Claycoach

The Blog is moving

2010-01-28T08:21:00.000-08:00

The blog has moved to our main website here: http://www.claycoach.co.uk/blog/

Heads up.

2010-01-26T00:46:00.000-08:00

Just a quick heads up. The OS Home International will be held at Doveridge on Saturday 14th August 2010. I don't know the banquet hotel yet but the Travelodge at Uttoxeter is wanting 50 odd quid a night!!! Tent here I come!
Wonder if there any grouse at Doveridge?

I'll say this one more time!

2010-01-26T00:36:00.000-08:00

Out with the mad pistol shooters today, improving their shotgun skills. Great fun. The lesson I learned was, and I have said this before, I'll say it again, and I imagine I'll keep saying it -YOU MUST WATCH THE TARGET VERY HARD!!!!
It's very interesting, or indeed veeery interesting zaichata, that, even with a relatively unsophisticated (as far as shotgun is concerned) group, watching the target hard makes a huge difference.
Now, if you are a sophisticated shotgun shooter - and there are a few of you out there - think what a difference it would make to you.
So, what are you going to do about it? When did you have your eyes tested anyway? Maybe you can't even see the target properly to start with! Can you keep your eyes still when you are looking for the target? Do you know where to look? Does it matter? Who is your coach? What are your goals? Why should I care???
So many questions? Who can answer them? Maybe you can. In fact yes you can.
Be good, have fun, love yourself, love shooting.

Magnetism

2010-01-24T12:14:00.000-08:00

I was in a shop the other day and I noticed little magnetic numbers, words, times tables and so on that are used to help children learn. Now kids are bright nowadays, and some of them must be very bright, as some of the words were Spanish and German. Picasso and Guernica came to mind but that's by the way. Or is it indeed as there was a shooting connection?
Not to ramble too much I come to the point. (At last you say!) If you see the target properly your gun will be drawn to it, as if by a magnet. Honestly! The target is this great magnetic thing and your barrels just go there by magnetic magic. Conversely if you don't see it properly the gun sort of wanders off into the general area, and whilst you may still hit the target, it's not quite right. This often accounts for bad gun mounts too, in Olympic Skeet of course - Trap is another matter - as shooters set off before the target is properly seen and the gun doesn't come up correctly as there is no magnet drawing it to the bird. The uneducated shooter blames the bad gun mount. The properly coached shooter knows that this may not be the case and strives to make the next shot correctly.
So think hard zaichata, and learn to see the target properly and then keep watching it. Of course, if you are very well trained you don't need to see them as they must be there - but that's another matter indeed.
Be good, train hard, love yourself, love shooting.

From the guns of babes.

2010-01-23T09:56:00.000-08:00

Or is it more correctly, from the mouths of babes? Thought I'd better check and, aghast, this is what comes up:
"From the mouths of little children and infants, you have built a fortress against your opponents to silence the enemy and the avenger".
God only knows what it means but the reason for all of this is that I was recently working with the juniors. The male shot 97 x 100 (missing high 7 on the double at one point!) and the feisty female shot 50 straight!
Now, considering it's January, that's pretty good I think. Perhaps we are building a suitably strong fortress to silence our many enemies? Avengers don't bother me. Who cares about an old 70's model car, or Joanna Lumley dressed in leather. As I recall she was named Purdey, which is just so apposite when dealing with shotgun matters. Is that correct?
Just ignore the ramblings of an old and not so grumpy man. Don't ignore the fact that he knows a little about shooting though.
Be excellent, be happy.

Subs.

2010-01-22T11:14:00.000-08:00

Ah no, not U Boats, although I do have an interest. Have you paid your annual subs? They are due and payable now and I don't want you to get das boot for forgetting. Clever eh?
Anyway, macht schnell in getting the geld (or gelt in English!) to the administrator.
Be sehr gut.
See me, ready for Munich as we speak!!!!

Cheek!!!

2010-01-22T11:11:00.000-08:00

"Tac'cagno". Look it up and see if it accords with your thoughts. Last time I give one of the little swines my Italian dictionary.
Damn cheek is what I say!!!
You've got to laugh. Just as well the said little swine can shoot a bit.

Nate per vincere!

2010-01-20T00:19:00.000-08:00

What does it mean? Does it mean you? Does it mean me?
I'm going to be mean and you'll have to look it up. You could always take a look at Bornaghi's website and that might help a bit.
Let me give you a clue. I think you all are. A coach could help though!
Arrivaderci!

Philosophising

2010-01-19T00:33:00.000-08:00

Sitting on Lake Garda - (hmm maybe not the best use of language - I'll be accused of walking on water next, or thinking I can) - sitting overlooking Lake Garda, Lucretius came to mind, as he does, and as also did Cicero. How should I know why?
Cicero wrote, in 54 BC (so a wee while ago) : "The poems of Lucretius exhibit many flashes of genius, and yet show great mastership."
Now then, what's the point of all of this? Well that's what I want from all of you. Flashes of genius and great mastership. In my experience the flashes of genius bits are vital to learning. Something happens and voila (as they say in ancient Greece)a vital piece of learning takes place. In Olympic Skeet this happens when neophytes (I like that word) occasionally fire a shot - a little early perhaps - and boom, the target blows up. The look on their faces is always interesting and usually implies "How did that happen?" Often there is an epithet in there too!!
From this comes learning, if they can grasp what happened anyway. From this first, almost accidental, learning we then proceed on the long road to great mastership don't we?
If you do 150 dry mounts a day and shoot lots of cartridges and listen veery veery closely to your coach, the great mastership will come a bit quicker.
I told you in another post 60,000 movements a year are what's required. Great mastership is within your grasp zaichata, but it's YOUR grasp, not mine. What is it the man says? Carpe Diem or some other fish like analogy? Please, please sieze the day, sieze your opportunities, go forth and be fantastic.
I'm backing you all the way. Be assured of that.

The new me.

2010-01-18T14:17:00.001-08:00

This is just the best photo ever!!!
Told you I love this job. Just as well it wasn't raining!!!

100 straight!

2010-01-18T06:04:00.000-08:00

Over 100 guns for a 50 OT competition at Lonato on Saturday - not bad eh? 30 euros entry for the men and I think 15 - or maybe even just 10 - for the women. Fab. Good payouts all round, well down the classes. What a joy to see. 48 won it which is pretty good for early January. Perhaps many of these shooters are doing what their competitors are not doing - and what we in Britain are almost definitely not doing. Lessons to be learned? Perhaps.
Fine to be out there for the second time in a few weeks. Very still all week, mostly dry but the layouts are covered anyway, and some days positively balmy.Who mentioned balmy? Shooting in the snow with 2 jackets, a dire background and a howling wind - now that's barmy!!
I've got a coaching conference this week which I'm very excited about. The pre course handout again reinforces how little I know, but what an opportunity to learn more.
I'll keep you posted.
Keep goal setting, keep training, keep being very very good.

The Book of Hours

2010-01-04T08:09:00.001-08:00

Now this is far from an illuminated manuscript, it's not in Latin and the only reference to bible studies is when I shout "Christ, how did you miss that???". Be assured that it's not God's son who is shooting!!!
To be serious - now that's a change - I refer to the need to get your 10,000, yes ten thousand hours, in as quickly and with as much purpose as possible. This 10k is the kind of ball park figure that those who know about training reckon it takes someone to become proficient. If you shoot once a week it'll take a wee while. If you shoot more it'll take less. If you shoot a lot that would be a good help. How are you going to manage it?
Add to this the hours you must spend in making the correct movement. 60,000 movements a year. Yes, yes, 60 thousand. What are you moaning about? 1,500 dry mounts a week, times 52 weeks and you are nearly there. Don't moan at me if you are not progressing quickly enough.
Get a coach and get on - you're wasting time.
I've been out in the snow for days. The guys have shot 148 x 150 and 140 x 150 which is pretty damn good for early January with new gun stocks, big jackets, hats and wellies.
I love this job.

The Question of Lead.

2010-01-02T10:14:00.000-08:00

Lead, that is the distance in front of the target, rather than lead as in shot. English is a dire language!
Anyway, I don't want you thinking about this lead thing. Get the gun on the bird and make it (the gun) go faster if that's what you are going to do, or, start out in front of it and stay there. Never mind this looking at the gun thing to check. There lies disaster.
Somewhere there lie good coaches who will not lie to you, with the concomitant result that you can lie easy in your bed knowing that you have a sound technique.
Honest!

GB dates.

2010-01-02T10:08:00.000-08:00

I have some GB OS Dates for your diaries:

23/14 March - Doveridge - cut off for Beijing WC
10/11 April - S. Counties - cut off for S.Counties and Lonato WC
22/23 May - EYGC - cut off European and World Champs - Kazan and Munich in that order
19/20 June - Doveridge UK Champs 200 targets - not SS
21/22 August - Auchterhouse
18/19 Sept - S. Counties

Latter two shoots will be important for 2011. Add to all of this CSF India,February, Cyprus GP in March, International Juniors in Suhl, Commonwealth Games in India, October and it's a busy year for some.
Aren't we lucky to be shooters?
You bet!!

