions to prepare for and new gear to get used to.

It’s important not to forget the basics, though, or start getting complacent about safety and gun handling no matter how experienced you are.

I spoke to some of the wisest instructors on the clay ground to find out what their best advice is on safety and best practice.

Based in north Essex, Stuart Clarke started clay pigeon shooting at the age of 24 and quickly developed his hobby into an art form.

Stuart has represented Great Britain 17 times and England 19 times, with titles that include the World Sporting Championship, two British Open Sporting titles and two English Open Sporting titles.

Stuart instructs at shooting grounds in Braintree, Lakenheath and Bedford, and said that the most important safety advice he gives is “To never point a gun at anyone, ever, whether it’s open or not”, adding that getting into the habit of always pointing the muzzle away from others will prevent the chance of an accident happening.

Another important factor that Stuart drew attention to is having a good gun fit, which improves aim and overall gun control.

If you’re a novice shooter, it’s vital that an instructor doesn’t teach you too much too soon. Going at a pace that you’re comfortable with will help embed the valuable lessons in gun handling and best practice.

A lesson in safe gun handling is vital before you take your first shot, teaches Guy

Another big name in clay shooting, Guy Bond has been teaching everyone from complete novices to experienced shooters since he was 21, and has over 25 years’ experience.

Between 1993 and 2007, Guy managed the Great Britain FITASC team. Guy advocates using the follow-through technique but is open-minded about other techniques for hitting a clay, such as maintained lead and pull away.

After an informal chat before a client’s first lesson, Guy gives a safety talk and demonstrates good gun handling: “The first thing is always to demonstrate taking a gun out of a slip safely, showing the breaking of the gun as it is being taken out of the slip.”

As he proceeds, Guy gives an explanation to his student about why he is teaching them certain things: “We then explain about checking that the barrels are clear of any obstruction before first loading every time.

John Bidwell teaches maintained lead – other instructors teach different methods of hitting a clay

“With over three tonnes per square inch of pressure in the chamber on firing, it is very important to make sure that all that force can go out of the barrel.”

As well as explaining misfires, he reminds new shooters that guns can go off accidentally: “So always close the gun with the barrels pointing to the ground.

“It is advisable to explain the ‘wood is good’ method of removing the index finger from the trigger while closing the gun and taking off the safety catch.”

His final pointer when introducing people to the world of clay shooting is to “Only ever load one cartridge at a time for any first timers for them to get used to the shock.”

With over 400 100 ex-100s to his name, Mickey Dore is a talented and well-known Skeet shooter who has consistently been on the Skeet scoreboards for over a decade.

Mickey has shot the highest number of 100 straights at Skeet and is at the top of the 100 Straight Club’s gold list, having shot for England since 1995.

He tells me that the best way to learn how to handle and use a shotgun safely – and dust those clays at the same time – is by having professional lessons.

Ever generous, Mickey has also offered to give a lesson in safe gun handling to a certain member of the Clay Shooting magazine team (that’s me!), so maybe I’ll persuade him to show me a thing or two on the skeet range as well!

Shooting is a great pastime – or so I’m told I’m about to discover at Edgehill Shooting Ground when I start lessons this year – but safety is paramount.

Good shooting, as they say, is no accident.

Natalie Parker

Shooting for summer: Guy will be on hand to welcome new shots

Robert Cross designed the tough course that tested the competitors, using a wide variety of speed and angle among the trees and across the panoramic view of the whole estate. The trademark layout of the ground – the grouse – was revered and reviled in equal measure by competitors, and proved to be a real test of skill and concentration.

Gary Smith – Handicap Classic 2013 Winner

After a celebratory lunch, a word from the event sponsors, which included Clay Shooting magazine, Browning/Miroku, and Eley Hawk, the winners were announced. Gary Smith was the outright winner with a score on the day of 63 added to his handicap of 36 for a total of 99. This beat close competition from Pete Hurst and Kevan Marks in second and third place respectively.

