My stomach lurched as we drove into the car park. I wondered why I’d agreed to do this. I’d never considered myself to be competitive and I felt more than a little sick with nerves. Still, something within had urged me to try, just to see how far I could push myself out of my comfort zone, and since I’d first had a go at clay shooting all I wanted was to hit more and more clays. It’s a well-worn cliché but the 1st of July 2015 was a day I’ll never forget – my first ever registered CPSA competition. I knew I was a safe person to be around and that was the most important thing. But I was also inexperienced having only fired a gun for the first time 2 years previously and just a handful of times since. Yet here I was rocking up to a ‘big boys’ competition, in amongst some of the best shooters in the country, trying to hold my own. 

I wasn’t concerned about my score; I already knew that I would find it a lot harder than a practice session with the added adrenaline and new sensory environment, but I wanted more than anything to feel like I could belong in this circuit and to learn as much as I could ‘on the job.’ There would be no greater way of experiencing a variety of target presentations than on a registered competition, with the hope of becoming a better shot. So, here I was, just giving it a go. 

I needn’t have worried – after the initial nerves had settled, I had the most amazing day and the exhilaration of hitting some of those clays made the anxious build up completely worthwhile. The sense of accomplishment was unreal and the people around me were kind and friendly, especially when they found out it was my first ever competition. I was lucky; my partner had been shooting for many years, and he had guided me through the whole process. 10 years ago, there was little information easily available to a ‘newbie’ starting out shooting, but seeing the sport grow in popularity over the years I can tell you that there are far more people shooting and competing in registered competitions, than there has ever been before.

Fast forward a decade and I find it pretty incredible to think just how much my life has changed because I started shooting registered competitions. It’s not just about how much it now encompasses my thoughts, my time, (and my bank account!) But I can honestly say that taking a leap of faith into something which both scared and thrilled me, has changed me as a person. Shooting competitively has challenged me in ways that I could never imagine, perhaps in the same way that many competitive sports do for others. The resilience, the grit, the determination to get better, the feelings of greatest joy, and the heartache of disappointment – strong emotions that I had not previously experienced – have manifested themselves whilst my love for this sport has developed, and for the game of competitive shooting. And I have made lifelong friends as well.

What is a registered competition? 

So, after reading the above you may be wondering what I’m talking about. What is a registered competition anyway, and what’s the big deal? To make things simple, I’m going to write about the discipline of English Sporting, because this is mainly what I shoot and it’s the most popular discipline you’ll find in registered competitions. 

First, let’s talk about the CPSA. The Clay Pigeon Shooting Association is the national governing body of Clay Shooting, and along with setting regulations for the sport they manage individuals’ shooting scores/statistics from competitions on a national database. Shooting grounds across the UK will hold registered CPSA competitions, and after the event those scores will be sent off to the CPSA to be added to the database. Through the CPSA website you can track the scores you’ve obtained from different competitions and see where you rank against other shots.

The CPSA divides all entrants into classes – AAA and AA (AAA for major competitions only), A, B or C class. Although everyone will shoot the same targets in each competition, being in a specific class means you have the chance of competing with people of equal ability, and if choosing to pay the extra levy for a ‘Competition Entry’ rather than ‘Targets Only’ – you will be eligible to win prize money for first, second or third place in your class. If you choose to just shoot as ‘Targets Only’ your score will still be recorded but you will not be eligible to win any prizes. There’s usually a difference in price of £5.00

When you book on to your first registered shoot you will be Unclassified. Once you have completed three 100 target competitions, you will be given a temporary classification, your scores will be calculated against the national averages and a class will be applied to your record. Classifications get updated every 3 months.

How does it work?

You might also be wondering how an English Sporting competition works. For some competitions you need to prebook your entry with a specific starting time, and for others you can just turn up on the day between the first and last entry times. This will be made clear on the ‘Fixtures’ page of the CPSA’s website, which is where you will find the competition locations and dates. If you see ‘Squadded Entry’ in the description, you will be put into a group of up to 5 other shooters to move around the competition with. The etiquette is that you will shoot in rotation, so if you are the second person to shoot a stand, you will then become the first person on the next stand. 