Snowy!

2010-01-02T10:03:00.000-08:00

Getting deeper every day now, but that doesn't stop the OS heroes from being outside getting in some character building training. 95 x 100 in the falling snow can only build confidence when the sun comes out. 94 x 100 for another and 71 x 75 for one of our ladies. Rather good considering.
Add to that a man from the far North coming to shoot some sporting and it all proves what a fine lot we are.
May all of this continue.
Jags to look forward to on Tuesday and then dentist on Thursday. Rest seems OK so far.
Keep up that dry training over this period and be ready to come out strong when it really matters.

01/01/10

2010-01-01T02:37:00.000-08:00

Happy happy new year to all. May you get all you wish for.
Be excellent, have fun.

Visa

2009-12-29T12:04:00.000-08:00

No, not the credit card one, the other one involving foreign travel. Many of us are struggling just now trying to fill in the online application forms to allow us to visit parts of the Empire which we gave away. How I wish we'd kept the permission to travel without screeds of paperwork.
Hark back to the halcyon days when a chap or chappette could jump aboard a tramp - (different meaning nowadays) - and sail off into the somewhat smoky sunset with just a Gladstone bag, a muffler and a Webley revolver. Throw in a solar topee occasionally if it was likely to get a bit toasty and you were all set.
Now, I imagine the Clyde built tramp is no more, apart from the jakeys in Glasgow anyway, a Webley revolver is in someone's collection and the paperwork at each port of entry would fill the Gladstone bag - even if it fitted in easyjet's cabin luggage jig. Sigh.
Boring old fart? Moi?

Some double thinking.

2009-12-29T11:47:00.000-08:00

It's apparent that if the chaps and chappettes don't hit the first bird of the double just quite correctly, they can occasionally make a cod of the second one. I refer here to OS shooters, although I'm sure if I bothered to observe National Skeet shooters they may do the same, but I have forsworn that topic for ever. Double Trap may also apply.
The question is why? Many factors seem to affect this. One is that it becomes more noticeable the better they get. Thus there is a question of timing involved and the expectation of where the second bird should be. When they are mere neophytes (rather a nice word) they just bang away and never care a jot where it's shot. This may be best! How and ever, as expertise grows they do tend to shoot the first bird in a certain place and thus the second should be in another certain place.
Slow down on the first one - for whatever reason - and, aghast, the second one is not there!!! What I then think happens is that they remove their eyes from the correct gun/barrel relationship to look for the target, with the concomitant result of a somewhat wild swipe at bird number two resulting in a variety of outcomes. I could tell you all of them but I'm probably giving away too much to people who think they can coach and actually can't.
I have been accused of being an egotist, which may be true, but I know what I know - and unlike many others, I also know what I do not know - which is more!!! Clear?
Please be excellent. I have moved from good as I expect more of you. Keep up the dry mounting and get your tummy muscles strong enough to shoot properly. An easy goal.

On Flows The Tay

2009-12-29T11:34:00.000-08:00

Or, actually, more correctly at the moment, floes on the Tay. Living in this winter wonderland as I am at the moment, every day brings more marvellous sights. The river outside the house is well covered in what I called slush, but was corrected by a man with more knowledge who called it "groo" - or is it "grue"? I know not and Google does not seem to be able to help much. Perhaps some of my Northern nautical readers will come to my rescue and help me out?
I wonder if there is a ban on shooting waterfowl? I believe it comes on after a number of days of sub zero temperatures and this must surely qualify. Poor wee things are flying hither and yon trying to get a clear bit of water to park upon. Not easy for them, and this is amplified by the fact that I have a wagtail joining the other garden birds to peck a peanut or sample a sunflower seed. Unheard of. I do now, however, have a rather touching photo of a robin, a blackbird and the aforementioned wagtail bunched together on the clear bit of path, pecking, perhaps philosophically - needs must.
Pity help the raptors. They must be struggling now.
Not many nature notes normally in this column. A change is as good as a rest.
Be excellent and get some food out for our wee feathered friends.

Look, just look.

2009-12-27T11:52:00.000-08:00

How many of you, I wonder, actually know how to look for a target, where to look for a target, or what to do after you have seen the target? Not too many I sometimes think when I see people's eyes moving as they call pull, or they half a target. Why not look properly and then look at it hard? Not stare. Look hard, with big intent.
Anyway, I'm off to look at the telly. I've been reading International legal documents for hours and my old eyes are sore.
Try and look good, be very good and goodness knows what might happen to you!!

Dedication.

2009-12-27T11:43:00.000-08:00

Some have it, some haven't. Some went out on Christmas Day and shot a very nice 97 x 100 finishing on 50 straight. Very nice indeed. Some went out in the ever deepening snows and shot 116 x 125 which is rather good with a very difficult background and being freezy cold into the bargain. That's after 71 x 75 and then a double egg roll, half a tin of Quality Street and not wanting to shoot any more. So dedication is in there somewhere.
No mention of the dedication of the grumpy old coach who has to take the snow shovel, clean all the stands, button away in the freezy cold and get told to "zip it" when he makes the merest suggestion as to how to shoot the target a little better.
Aye, truly, it's a thankless task!!!
I may well be the luckiest man alive just the same.

"When the snow lay round about- - - "

2009-12-26T09:49:00.000-08:00

And indeed it does. What's more with contiual small falls, it is becoming deep and crisp and even. Very pretty. Some of you callow youths might need reminded not to let it get into your barrels - which it can do ever so easily - when you are out on the prowl. Check them often if you are out on a rough day as lump of snow can block them tremendously effectively and, then -- oooyah - the big bang theory is observed in practice.
Who is your Safety Officer?
Answers on a ten pound note please. (Inflation package!)

Su Bo

2009-12-25T01:43:00.000-08:00

Now, what can the most talented singer have to do with this colum? Who knows where the mind of the writer may wander next.
It wanders to Nevada actually where Safari Club International are involved in a court case to capture WILD HORSES. See, all the world's a circle!!
Be good.

25/12/2009

2009-12-25T01:35:00.000-08:00

And a very merry Xmas to all the readers of this fine column. I hope this finds you well and looking forward to the competitive year ahead. There certainly is a lot on, particularly for Commonwealth shooters, but, naturally, for others too. The first of the quotas becomes available and I'm sure there will be serious gearing up for this from every nation who competes.
We've got a good programme lined up to select our top shooters to attend World Cups, the European Championship in Kazan and then off to Munich for the Worlds.
Best wishes to you all. Big success in 2010.

Observers

2009-12-19T13:00:00.000-08:00

Out with the strength and conditioning coach to day to let him look at the movements the shooters have to make. They are not rifle shooters and so must have a lot of flexibility, good core stability, nice movements from the waist, luvverly shoulders, sharp movements and so on. Question is " what are fast twitch muscle fibres" and do they have an impact on skeet shooters? Good question eh? I've dispatched the young and ever so clever man to expand his knowledge of this topic as relates to shooters. It's good for him and good for us.
We shall see.

Superstars

2009-12-19T12:53:00.000-08:00

Now, this could refer to the fact that it's been a little cool at night and thus, in my remote house, with no light pollution, I can look heavenwards and admire the constellations, or, of course, it could mean the shooters that I am lucky enough to work with.
In this case, in the absence of my much hoped for atrolabe, it's the shooters. What a week I've had. All of them really shooting beautifully. What a delight. Timing, movement, watching the targets HARD, posture - oh so many things just so perfectly that I may well be the luckiest chap in the world. All of this in horror snowy conditions with poor backgrounds, freezy cold, slippy underfoot, frozen paws and drippy noses. What a team.
They are superstars everyone of them!!!

Goethe.

2009-12-17T11:42:00.000-08:00

Ruminating on World Championships, as one does, Goethe comes to mind. Now admittedly he came from Frankfurt and the World Championship in 2010 is in Munich, but it's all in modern day Germany - and anyway we have to fly into Frankfurt to go to Suhl and the like - so that's a good enough link for this tenuous column.
What actually came to mind was rather a good quote:

"Es bildet ein Talent in der Stille, sich ein Character in dem strom der Wilt."

How perfect thought I. We have all these shooters banging away on the training ground but how will they do when they have to face the "tumult of the world"? My job is thus twofold - or as far as this piece is concerned twofold. One, develop the talent in tranquillity but then also ensure that when these poor wee souls go out to face the big bad world they have the tools to be brave shooters.

Really easy being a coach see. Nothing to do but make them hit targets!!!

Anyway, think on this Zaichata and grow strong.