Browning’s David Stapley presented a delighted Gary with the brand new Browning after lunch. Gary said: “This is probably the best day of my life. I’ve never really won a competition before and I am so proud to win this gun. It’s beautiful.” David Stapley said: “It’s such a pleasure to present our prize to a winner who doesn’t finish on the podium regularly.”

Managing Director of the Royal Berkshire Shooting School, Dylan Williams teased the competitors after lunch, with news that he is organising a significant new event in October – “the biggest event, not just in shooting, but in sport.” More details as they are announced – and there will be a thorough review of the Handicap Classic in the July 2013 edition of Clay Shooting magazine.

Rest and relaxation: An evening scene at the Reservoir clubhouse

As I write this, it’s been the coldest March on record since 1963 in the UK – and while I don’t wish to get envious or anything, the idea of impossibly blue skies in temperatures upwards of the mid-20s with balmy sea breezes somewhere in the Caribbean does seem kind of appealing.

I wonder whether Horatio Nelson felt the same way about the cold when, in 1784, he sailed west and established Great Britain’s important base in the West Indies: Antigua.

Set amid the Leeward islands, Antigua is about 14 miles long and 11 miles wide, and is well-known as a destination resort for yachting and sailing.

It’s also the island of choice for many of the globe’s rich and famous, representing everything about luxury and a high-flying lifestyle, yet set amid Georgian architecture in English Harbour.

If you do happen to pay a visit, then do make a point of visiting Reservoir Range – a 30-acre shooting ground that’s recently opened and is dedicated to English Sporting.

Father and son Geremy and Will Thomas have now established the ground, though it did prove to be a challenge – it needed approval at ministerial level to allow the facility to go ahead in an isolated, beautiful location resting between Falmouth Harbour and St John’s, at the side of the island’s principal reservoir.

Will Thatcher showing the Antiguan Sports premier, Minister Williams, what he needs to do

The Thomases have been joined by respected Sporting and FITASC course-builder Will Thatcher, and together they have created a new layout featuring 12 stands, 36 automatic traps, and four towers.

And, in keeping with the local fauna, you won’t find a bouncing rabbit on the ground – but you might find something very similar known as the scurrying mongoose!

Local businesses have sponsored several of the stands – end stand three with a straight and you’ll be off to Harmony Hall for an alfresco Italian-style lunch. How terribly civilised.

Despite Will Thatcher’s fearsome reputation as a tough course-setter, the layout has been considered to provide straightforward shooting suitable for novices and old-hands alike – and Geremy has become responsible for introducing quite a few locals and visitors to the sport.

For clay shooters, Geremy recommends a one-week package that balances plenty of shooting with other holiday activities – lunches, catamaran tour, swimming in the ocean and exploring the forest.

There’s also an intriguing reason why the ground uses 21-gram loads – apparently skeet vests can prove particularly uncomfortable under a hot sun, and the theory goes that you don’t need such a garment with light loads!

Flights to Antigua start at around £650 per person – and if you manage to get over, do send us a postcard so we can stick it on the wall of our cold, grey office in Warwickshire. Sigh.

Wes Stanton

Antigua Clays

T: +1 268 726 1234
E: gt@antiguaclays.com
W: www.antiguaclays.com

Winston Gregg, winner of the FITASC team selection shoot at Four Seasons

Hugh Burns bright

Silentnight Cup winner Hugh Burns, with Claire Wilson

Course setters at Hillsborough hoped for some high scoring during the recent Silentnight Cup, after David Wallace won this event in 2012 with a 96.

The top score at a registered 100-bird event in the province stands at 98 – this record was set many years ago at Hillsborough and only a few shooters have come within a target of equaling it.

A clutch of shooters arrived at stand eight having dropped only a target or two but the last three hurdles proved the downfall of many.

Hugh Simms returned a 92 but Hugh Burns took High Gun on 94, just pipping Andrew McKeown’s Runner-Up score of 93.