Otherwise, you are free to go around on your own or with friends, in any order of the stands as you wish. It is customary that the first person onto a stand gets to see a pair of targets before they shoot, but the other shooters will not have the same on their turn as they will have already seen the targets.

Once you have finished your round, it is imperative that you hand in your score card back at the clubhouse so that your score is recorded and then registered with the CPSA.

On a typical registered competition, you will find 12 stands. For each stand, you will be given a pair of targets to shoot – which could be ‘on report’ or ‘simultaneous’ with 4 or 5 of these pairs to shoot, making a total of 100 targets. On Report means the second target is thrown after the first target is shot at, and Simo Pair is when two targets are thrown together with no pause.  In English Sporting there’s a huge variety of different target presentations and the types of targets thrown are often named according to the game they simulate such as ‘teal’ or ‘driven (pheasant)’. No competition course will ever be the same. Although you will see similar presentations, the trajectory and speed of the clay will differ – I think this is why English Sporting is the most popular clay shooting discipline!

How much does it cost and what kit do I need?

The entry fee for a registered competition differs slightly between shooting grounds but you can typically expect to pay around £45.00 for a Targets Only Entry, and £50.00 for a Competition Entry. This is without your cartridges (which you must bring along with you). I would suggest bringing at least 125 cartridges to a 100 ESP (English Sporting) competition because unfortunately you will need a few extras just in case you get ‘no birds’ (which means a clay either comes out of the trap broken or has a completely irregular flight path). If this happens to be the second target in the pair, you’ll need to shoot the pair again. (First target established if it’s an on-report pair, not established in a simo pair)

Hearing and eye protection is compulsory on a registered shoot, and a baseball cap is advisory. I would strongly recommend wearing a cap as not only will it protect you from any falling debris such as small fragments of clay or shot, but it is beneficial for keeping both the rain and sun out of your eyes.

I’d also make sure you take a drink and it’s wise to take a snack too. Shooting 100 targets can be really tiring so stay hydrated and keep your sugar levels steady!

So, you’ve decided you’d like to give it a go. Here’s a few ‘Tips and Tricks’ to help.

  • For your first few competitions, don’t set yourself any expectations other than to just enjoy yourself. Most first-time competitors should aim for a score between 20-40%. You may well hit more clays in a practice session, but a registered competition is a very different atmosphere, and you will be nervous.
  • Focus on your familiar targets and don’t worry that you won’t know how to address some presentations as there will be a lot that you haven’t seen before. Instead try to ‘bank’ as many of the easier targets as you can. Anything else is a bonus!
  • Considering ‘double barrelling’ the first target if it is slow and easier than the second. There is nothing stopping you from firing two cartridges at the first target if you miss it with the first shot, although the second target will be sent anyway and counted as a miss. If you hit the first, at least you have achieved 50%. A tick on the card is better than a zero!
  • Although it is an individual sport it is wise to consider how best to get along with other people; it’s a relatively small community and you may end up being squadded with others for the whole duration of a competition. It goes without saying that being a ’safe shot’ is paramount, and people will feel more comfortable seeing you handle your gun safely. 
  • There is also a certain etiquette expected in competition shooting; make sure that you minimise the volume of any conversations held whilst another person is shooting and don’t get in the eye line or peripheral vision of the shooter. 
  • Be ready to shoot when it is your turn. If there’s a queue waiting to shoot a stand it can be quite frustrating for all if one person isn’t aware that they are next and aren’t prepared. Ensure that you have enough cartridges in your shooting vest or pouch and a couple of extras for no birds.
  • Focus on the process and be present in the moment. One of the most common mistakes that competition shooters make is for their mind to wander either forwards to what their score might be at the end, or backwards in ‘reliving the shots’ that they have already made. Whilst it is incredibly difficult to keep yourself focused on the present; by solely concentrating on the technique, method and movement required for each target you have a much better chance of performing to the best of your ability. 

Finally, just remember you are there to enjoy yourself, however many tears of frustration you may cry on your journey home!

Written by Zea Purnell

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