The Eyes Have It.

2009-12-16T03:53:00.001-08:00

Parliamentary question time? Never. Just wondering how many of you actually know what to do with your eyes when shooting? Where to look, how to look, when to blink, when to move them, when not to move them. If you know, that's good. If you don't know, oh deary me!
Might a coach help? Maybe?
Might be a good Christmas present to yourself?
Just a thought cherubs. I'm always trying to get you to get the best out of yourself and, very often, it's only you that's holding you back.
Expand and grow in two oh one oh. Poetry now! How clever.

An inch does matter!

2009-12-16T03:41:00.000-08:00

No, no smut - sorry. Just a small thing - an inch - or whatever that is in this modern metric stuff, but veery veery important when addressing your pick up points. I am talking about an inch at the barrels of course so that will be a bit bigger out at 19 metres or so. Oh my god, I've just said 19 metres! Metric is taking over. 19.2 actually, or 15 metres (!) if you don't shoot properly and start with the gun up!!
If you don't have a clue what I'm talking about I suggest you get a rule book pretty sharpish.
Anyway, back to the importance of pick up points. Too far out and, when you are a wee learner, there is the tendency to start the gun moving too soon. 2 things can then happen. Does anyone know what these 2 things are? If you do write and tell me and if you don't you really better tell me!!
If you are too close in things happen too. The same sentiment as above applies.
Did I mention I do a bit of coaching and am always looking for work!!!
Keep up the good work over the festive season. There's always time for a bit of gun mounting, mental training and goal setting. 2010 looms very large and there's a busy year ahead. Thank you God!
Did I mention I love this job?

For the geeks this is worth a look: http://www.mattarelliusa.com/trap_manuals_and_diagrams.html

Ups and Downs.

2009-12-16T03:36:00.000-08:00

No, not another rant about gun mounting, although it's good to keep it in your mind. It's about the fact that I seem to have been to Gatwick rather a lot lately. Now, can anyone tell me why half of Edinburgh is going to Gatwick in the morning and half of London is coming to Edinburgh? It's kinda like all the weegies heading for Edinburgh along the M8 in the am and loadsa posh embru folk going to Glasgow. Could we not start some sort of carbon neutral job exchange, where you have to try and find someone to do your job in whatever city and in return you do theirs.
Fact is of course, following on from that, nobody could do mine and I'll still be making giant footprints!!! Who mentioned a Yeti?
Bear with me in my ravings and go out and get your coach sorted for next year. Pretty please.

Way Up North

2009-12-13T07:18:00.000-08:00

Great news for Scottish shooters. 50, yes 50 guns contested the Assynt club's 25 DTL and 5(?) pair double rise yesterday. What a wonderful turn out and so heartening to see that grass roots shooting is alive and kicking. Some weel kent faces about the place with multiple champions and even GB team shooters out hunting the prizes. 74 was high gun apparently and I'm told there was much venison for the lucky winners. Lets wish them all up there all the best, although it could be a wee bit of a long run. Hour and a half from Dingwall somebody said.
Well done to everybody involved.

Exam Time Again.

2009-12-13T07:11:00.000-08:00

Safety exams for some at the moment. Always good to see the answers! "How might you warn the non shooting public that shooting was taking place?" Now the usual answer is signs, barriers, red flags etc, but the guys from Russia go further. Vicious dogs is their solution!!!
Another one for the same question - " Put out a sign saying trespassers will be shot. Surviviors will be shot again!!!". THIS DID NOT EVER COME FROM THE TUTOR!!!
It's fine to get some fresh ideas anyway.
Be good.

Bumpity bump.

2009-12-13T07:07:00.000-08:00

Saw a couple of very well known and respected OS shooters yesterday. One of them has a bump! That bump is growing and a new OS shooter is due in June. All to the good. So, I reckon therefore we will be having a new European and World Champion in around the 2029 sort of time and an Olympic Champion in 2036 or 2040. Always best to get some forward planning done when you can!
I hope everything goes very smoothly for the happy couple.

Oh Happy Day

2009-12-10T12:19:00.000-08:00

It's my birthday today - see below. As a real treat I got to work with three of the fab shooters out there. An absolute delight to watch them at work. Lovely timing, good attention to the targets, nice shoulder movement - oh how I love it - correct posture (mostly) and BIG INTENT!!! That's the bit that matters. Oh yes, European and World Championships here we certainly do come.
Happy boy. Oh yes, I got a new knife too. Even better!!!

10th December 1953

2009-12-10T01:26:00.000-08:00

A boy was born in Perth today. Peter Iain James MacGregor, to be known as Iain as all our family are mad and don't use our first names. Not quite the announcement in The Courier, but you get the gist.
Happy Birthday to me!!!
Be very good and make me a happy boy.

On song.

2009-12-04T01:15:00.000-08:00

Some of you will know that when you are shooting well you have a tune in your head. Most of us keep this tune, or these tunes, as there is usually a repertoire in there, very secret and rightly so.
What I'm saying is, or what I'm asking is, are there people out there with no tune? I know one man who had the seagull drifting around and maybe that's the same. Maybe it's all to do with accessing the right brain and maybe we need to train people to do that more before they go on to shoot. Getting in to state. What state? Some might say the Alpha state. Some might say that they are in a helluva state!! Some might say that the latter refers to pre tournament apathy and control of adrenalin levels.
Some might not have a clue what I'm talking about.
Maybe I'll get some responses. I might even get a positive response.
Might I suggest that if you don't have a clue what I'm talking about you might need to GET A COACH!!!!!
Whatever you do, do your best.

Dry up.

2009-12-04T01:02:00.000-08:00

Got a nice positive comment the other day from a new OS shooter to the effect that he was appreciating the benfits of dry training. OK so it's only one person, but it gives a lad a bit of encouragement that somebody out there in the darkness is doing something to help themselves. If only everybody did it what a difference we would see in the standards of shooting.
Things I would suggest about dry training:

1. Make sure you are doing "it" correctly."It", in this case is the movement. You must make sure you are using your hands correctly, particularly in OS. So lots of front hand work, not lifting the gunstock with your back hand.
2. Make sure you watch the target. People who dry train, bless them, can sometimes end up looking at the foresight bead rather much. Now I do know a multiple world champion who reckoned he gave about 60% of his attention to the bead (yes!) when he was shooting, but he was a special case.
3. When you come to shoot the real targets, be careful to WATCH THE TARGET. People, in my experience, who do lots of dry training, can "internalise" the movement too much, checking the feeling inside and not paying attention to the thing that matters at that time - breaking the target.
4, Oh, did I mention the most important bit? GET A COACH!!!!!

Whoever you are out there, wherever you are keep up the good work. Nearly 2010. get your goals set, keep working on them, be very good and have fun.

Handy.

2009-12-03T01:46:00.000-08:00

Musing about the 2012 Olympics - see below - it's quite handy that they finish on the 12th August. Bunk off the closing ceremony and get to the opening day of the grouse? Who suggested such a thing!!! Might be a few shotgunners who would let this wicked little thought enter their heads. Rascals.

Much to do?

2009-12-03T01:35:00.001-08:00

Have a look at the December European Rankings on the ESC site. I think we, in GB, have much to do.
This is the link:

http://www.esc-shooting.org/index.php/ranking

Make of it what you will but possibly excepting Double Trap, we are well off the pace. What do we do noo ma?

The news is that 178 won the Indian National Double Trap and 144 the OT. Bear in mind we have got to go out there in October and beat these guys, never mind Achilleos from Cyprus in the OS. Much to do? I think so. The question is, is it too much to do? All this with an Olympic Games in less than 1,000 days. Sounds like a long time? I think not. Wake up time is now.

African Adventure

2009-12-03T01:06:00.000-08:00

I'm offering a new package - "An Introduction to African Hunting" - for people who fancy having a go at this but don't know where to start. The answer is, start with me!
The package is 5 days on the hunting ranch, including food and accommodation with two animals - a Blesbok and an Impala - included. There's tons more to shoot but that's up to you.
If you fancy this, for the amazing price of £800.00 (YES!!), e mail me and we'll get cracking. The price does not include you getting to East London airport.
claycoach@tiscali.co.uk - will do fine.
Be good, set your goals and I'll see you out there.

The Pits

2009-12-03T01:02:00.000-08:00

Doing some dry mounting, as I do, and as you should do, I happened to have a look down the barrels of my bundook. Aghast, there seem to be pits in it. Now this gun was only built in 1974, so is almost brand new, which makes me think there must be a defect. Can't surely be all the dud cartridges it's fired over the years and the total neglect it's suffered surely!!!
I'll get the best gunsmith in the world to have a look at it and give me his opinion. My opinion is that the barrels on this fine Russian piece are so thick that it won't make any difference, and anyway a wee 24 gram load is hardly going to affect it.