County Down cracker

Jim Burns (right), 2013 County Down Champion, with Chris Henry

As always a fiercely-fought competition held according to tradition, on Easter Tuesday.

With 90-plus scores coming in from early morning, it was going to take a score close to the 98 national Sporting record to secure High Gun.

Work commitments have kept Alan Kirkpatrick away from some of the earlier competitions, but a well-deserved day off saw him on the course mid-morning and going very well.

Three down going into the last stand, Alan wasn’t going to tie the record, but with another straight he finished High Gun on a cracking 97.

Joe Tomlinson, Stewart Clydesdale and Hugh Burns were tied on 91 for the County Down Championship, and waited eagerly for Down resident Chris Aiken and Jim Burns to finish.

Chris made it to stand nine for the loss of three targets but finished on 90. Despite losing a couple of full pairs, Jim Burns made it to the finish line on 93 to take the County Down title.

A very enjoyable Sporting course for this event from Derryboye club.

Double drama

Ulster Single-Barrel Champion Artie Griffith

There was something of a double-header when Rathfriland Clay Pigeon Club hosted 100-bird DTL and the annual 50-bird Ulster Single-Barrel Championship.

With the silverware up for the Ulster Championship, it seemed the single-barrel competition would take priority, with many signing up early on.

The additional race for silverware meant the regular 100-bird competition was slow to start. They finally got under way, taking out eight squads across the  three layouts.

Irish international shooter, Jason Coffey finished with a superb 99/293. He faced stiff opposition with Gordon McDowell coming close on 98/288.

There were some other strong scores that threatened for High Gun, including a 98/292 from Jim Crozier and some 289 scores from the likes of William Heslip and William Armstrong.

Meanwhile, the Ulster Single-Barrel Championship was popular throughout the day and it was Artie Griffith who set the pace early, firing a 49 to dominate. As the afternoon wore on it seemed there would be no opposition for the Bangor man, but a late challenge made for 11th-hour drama.

The final line was made up of Darren Bell, Noble Patterson and Hugh Ervine, fresh from their efforts in the 100-bird competition.

Darren and Noble dropped targets on their first line, while Rathfriland man Ervine hit 25-straight to put the pressure on Griffith.

However, his second layout was not as assured and he finished on 48, one behind the eventual winner – Artie Griffith.

Shooting resumes at Rathfriland later in the year, with summer league action on the horizon.

Four Seasons FITASC

Signs were all good at Four Seasons’ eagerly awaited opening 50-bird team selection shoot on Easter Saturday, which proved to be a dry, bright day offering stunning views across Lough Money, from the Forest layout, to the St Patrick statue perched high on a hill.

A 25 on the Forest layout from Lewis Bryans and all seemed to be running smoothly towards a sizeable and potential High Gun score, but it just got away from Lewis on the tricky peg three of the Lough layout.

This left Lewis tied with father Phillip on 44 – a good score but would it be enough?

With a testing teal and a tricky last peg on the Lough, a High Gun score of 46 was predicted. Exceptional shooting from Winston Gregg saw his 47 steal the day.

Shooters eagerly await a return to Four Seasons in high summer for the Ulster Open.

Good omens at Ballydugan

Lewis Bryans (left), with his first High Gun of 2013, with Michael Best

The first two shoots of the season looked to kick it off to a good start for Ballydugan, the venue for the 2013 Sporting International in September.

The course for the second registered shoot of the season had undergone quite a change from Ballydugan’s opener in February, but nevertheless it had the credentials to yield some very high scores.

Joe Tomlinson reached stand seven for the loss of only four targets but, like many before him, the last few stands proved very costly and he finished joint runner-up along with Hugh Burns, on 87.

Lewis Bryans has been scoring steadily over the opening shoots, and even with similar trouble to Joe over those testing closing stands, Lewis took his first High Gun of 2013 with a very respectable 89.

A very enjoyable course, the bitter cold and persistent rain playing its part in keeping the scores down.