Edison Arantes do Nascimento

2009-11-30T00:52:00.000-08:00

Not a name that comes immediately to mind perhaps? If I was to say Pele, might that help? What's this all about?
Well, I've been a busy boy again and, on a recent training course, the importance of WARMING UP was stressed. I stress it too, but lots of people just wander out onto the range, onto the first peg and miss the first bird out. Why should I care? But, of course, I do. Big Time. I want them to be ready to perform and as a result turn in a good performance.
What's the Pele point? Oh yes. Well, he always used to arrive early at the ground (a wee tip - if you want to be the best - be there first), and get his masseur to get to work on him. The man reported that as he was working, Edison Arantes do Nascimento changed into Pele!!! Maybe a life lesson here is there not?

So, could we discuss the benefits of the warm up just very quickly:
1. It helps avoid injuries. Get loosened up, stay fit to compete.
2.It will lead to a higher performance - honest.
3. You will concentrate better as a result of knowing that you are warmed up properly.

Just try it a few times. Warm up properly for two or three sessions. Then don't warm up for one and see the difference. You'll soon be hooked and get in to the warm up routine before every training session or competition.

Be very very good please. Train hard and perform well.

Training

2009-11-27T01:30:00.000-08:00

Or maybe even Trainspotting but that's not the route we want to go down. The route we want to go down is the Milan - Desenzano route. Has anybody taken the train from Milan to Desenzano recently? If so please get in touch with me. This really would be helpful.
claycoach@tiscali.co.uk - will do the trick.

Proof

2009-11-27T00:55:00.000-08:00

A bit more research comes up with all of this interesting stuff. Interesting if you are a geek anyway!!

The Law:
The present law on the subject is to be found in the Gun Barrel Proof Acts 1868, 1950and 1978 and various Rules of Proof, but particularly those of 1925, 1954, 1986 and 2006 when the metric system of measurement was introduced. Copies of the Several Acts and of Rules of Proof of 2006 may be obtained from either Proof House - London or Birmingham.

Here's a thing then:
Definition for "nitro proof" : A firearm has been determined to be safe when used with smokeless powders through governmental/manufacturer testing of the barrel and action.

It would seem from further reading that the seller is liable if the gun is not in proof, even if he/she is just an "ordinary" person. Caveat Emptor must be the rule here I imagine.
So, now we've done Hist, Geog, Eng Lit, Latin, Theology and maybe a bit of Chemistry and French. A shooter's timetable can be very full n'est ce pas.
Moi? Je vais très très bien.
Kisses to you all.

C.I.P.

2009-11-27T00:45:00.001-08:00

Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Epreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives is what I'm talking about just now, for those of you in the know. For those of you not in the know, this is all about proof - not the Procurator Fiscal kind - although it might come to that, but proof of guns etc.
In discussion the other day we were mulling over this point, and someone suggested that proof is a very temporary thing. At the moment of being stamped, or passing the appropriate test, the gun is deemed to be in proof. Perhaps, the very next second, it may not be. There are those out there who will keep me right on this and I look forward to their answers.
I know not, but I do believe that it is illegal for a Firearms Dealer to sell a gun that is "out of proof". What if you are not a Firearms Dealer but just a guy or girl wanting to get rid of a gun? I must look up the Act, and I'm supposing this will be the Firearms Act of 1968. I've got a copy here somewhere so I'll peruse it and come back to you later.
In the meantime please inform me.

Theology now.

2009-11-25T10:49:00.000-08:00

So, below we have, Hist, Geog, Eng Lit and Latin. Better add one more topic and Theology it is.
Now you may well ask what caused this amazing state of affairs, especially as I rant about the havoc caused by the female god so often, and happily I will tell you.
On the way home, having been dealing with a Russian,a Ukranian and a Finn (a fine Slavic hotchpotch) I observed a carrion crow (Corvus Corone) having a good wash in a puddle in a muddy field. It was lashing down at the time and I do believe that this may have been the maddest crow on the planet, but the Reverend (was he?) Francis Bacon came to mind (as he does) with his sage words - Cleanliness is next to Godliness - or thereby. Bacon actually said something like 'Cleanness of body was ever deemed to proceed from a due reverence to God.' so much the same as I would say myself!!!
Isn't it amazing how one of the great predators of the country can be so close to God? Truly, he (or in my case -she-) moves in mysterious ways.
In some instances however my friends, a good coach may help you to move mysteriously towards some of your goals very effectively also.
Be good. Smile. Love thy neighbour!!!! Isn't that a commandment? Theology, theology, theology. Fab.

More scholarly still.

2009-11-25T01:46:00.000-08:00

"Lorem ipsum vim ut utroque mandamus intellegebat, ut eam omittam ancillae sadipscing, per et eius soluta veritus".

This blog just gets better and better. Geog, Hist and Eng Lit down below and now Latin. I came across this quote when I was looking at how to manage this fine blogspiece. Not a clue how to do it still, but any Latin quotation is worth it's salt. In fact I think that last bit is Latin too. Honestly.

Best Latin one of course is the old favourite: - Illegitimi non carborundum - much used, much abused, but succour when things are getting you down. Even had to use it myself once upon a time when some very dire lecturers were making a real mess of a "training course" - and the troops needed a boost. It worked. Some of the lecturers are still around which shows that it's not what you know. Angry? Moi?

Anyway, to get back to work, Wikipedia have a great section on the above - and oh so learned it just makes me tingle. See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegitimi_non_carborundum

Be very good, get fit and do some gun mounting. You have been told!!! Maybe, given the times we live in, I should say - "You have been asked very nicely!"

High Finance

2009-11-25T01:36:00.000-08:00

OK. There are lots of you out there with brains. Tell me what's going to happen with the £ v $ rate please. I need dollars for next year and am swithering whether to buy now. McGlashan, if you are reading this, help your old and skint pal out please.
All replies on the back of a fiver would help!!
Talking of McGlashan, some of you will remember that callow youth who shot skeet and then OS. I think he shot a 97 at a skeet International one time, having been docked three targets for arriving late!!! (Yes that does mean he shot 100!) He shot for GB and then was seduced by his greatest love - money.
Now, however, there may be competition on the horizon as he's getting married in December.
I want to wish him and his fiancee all the very best. Maybe we'll get him back to shooting again.

Schoolboy tales

2009-11-25T01:04:00.000-08:00

Who remembers from school - Constantinople is a very big word, if you can't spell it you're a very big dunce. The trick of course was to spell "IT".
What's the point of this tale? Ah well, it seems that the World Cup Final next year, for ISSF shotgun anyway, is in Istanbul. The geographically challenged amongst you won't have a clue what this is all about. The more learned amongst you will have memories of Lord Byron and his swim.
I think that it might be nice to have a wee quote from him, just to help us through what could be another wild day:

"Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine."

Don't say you don't get good value on this blog. History, Geography and Eng Lit. I could be a teacher!!!!

Apology

2009-11-25T01:01:00.000-08:00

Readers of my blog will be aware that my passion for all things shooting related is constant and sincere and that throughout my long career I have always supported all forms of shooting and encouraged shooters to participate at all levels and in all disciplines. However I have inadvertently caused offence to National Skeet shooters with a blog comment and wish to sincerely apologise for anything that may have been inappropriate or offensive.

Mindstore

2009-11-20T12:02:00.000-08:00

I should give a big plug to Mindstore and Jack Black. Jack is presenting a two day seminar at the Concert Hall in Glasgow on the last weekend in November 2009. He states that this may be the last two day seminar he ever presents. Given the energy he puts into them I'm surprised he has kept going for so long. Passion is a wonderful thing.
I attended some of his courses in the mists of time and found them to be tremendously helpful. Indeed I use techniques he introduced to me on a daily basis. Some people regard him as a charlatan and what he proclaims as "utter tosh". Good for them. That's why I am where I am today (wherever that may be) and they are where they are.
It's worth a thought anyway as we come to the end of 2009 and, amazingly, coming in to the last year of the first decade of the new century.
Why not give it a go? As the man says, "It only works".
Be good, train hard, shoot well, and most importantly of all, be happy.

Bornaghi

2009-11-20T01:13:00.000-08:00

You may not all have heard of this company but they do have a following and they do make very pretty paper cased cartridges. I've always liked a paper case as I think thay can do things with the pressures. I have no facts for this and cleverer people than me out there will sort me out but, perhaps, in this eco age they cause less damage to the environment than the plastic ones. I say "perhaps" as someone will tell me that the way they make the paper is causing the destruction of the Scottish rain forest or something. No doubt an irate reader will get back to me.
Anyway, they are pretty, they are well made, they are not hugely expensive - nor are they cheap - and they are pretty comfy on the shoulder.
I've no idea if anyone sells them in the UK so I'm not getting anything for this plug.Ivan Marzzochi shoots them, but he may bring them in for himself.
Have a look at their site - there is an English translation.
Keep up the gun mounting and try and get a bit fitter over the winter. Must be good for you, surely.

Calling, calling.

2009-11-20T01:03:00.000-08:00

Working a lot with various microphones of late causes me to ponder that, sooner or later, the days of the person working the button will be behind us. There are a number of systems on the market now, some with microphones at every stand and there is a Canterbury system which uses just one microphone which is carried from stand to stand. It does require input from the shooter or ref as to which target should be coming out but it works well. Very good for individual training on skeet as you don't have to rely on the Claymate counting down the delay.
Shooters do need to learn how to call, as the timbre of your voice can have quite an effect. Shouting loudly is not actually the answer much of the time. A deeper call from down in the tummy has the desired effect most often. Sometimes shooters also have to alter their position on the stand, notably on 1 and 7 on skeet, moving a bit further forward than they might like, just to ensure that the mike actually goes off.
Anyway, it's all progress. No more quick or slow pulls, just the opportunity to get on with good shooting and rack up some good scores.
Please, please, please work on your fitness levels over the winter. This may NOT involve standing in your room shouting "Pull" - bet then again it might. It's all training.
Be good, enjoy your day. We might see the golden orb in the sky sometime in the future.

On Top at OT

2009-11-11T01:02:00.000-08:00

2 great results at OT this weekend for our top shooters. No 1 lady in the land, Shona Marshall, shot a brilliant 94 x 100 at Loch Ness on Saturday - perhaps a result of her recent intensive training camp in Italy. Perhaps also a result of hard work, perseverance and determination. FAB!

Then, on Sunday, No 1 male trap shooter, John MacDonald, shot a superb 96 x 100 at North Ayrshire. Magnificent. I have not spoken with John but I reckon at the moment he will be supremely fit, having been on the hill every day since the start of the stags. It was suggested that all he will be doing is eating, shooting and sleeping. Seems a pretty good system to me. Double FAB! The picture, for those of you who may not know, is the covered OT layout at North Ayrshire. Tom look after his clients!!

As an aside and still in the trap game, I'm told that Mustafa Sehli, shot 100/299 at DTL which is also a fine result. I think he's had a go at the OT so maybe we'll manage to lure him over.
Take encouragement from this people. It could be you with your name up in lights.
Stick in, train hard, assess and re-assess your goals. Make sure you get what you want, not what you ask for.
Maybe I should also say, have fun!

Success for Donald.

2009-11-10T02:38:00.001-08:00

I beieve that our own Donald McIntosh has now been appointed rifle coach for GBR. A fantastic opportunity for someone who has put so much in to the sport. Not knowing too much about what he does I am assuming - always dangerous - that he will be dealing with small bore and air rifle.
I think he leaves the full bore stuff to others and it doesn't actually look like there are full bore rifle matches at the Olympics. Seems to be 50 metres is the furthest distance they shoot. Not so at Commonwealth level of course.
Just as well we are not trying to fit 300m rifle into Woolwich eh? I doubt if the nets they are proposing would stop the bullet very effectively.
Anyway well done to Donald. Let's wish the rifle shooters every success.

"C" course shotgun successes.

2009-11-10T02:26:00.000-08:00

At the recent ISSF "C" course in Finland, a number of shotgun shooters successfully completed the programme:

Mr. Soteris Soteriou (CYP) Shotgun; Dr. Sarkis Martayan (EGY) Shotgun; Mr. (Major) Christian Schofield (GBR) Shotgun; Mr. Alexander Sinclair Bruce (GBR) Rifle; Mr. Payam Rajael (IRI) Shotgun ; Dr. Reza Aghajani (IRI) Shotgun ; Mr. Martin Mace (IRL) Rifle; Mr. Fehaid Aldeehani (KUW) Shotgun; Mr. Robert Thompson (RSA) Shotgun; Mr. Armogan Anbarcilar (TUR) Shotgun;

There are some big names amongst them. Fehaid Aldeehani from Kuwait is an Olympic Bronze Medallist and winner of many other prestigious shoots. Christian Schofield from GB was there getting his foot on the ladder, plus others as you can see including a couple from Iran (IRI) and one from Turkey. Good too to see a candidate from South Africa. I don't know much about Olympic Shooting down there so hopefully this will give it a boost.

You may spot two odd exceptions from the scattergun crowd in that Sinclair Bruce from Scotland and Martin Mace from Ireland were there too on the rifle section. All good for shooting. Sinclair does great work on a voluntary basis with his rifle shooters, so more power to his firmly locked elbow!!

Well done to all.

Oh,shooting relationships!!!!

2009-11-08T09:22:00.000-08:00

Whilst working hard over the past while it has become ever more apparent for the shooter to realise the huge importance of barrel target relationship. People seem to think at times that shotgun patterns are truly enormous and as long as the gun is round about the target somewhere, that'll do fine. Not the case. Great care should be taken to place the gun on the bird,(if using "The Method"), establish a proper barrel target relationship - without looking at the barrel of course - and then move the gun appropriately.
Now then what does this mean for swing through? Well, to my mind, proper swing through starts just at the back edge of the target, not 1 foot or 10 foot or whatever behind it. Proper barrel target relationship is established and then the gun is moved appropriately.
Maintained lead, the same applies. The relationship is established and the gun is moved.
On trap targets the technique is a bit different as the target leaves the gun behind, but still, when the gun moves, it comes to the target, the shooter pulls the trigger and the target is broken.
I read an article recently where the instructor maintained that bum, belly, beak, bang was OK for partridges, but no use for high pheasants and, for them, the shooter needed to start further behind and swing. How far behind I wondered? Pick a distance and go??? I suggest not. Mount on the bird, get the gun and the bird going at the same speed and then accelerate relative to how you perceive it. Thus lead need never be mentioned.
Easy peasy lemon squeeezy!!!
Great fun this.
Stick in.

Gun Fit?

2009-11-06T00:49:00.000-08:00

Nothing to do with stocks for a change folks, just a question for you to consider. Are you actually, let's say "Gun Fit"? Are you actually fit enough to shoot in big competitions over a number of days? Yes, ladies usually only shoot for one day in the competition, but they shoot 100 targets in the one day. Men don't do that anymore at the ISSF shoots. The men usually shoot over two days.
How and ever we must also consider the travelling and training days and the effect on the competitors.
We are into the transition period now, so could I suggest that you all have a look at yourselves and consider some sort of fitness regime over the next few months? It will make a difference. Honest.
Trust me - I'm a coach!!!
Be very good. Have fun. Train hard. Fight easy.

Hard Times in Beijing.

2009-11-02T01:28:00.000-08:00

If you care to have a look at the ISSF website, you'll see that the boys and girls had a tough time in China.
Weather conditions seemed to have been grim with snow - yes - and then very low temperatures. Add to this several comments from the shooters about the targets and we are back to the China Syndrome - not the movie - just the facts.
I believe it's difficult to get cartridges in, the clays are like concrete and the authorities are unhelpful. Why bother to have a shoot there at all?
Yes there have got to be World Cups throughout the world, but the World Cup Final should be kept in Europe in a location where it's easy for everyone to reach. I cannot imagine how many changes of flight some of the shooters must have had to get to Beijing.
The ISSF do funny things like having the Academy in furthest Finland and shoots in funny places. Politics, politics, politics.
Get on and get shooting in any case. Be ready for whatever comes at you.

Armeria Piovanelli

2009-10-31T03:49:00.000-07:00

Another plug today for a great business based in Lonato. I had occasion to have some dealings with them this week and they could not have been more helpful. What a delight.
So, if you are out that way call in. They have a well stocked shop, zillions of different cartridges and the boss speaks excellent English.
Wonderful.

Motor Skills

2009-10-31T03:41:00.000-07:00

Nothing to do with driving I'm happy to say, but, instead, much to do with shooting, and, indeed, my old favourite - gun mounting.
The perceived wisdom is that you must make "the movement" 60,000 times per year if you are competing or intending to compete at the highest level. I would dare to suggest that if you are in the latter category you will need to do much more as you have to catch up on your peers who can - or should be able to - do the thing.
This is all to do with the development and improvement of your fine motor skill. You've got motor skills, as you can move the gun in the sky, but, I would say that at the beginning, they are possibly gross motor skills and only with training will you get them to where I want them to be. Yes, that's me. Where I want them to be, as I believe that the shooters, certainly initially, have no conception of where they need to be ultimately.
So, it goes back to Chapter One of the book - GET A COACH. All you are doing without one is training mistakes. Not a good idea is it?
Be good, have fun, do lots of gun mounting, love yourself.