Left to right: ISSF secretary general Franz Schreiber, Amber Hill, ISSF president Olegario Vazquez Raña. (Photo: Marco Dalla Dea / ISSF)

As I understand it, some of the funding made available for the international disciplines as a result of Peter Wilson’s medal will be for coaching future Olympic champions.

Wilson has left us in no doubt that his success was very much based on a one-to-one relationship with his friend and coach Al Maktoum, who added techniques he had previously adopted himself to his pupil’s game.

That Wilson’s success will help future champions is all very appropriate, but the chances of them forming similar relationships to Wilson’s with Maktoum are remote, so other kinds of training regimes will have to be devised.

The methods employed by other successful shooting countries, most particularly Italy, are a constant subject of speculation, but very little reliable information is available.

Then, of course, there are the ISSF qualifications individuals can acquire, which may also be a way of producing our own cadre of qualified international coaches.

There are many different levels of coaching, from basic instruction as it relates to the complete beginner to refining the techniques of already proven experts.

Calling yourself a coach without having any qualification, which some people do, or even acquiring them, proves little. Only a properly demonstrated record of success can validate whatever gifts of teaching you may have.

Over the years I have met many people who could shoot brilliantly but could hardly put a sentence together when trying to explain how they did it.

It’s very possible they didn’t have any idea, but by employing the innate senses of distance and speed we all share, together with the uninhibited employment of their natural coordination, they enjoyed considerable success.

This is not very helpful when trying to formulate a training programme, but it is an unconscious expertise that our young athletes will have to acquire with a foundation based on some kind of orthodoxy.

I can already envisage the eyes of hundreds of nature’s little corporals gleaming at the mention of orthodoxy, which to them means orders and authority that they could be a part of.

Unfortunately for them, orthodoxy will be a small part of the training process.

Gold and silver medallists Vincent Hancock (USA) and Michael Gilligan (GBR)

We may start to teach children to play a piano by means of simple exercises, but if they want to be great pianists and our shooters want to be Olympic champions, they have to stop thinking and start feeling, and become intuitive.

Only then will their latent talent take wing. Does anybody know any flying instructors? Because that’s what we really need.

In the aftermath of the Peter Wilson medal, some more taxpayers’ money is being made available to train Olympic shooters, but inevitably those charged with its imbursement want to be able to see some kind of cohesive planning on the part of those who administer shooting as to how they will use it.

What they have in mind is something along the lines other Olympic sports have adopted. This would comprise a squad of six people who, based on recent performance, represent the most competitive.

This group, who would receive coaching and the funds required to adapt to a semi-professional lifestyle, would have an opportunity to represent Great Britain to win the quota places necessary to compete in the Rio Olympics.

We must assume, of course, that if there are squad members who simply don’t perform, they will be replaced with those of suitable ranking below them, or by others who have subsequently appeared on the scene with some outstanding talent.

What we will not see is people walking into the British team on the basis of a couple of good scores.

I can’t recall that ever happening in the past, but regardless of that, an established group backed by an organised training regime is, in today’s climate, the only way we can hope to receive the funds that are on offer.

The administrators of other Olympic sports accept these conditions, so what’s different about shooting? The answer is nothing.

We must understand the money is distributed not to grow the sport of shooting, but to win Olympic medals – that’s the government’s only motive.

Like it or not, Olympic shooting is now a professional game that requires a similar environment in which able participants can prosper, so let’s get on with it.

Grand Prix, Cyprus

In games that require the utmost concentration complemented by a relaxed and supple body, it does not help to have rain in your face and to be shivering with cold.

It’s not only the British who have come to this conclusion – shooters from Eastern Europe, Germany and Scandinavia have sought out boltholes in the Mediterranean or Middle East to practice during the winter.

For that reason, the Cyprus Grand Prix in February, which provides a competition for all the Olympic disciplines, has become a major fixture in the international shooting calendar.

Not because it has the status of an ISSF World Cup, but it is the opportunity to shoot in a warm February sun that attracts many top performers from around the world.

The field included two British shooters who made the most of their moment in the sun.