Travel

2009-10-29T01:41:00.000-07:00

Maybe there should be a section in the book about travel, as we hear, recently, of an international shooter refused travel as they did not have the proper certification in place.
I know of one shooter who arrived in Italy with his EFP but did not have the numbers of his new barrels on it. Thus he enjoyed a short stay in Milan airport before jetting off home. Jolly good.
So, the bottom line is check all your guns and certificates and check and double check with the airline.
One of the challenges we all have is that they - the airlines - and indeed the airports don't all do the same thing.
Come the revolution we can change all that, can't we? Do you all know that if you are travelling on British Airways, you'll get hit with a £50.00 fee for going through Gatwick - each way.
Moral of the story - avoid London airports like the plague. I nearly missed a flight to Africa one time because of the huge inefficiency of the customs service. Has it changed? Maybe one of you can tell me as I've not been back.
Heathrow Terminal 5 I am told is ghastly. Any reports will be much appreciated.
Enjoy.
iain

Shooting architecture

2009-10-27T01:22:00.000-07:00

Been away for a while here and there but just back from Southern Counties after a pretty grim weekend for weather. Not the point of the story however. The point is that Rory Warlow is shooting beautifully with excellent technique and a very pretty style. He shot a 50 straight on Saturday in poor conditions without any fuss and made it look very easy. Bright hope for the years ahead.
Some of the other techniques were less pretty with the shooters still hitting plenty of targets and so the question is, should we care?
My strong feeling is that we should and I go back to chapter 1 of the book again, that shooters must get a coach as soon as possible and not develop all the dreadful habits that have to be demolished later before the new structure can be put in place. Let the proper edifice be created from the word go.
We do struggle a bit in GB as we have National or English skeet to contend with, which some disillusioned people think is a training ground for OS. Not the case of course, but some of them bang some big scores in at the domestic model and then think they will segue onto OS and it'll be nae bother. If only it were so!!
In my modest experience, it'll take 8 months or a year at OS constantly to get them into a semblance of being a proper shooter and not many of them have the mental strength to stick it as a few 72's sicken them. Good riddance!!!
Grumpy?? Moi?
I've told you before, I love this job,

Transition

2009-10-27T01:17:00.001-07:00

Those of you who know about proper coaching will know that we are in the transition period now. This is when the competition season is over and proper shooters can work on technical aspects of their shooting, get half a dozen new gunstocks, 'cos that must be what's wrong (!) and get some fitness work in - all without getting too tired.
Anyway, thought that the double champion should get going and thus we started off very gently with a downhill - brisk - walk. Doing fine for a few minutes and then things slowed.
"Whassamarrer?" quoth I.
"Aaaargh. Dire. Stitch on both sides" came the strangled reply. "We'll need to stop for a fag"!!!!!
I love this job.

Wee Plug

2009-10-12T00:51:00.000-07:00

I needed a new rifle case and, being me, searched the web looking for a bargain. Some of them in America were fine, but $100.00 (yes) for postage. Had to come express I was told. Musta been Pony Express paying for the man and the horse's food!!! Anyway, that was no go. E bay had bits and bobs but the thing I want to tell you is I eventually got one from our own Donald McIntosh at Edinkillie Sports. Not my first thought but he does deal with the rifle people - that's them that wear the funny suits and things, not camouflage like proper shooters. Know what I mean.
Anyway his website is: www.edinkillie.co.uk/ and I would say it may be worth a look now and again.
Let's keep it in the family if we can.

High Office

2009-10-12T00:45:00.000-07:00

You will have noticed a long gap between posts. It's that time of year again.
Did you hear the one about the constipated Chancellor? He couldn't budget!!! ( ah yes the old ones -----).
Yes, you've grasped it, it's budget time again. I know the Chancellor goes into purdah and so, to an extent, do I as I have to grapple with what we want for the year ahead. That, of course, is a bit of an irrelevance, as what we might get is different. Marsden says much that's sensible, and one thing he gave me is - "If you don't ask you don't get!" So now I have a wonderful excel spreadsheet full of wishes.
We've been exceptionally lucky in Scotland of late and that shows in the performance of the shooters. Long may it continue.

The Book.

2009-10-01T23:58:00.000-07:00

Those of you who have read this fine column over the past while - very long while actually - will know that there is an Olympic Skeet book in the offing. Learned and intelligent people, and thus, not me, are honing their contributions.
My chapter one contribution remains the same. GET A COACH, GET A COACH, GET A COACH. I assure you it will save you time and effort in the long run, and it certainly will save you lots of money, as you will learn correctly rather than some dire mess which will then need to be sorted - laboriously and expensively!
The number of shooters that we coaches get who have no idea of the basics really is quite demoralising, and it must be demoralising for the shooters who bang away at targets for ages to no avail.
From about 50 yards away I saw a shooter, the other day, shooting at, and I stress at, a high crossing right to left target. Not one did he hit until I gave him a few words and he hit one or two on the back edge, but really by luck not skill. This guy has been shooting for ever. What a waste.
Will he have a lesson? I sure hope so. We shall see.
GET A COACH. It's easy.
Be very good, be very happy. You are a shooter and you are lucky.

A good weekend.

2009-09-29T00:11:00.000-07:00

Very very happy this week so far. Two of my boys have done well. Ben Wilson won the Calum Bell Memorial Shoot and Will Berney won the Scottish Schoolboys Championship, which is a good haul at this time of year.
Couple that with good shooting at Cluny yesterday from competitors various and it marks the start of a good week.
I've got a real mix this week with Down the Liners, Olympic Skeeters and then, shock, horror, somebody who still shoots National Skeet.
I'll keep you posted.
Be very good, practice your gun mounting, get fitter for next year and, most of all - GET A COACH.

What's the point???

2009-09-25T09:40:00.000-07:00

I think that a wee reminder of how to shoot might be in order for some people and the main item I wish to stress is the absolute importance of getting the gun pointing at the target at some stage. If you do not establish any barrel/target contact, how are you going to hit it???
Now, the maintained lead people will say that they don't do that, and of course that is correct, but there must be some barrel target relationship established or you will just end up firing a shot and hoping that somehow it will be fine. It doesn't work like that. I actually think that it is more challenging to teach people from the word go on maintained lead - although I firmly believe that it's the way to shoot OS. I believe that new shooters abroad can live with missing a lot in the early stages, as everybody else does anyway and they don't have domestic disciplines to muddy the waters.
So, if you are shooting in UK I imagine you will want to concentrate on getting the gun on the target at first. Easy? I should say so. Get to it.

Ho hum humdrum.

2009-09-24T12:15:00.001-07:00

Back to the skeet range after the adventures below. Much work on posture, shoulders, rotation, nice quick gun mounts and so on. All good. Then some sporting shooters, or game shooters anyway, brushing up for the season ahead.
I must yet again stress to all and sundry the importance of doing lots of gun mounting. It's not like the piano lessons - or in fact it is - that you do a few, a few minutes before you come out. THAT DOES NOT WORK!!!!! It needs the constant training day in, day out to get the muscle memory tuned, get the eye in the correct place on the rib, the gun in the correct place in the shoulder and so on.
Yes, I can and commonly do work miracles, but a wee bit of help from the shooters is always much appreciated.
Stick in folks and keep smiling.
I love this job.

Smarty pants.

2009-09-24T12:08:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have never seen me without my baseball cap, look and admire!!! This is me off to The Sportsman's Dinner in Dundee to collect a trophy on behalf of Sian, who was in Sweden at the Ladies Grand Prix.
Yes, I agree I do look fabulous - or, to harp on my usual theme, positively (not absolutely) fabulous.
I am available as an ornament if neccessary!!
Be very good.

Oh joy!

2009-09-24T11:48:00.001-07:00

I know I haven't been blogging for a minute but I've been off to the North with the double A man, trailing the hill seeking beasties various. We got some, not all, and I'm home very chuffed with a magnificent goat. A cracker!!!
Look to the left, admire and be envious.
Anyway, a big thank you to Andrew and the Queen of Bling, the effervescent Cathy. I hope to be back again sometime.

World Cup cancelled!!!!

2009-09-18T11:05:00.000-07:00

Help! What's this you say? Well the news sort of hottish off the tandoor is that the World Cup in Delhi, in March 2010, has been cancelled. Now, it doesn't really matter as there was no real shooting anyway, only this rifle and pistol stuff, but it's the implications of the whole thing.
The reason is:

"The IOC restated that International Federations will only be able to distribute Olympic Quota Places starting from two years prior the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Therefore, no Quota Places will be assigned during ISSF World Cup Stages, next years. The first Quota Places will be awarded during the 50th ISSF World Championships in all events that will take place in Munich from the 29th of July through the 11th of August 2010."

So, India has pulled the plug. For shotgun this means no quotas in Acapulco, Beijing, Dorset or Lonato, and the question then is "who is going to go?" We were intending, and still intend to hold a training camp in Lonato as a preparation for the year ahead, but, perhaps, what's the point?

International sport is a great thing and changes occur. In our own wee corner of the world, our parliament in Scotland has had to cancel the proposed rail link between Glasgow city centre and the airport, and, funnily enough, one of the things they had to do was inform the Commonwealth Games governing body that this had taken place, as part of the successful bid was improved transport links. Can't see this being a big stumbling block. Finances change. Maybe there will be extra money for a new shooting range. Now that would be a result!!!
Keep smiling, keep shooting.

Antartic?

2009-09-18T00:21:00.000-07:00

Working this past few days with the mad, highly intelligent, eccentric, motivated, fun university students.
Part of the training this week has been introducing them to basic instructional technique. Early on we come to the question of Master Eye, identifying same, the importance of and such like. Why does it matter and what are they going to do with cross dominance and so on.
My strong suggestion is, that when people come along to shoot for the very first time, they shoot off the shoulder which corresponds with their dominant hand and close the opposite eye. It gets them hitting targets more quickly, BUT it should always be stressed that if they wish to take up the game that we would aspire to getting them shooting off the shoulder which corresponds with their dominant eye. Why, because we want them, eventually, to be shooting with both eyes open. Binocular vision is better than monocular vision - otherwise Mr Darwin would only have given us one big eye wouldn't he???
Anyway, one of the heroes was giving his spiel about eyes, and suggested that in the long run, the new shooter would be come BI POLAR!!!This is probably true - especially if they shoot in competitions.
Oh I love this job.

For Sale

2009-09-17T01:47:00.000-07:00

Contrary to popular rumour, and maybe to the sadness of some, I am not giving up shooting. I do however have a Vostok skeet gun for sale. It's been restocked and is in good condition. Price is £900.00 open to some negotiation - but not much!!!!
If you are interested give me a call on :
07885 216 225. E mail: claycoach@tiscali.co.uk
If you want to be a real skeet shooter, better get a real skeet gun I would suggest.

GB Selections - September

2009-09-15T00:25:00.000-07:00

Fine weather and fine shooting at the weekend led to good competition at Doveridge for the OS shoot. The ladies shot well on the Saturday and young Sian Bruce - still only 16 - went into the final in 1st (or 6th if you look at it that way) place with 70. A fine score. We had done much work in the two weeks prior to the shoot so very nice to see it paying off for her. Anyway, Elena shot a blinding 24 in the final to come out the winner on 93 with Sian on 92. Bodes very well for the future.
I was happy (very happy actually) as there were three Scots ladies in the final - Sian, Nickie Keene and Alison Nicol - and Pinky, who I look after and support and cajole and shout at as well.
Hard luck for Nix and Ally bally as they are fighting for Commonwealth Games consideration scores of 66 and both have managed 65 in the qualifying period so far. They'll make it, but sooner is nicer than later.
The men on Sunday had a good time. Richard Brickell is really on form just now and shot a World Class 146 to win. In his last three shoots thats 145, 145, 146 so good consistent high standard shooting.
The others in the frame were Rory Warlow, Craig Lakey,Drew Christie, Guy Franklin and Malcolm Allen. A fine mix of shooters and nationalities. Good to see Drew in the final on 118 + 24 just missing a GB qualifying score which is a pity.
If you want to see all the info, the very efficient Mrs Daly has the stuff up on the BICTSF website very promptly.
Thats: www.bictsf.com

The trap shooters at Southern Counties were on form too with two Scots, Ossie McLean and John MacDonald coming 2nd and 3rd. Good final there too. Davie Beattie, that old Irish Ranger, won, then the Scots, then, and I'm not sure of the order, Mike Wixey from Wales amd then a couple of the English lads. Great mix and good for shooting.
Shona Marshall came 2nd in the ladies but is still the leading female shooter in UK and soon will be one of the leading female shooters in the world, mark my words.

See ya folks. This old blogger is actually almost letting the merest vestige of a smile appear. I'm not geting too upbeat as I know very well when they shoot well it's because they are great shooters and when they do badly it's duff coaching!!! Ce'st la vie for a coach.

In the Pink.

2009-09-09T01:25:00.001-07:00

And Pinky's in the World Cup Final. The only Brit. Yahoo. Isn't she clever? A good outcome after a good year.
I'm so happy for her. WELL DONE PINKS!

Descartes

2009-09-06T23:53:00.000-07:00

From the ridiculous to the sublime. One week hotfoot in Africa, next week back to reality in Fife!
Delivering a Corporate Instructor course, and, of course, Descartes comes to mind as usual with his "Discourse on The Method". Our, or my, discourse on the method is not the same as Rene's naturally as I am dealing with "The Method" as advocated by SCTA - and others - on how to hit a moving target.
Invented in the 50's I am told by the big gun shooting instructors of that era, Stanbury, Wilson and Craddock, it's a fine way of getting beginners hitting targets quickly which is what we want as we want them to have fun and think that clay shooting is fun and get them to come back and then start to compete and then maybe get into teams and then we have greater depth in our shooters and then we win! Wow! Out of breath now.
Just a wee note to say that the SCTA is very proactive about getting shooters, referees, safety officers and instructors trained up to help us become more effective in our shooting. Get in touch if you fancy a go.
My mobile is 07885 216 225 and my e mail is claycoach@tiscali.co.uk
Be very good.

Final Round Up

2009-09-04T12:35:00.000-07:00

Here's a photo of an old blogger with his bits and pieces at the end of the week. They are from left to right and old Impala, a very fine (huge gold) Mountain Reedbuck - see below - a bronze medal standard Nyala, a Red Hartebeest, a bronze medal standard Blue Wildebeest and another old Impala.
The old fella at the back is not of medal standard!!!! A good haul for a long hard week. No big Kudu bulls and nothing special in the Warthog department. Kind of a half chance at a decent Bushbuck but he was skipping away and didn't stop for that vital second to see what we were - which is just fine.
Lucky??? Me??? You bet!!!

Round black disc?

2009-09-04T12:30:00.001-07:00

Must be a record I suppose - much like this fine Mountain Reedbuck, which for it's size is a very important trophy. The PH was crazy about it. Bigger than anything he had ever seen. The news went round Africa like wildfire. Me? I'm casual. I do things like this all the time - NOT!!!!

Transporter 1

2009-09-03T01:11:00.000-07:00

Just musing to day about what a wonderful car the merc is. Apart from all it's gadgetry you can get 3 cases (750)of cartridges lying flat in the passenger footwell and never hardly notice that they are there! Add this to a huge boot that can easily carry a red deer hind, the sun roof to stand up and shoot out of, electric windows that glide up and down easily, traction control to get out of the fields - and it's black which nobody notices and you really have the perfect shooting vehicle!!!!
BP used to have a Lancia Mafia Staff car. Wonderful machine. Twin fans for cooling, big quiet engine and the final bonus was that if the electric windows wouldn't work you could actually fit a handle and wind them down and keep shooting!!!! Woweeee.
This photo, top left, is me in my shooting clothes - just different shooting that's all - and better paid too!!!
Looks like rain.
See ya.

Transition.

2009-09-02T00:22:00.000-07:00

The shotgunners will soon be into their transition period. This is one of those big, proper, coaching type subjects and really means what you are going to do in the "off" season. Are you going to get that new gun or new stock, or would it actually be more sensible to buy a few thousand cartridges and get some coaching?
Have you got your goals written down in the personal, positive present tense? Have you got them written at all? Maybe time for a review? Did you get what you wanted last year, or, even more spookily, get what you asked for. I've had the latter a good few times in my life and had to laugh!
Anyway, where are you going next year? If you don't know where you are trying to get to, you won't know when you've got there. Is it the brave new world or just another bit of the old one?
Keep smiling and keep going forward.

Human Rights.

2009-09-02T00:12:00.000-07:00

We have a right to roam in Scotland. This is fine and I'm all in favour of it, but not when some pest and his pesky dogs is wandering around at dusk and stopping me shooting!!! Selfish??? Moi???
Brings to mind the bigger picture that we are all part of society and have to get on with it's rules.
One thing about the bit of South Africa I was in - no-body roaming about and indeed, when we saw a road, very few cars on it. Very nice. The question of human rights of course, in that country, is a different matter.
This is far too deep for this column. That reminds me though that there was a diamond mine (or gold maybe) called Durban deep in the deep depths of my memory. Was it the biggest man made hole in the world? Some of you will be able to keep me right.
Some of us who shoot Olympic Skeet will have experienced the wish that the deepest hole in the world would just appear and allow us to sink into it at times. But no, we are stronger than that and will go on to greater success!!
Be good, be happy and shoot like in you do in your dreams.

Cricket?

2009-09-02T00:09:00.001-07:00

If you are out for a duck, or even intending going out in search of one, I should remind the Scots contingent that you should have a Game Licence. Pshaw, you may say, but be assured, no game licence, no insurance cover as you are breaking the law. So step carefully, not only in the mud but in life!
Have fun, shoot well and be happy.