Courageous Caroline Povey kept her
cool in the Women’s Trap

Women’s Trap

The Cyprus Grand Prix began on 25 February with the Ladies’ Trap event, and straight away GB was in the medals.

Caroline Povey née Neville, daughter of Joe, was placed sixth in the Ladies final with 63 ex75, seven targets behind the leaders.

In the past she would have had little chance of a medal.

This is 2013, however, and with the new rules as they relate to finalists, anything can and, it would seem, does happen.

Once you’ve made the six-competitor final, the score that got you there is disregarded, and you start again even-stevens with the other finalists.

In the semi-final for the medal matches, Stefecekova of Slovakia shot 13 ex16 while Povey, along with the two Russians Barsuk and Pshenichniko, shot 12.

This resulted in a sudden-death shoot-off to decide who would join the Slovak to shoot for gold, which Barsuk won.

While Stefecekova progressed to the winners’ podium to claim gold, Povey upped her game defeating Pshenichniko by three targets to take the bronze medal.

Povey was always a tough competitor, and it would seem the snakes-and-ladders game Olympic Trap now represents suits her courage and cool head.

Men’s Double Trap

While we don’t have many Double Trap shooters, Coley’s squad punches well above its weight with a seeming ability to win medals on a regular basis. This includes Steve Scott, who began competing in 2003.

What is it about this 28-year-old and Cyprus? A Junior World Championship in 2003, a European Championship as a senior in 2008, and two bronze medals in the same event in 2004 and 2007 and now the Country’s Grand Prix.

At the end of the qualifying rounds Scott was on 135 ex150, two targets clear of Maksim Lasarev and Vitaly Fokeev of Russia.

Scott never faltered for a moment in the two single-barrel matches, maintaining his lead over Lasarev by one target in the semi-final and increasing it to two in the final match to take the gold medal.

Great stuff from Scotty, a quiet spoken young man who lives in Fulham but thrives in the sunshine.

World Cup, Acapulco

Amber Hill, 15-year-old Skeet phenomenon,
wins in Acapulco

The first World Cup shoot of 2013 in Acapulco saw more success for British Skeet shooters.

With only one previous appearance in an international event last year, 15-year-old Skeet phenomenon Amber Hill won the gold medal in the women’s event. Going into the final she found herself competing with, among others, the gold medallist from the Beijing Games, Chiaro Cainero.

After the qualifying rounds, in equal first position were Jaiden Grinnell (USA) and Landish Kvartalova of Russia with 72,  followed by Diana Bacosi from Italy (69), Hill and Minji Kim of Korea tied on 68, and Cainero of Italy with 67.

In the semi-final of the medal matches Bacosi shot 15 ex16, as did Hill to shoot off for gold and silver. Cainero on 14 and Minji Kim on 13 shot for bronze. Another 15 from Hill clinched the gold medal. Cainero, with 141, took the bronze.

Amber Hill, still at school, trains twice a week and is coached by Joe Neville. Sponsored by Guerini, there can be no doubt this youngster represents a bright hope for British shooting in the future.

Men’s Skeet

Finding himself in similar illustrious company in the form of two-time Olympic gold medallist Vincent Hancock, GB’s Michael Gilligan, 24 years old with a Junior European Championship bronze and a silver in a World Cup last year, kept his head.

In great form, Hancock entered the final on 123 tied with Italy’s Giancarlo Tazza, while Tazza’s teammate Luigi Lodde was on 120. Gilligan tied with Saif Bin Futtais (UAE), and John McGrath USA was on 119.

We must remember that these scores count for nothing – if you make the final you are all square again.

Hancock wasn’t letting go, however, and shot 16 straight. Gilligan only missed one for 15, tying with Bin Futtais and McGrath, and won the shoot-off to join Hancock and shoot for gold and silver.

Hancock maintained his dominance, missing only one target to take gold. Gilligan dropped two for silver, but a fine effort nonetheless. Futtais took the bronze.

Vic Harker