There is a happy land - - -

2009-08-31T07:38:00.000-07:00

Far far away. I've been in South Africa since just after the international so no blogging. Not much else either just hunting hard with 0630 starts and finishes just at dark. Good fun though and managed to shoot the odd animal. More on this later of course when I get the photos downloaded.
Some of the days were freezing and on one I enjoyed (!) the mixture of a really cold wet Scottish day. Yuk. Did manage to shoot every day having said that. When I came home yesterday there was quite a lot of snow on the Drakensbergs so really quite homely.
Anyway, dead beat at the moment and roe deer to shoot to night and to morrow morning so I'll sign off.

N.I. aye!

2009-08-17T12:37:00.000-07:00

The good news is that Northern Ireland won the Olympic Skeet Home International - in their own country. A great achievement. They beat the English by the huge margin of three targets - fantastic.
Scotland, sadly, limped home in 3rd place, rather a long way behind.
Ricky Jeremy from Northern Ireland shot an amazing 96 in absolutely foul weather to take the High Gun of the match. Nickie Keene won the ladies, Rhys Price the juniors and Tony Grove, the annoying git, won the veterans by one target from an old blogger. Damn and blast.
Two visits to the Giant's Causeway in one week can't be bad in any case and that North east coast is bonny. Ally bally followed the coastal trail all the way to Larne and said it was ab fab.
England next year. Probably not so bonny.
Anyway, much to be done.
Oh yes, the picture, top left shows a bunch of very colourful English persons watching the old master shoot 24. Going by the gun mount on this picture that would be the one I missed!!!

Grousin'

2009-08-12T12:20:00.000-07:00

It is a simple fact that you can't be in two places at once and thus the Scottish grice are safe from my attentions this week. I have read that stocks are up and there should be a good shootable surplus. I do hope so. It's so vital for the Scottish economy - not that the muppet antis accept that. They would rather have rural depopulation and everything "back to nature" than a vibrant community making a living in the countryside.
Sad, shortsighted, stupid and senseless. Oh I do love alliteration. Take it when you can.
I've had so many good days at the grouse that to miss a few is not too critical to me, but walking them up through the flowering purple heather is a real delight. A right and left here and there over the years with two dogs picking up a bird each is a wonderful memory. You can't buy that.
My old dad got my first right and left stuffed and I got them as a birthday present. Still got them too. A bit moth eaten as they are not in a glass case and a young pup had a chew at them once too, but they are still there and I can still remember shooting them. No' bad after all these years.
Happy daze on the hill.

Vostok Breakdown!

2009-08-12T12:13:00.001-07:00

Unheard of happenings in the North East of Ireland - the mighty Vostok ceased to function!!!!!! Fortunately the best gunsmith in Britain was on the scene and armed with some poor sod's screwdrivers - gunsmiths would call them turnscrews but they weren't - and an angle grinder (honest) the gun of the century (20th) was fixed. Phew. It took all my most positive thinking to get that little malaise effectively sorted.
Straight out and shot a 25 straight so it must have helped.
I thik it (the mighty Vostok) gave me a small challenge a few hundred years ago just before an international and, of course, it's just the female god playing around. She is a pain and always loses but I do think it's time I was given a rest.
Anyway, looking forward to the morn needless to say.
Shootin's fab. You are too. be good, be brave and shoot well.

Spot on

2009-08-10T07:40:00.000-07:00

Out with the rifle again - see below - on a better day. Bang on, so all them deers and things better watch out.
Two bullets almost touching and this from a rifle that was sent back to me once and told I might as well scrap it as it wouldn't group!! I take delight in sending tons of photos to the ones who spoke ill of my instrument!!

Sno wee

2009-08-10T07:34:00.001-07:00

What's sno wee? The shooting ground at Maribor! Look at this! Help ma boab, ranges as far as the eye can see. Fantastique. A fine location for the World Championship taking place at the moment.
Ah to have somewhere in Britain where we could admire such a layout. I suppose Southern Counties is trying hard, and with a World Cup coming up they will have to. I know that crafty Kev has been out on a recce and they are working very hard to make it right. More power to all their elbows.
I wonder who is going to work at it as none of the refereeing courses, as far as I know, have come off. Are we going to be importing foreign staff? I imagine so. Oh the embarrassement.

Ah-Herm

2009-08-10T00:39:00.000-07:00

Out and about in the Channel lately in the wonderful sunshine. Over to the small island of Herm to see some shooting. What a location looking over to Sark, Brecqhou, Alderney and the like. A fine day followed by a pint of Guiness and a steak. Can't be bad.
Next day, more shooting and more steak - this time from Orkney!! It's a long way to go for an Ork steak but it was very tasty and a testament to the beef produced on that island.
Off to another slightly bigger island to morrow for the Home International. I must make a point of steaking out and see what I can find overe there. An Ulster fry is what I remember most. Down in Llanberis once upon a time, if you were very brave, you could tackle a "Big Jim" in the local cafe. This was everything fried in the world and a mighty plateful. Some of the guys used to train for it and tackle it fiercely. The deal was if you finished it you got it free!!! No one ever did.
Enough then of gourmets, gourmands, Guiness and guns - a fine mixture - must go.
Be very good.

Zeroing

2009-08-06T00:24:00.000-07:00

Out yesterday to check the rifle and just make sure all is well. First shot high and left but I attribute that to the fact that it had been cleaned - most unusual - I was on the bipod and it was blowing a gale!! Not the perfect conditions I'm sure you'll agree. Next one a wee bit right and next one a bit left. Hmmm. Home for tea and back out just to see. Both a bit left so maybe a small tickle required to be spot on. Any one of the shots would have killed a beast anyway so it's not panic stations just yet. I wonder if it's maybe just a bit of trigger pull as I'm not on the sandbag. We'll see today.
I must say you don't see too many Blesbok around Perth but you never know the minute!!!

Edith Barnes

2009-08-04T11:33:00.000-07:00

I see Edith is in her 25th year of representing Scotland at International Level. Helpmagod time certainly does fly. I can remember her at Kippen with hair to her waist and a wee side by side. I attribute the latter to the fact that she canny mount a gun twice in the same place!!! Having said that, 5 times World Champion is not too bad.
What a record she has on top of this with 9 Beretta World Championships to her name, Europeans blah blah blah. She even shot OS at the Commonwealth Games and won a blooming medal at that too.
I really do wish her all the very best for the next 25 and, maybe, just by luck, I'll beat her some day!!

Sporting

2009-08-04T11:25:00.000-07:00

I see Arnie Palmer won the Scottish Sporting Championship. He's a nice man and good luck to him.
There's another English man (apparently a captain of a team) who writes on www. claysporting.com who doesn't seem to be a nice man. He's made some very disparaging remarks about our team and made some promises about what he's going to do next year. Hmmmm. Will he be around next year after all of this? We haven't started yet but it's on the agenda. Watch this space.

Qualifying

2009-08-04T11:11:00.000-07:00

Most of our shooters who need to qualify for the Commonwealth Games Team to represent Scotland in India next year have now done so. Most. Not all. It's a hard game the qualifying one isn't it?. Grim, when you have to shoot a score, as opposed to wandering out on to the range and just shooting. Some can do it and some can't.
Some respond positively to the challenge, some don't. It's getting the right ones in the right place at the right time. Kind of like the boys getting up Everest - or Annapurna. Base camp, camp one, camp two etc right up until you get the hotshots in the camp up near the top ready for the summit push. Mental attitude is what counts. It's very often unlikely pairings who make it but they all have the right kind of madness.
Oh, I wish I could bottle it!!!! I'd make a blooming fortune.
This isn't Annapurna or Everest on the right. I know what it is. The question is, do you??
Train hard, train right and keep smiling. We all love you.

What's the story?

2009-08-03T00:42:00.000-07:00

Who read the bit in the Express about Andy Pye and Richard Faulds' wife? What's the story jackanory?

ITMA

2009-08-03T00:29:00.000-07:00

Again, only the most elderly of you will remember ITMA. Needless to say I'm not going to tell you about it as it's part of your personal development to get on to google and get the guff!
Anyway the bottom line is that big John McCarthy came to scotland again and won the OS Championship again. Itsabugger!!
94 was enough for the big man to take the Open title with Andrew Coull, possibly the best gunsmith in Britain, and Ian Marsden, possibly the luckiest man in the world, shooting off on 93 for the Scottish title. Andy won.

Nickie Keene won the ladies, Ben Wilson the juniors and an old blogger the veterans!! There must be hope yet, particulary when I heard that another old blogger had won the Welsh GP. Many a good tune and all that.
Aren't we lucky?
Off to the International next week. YES!

Shooting Beetles

2009-07-28T11:39:00.000-07:00

Those of you who have been with the boys in the Legion (French Foreign - not British)will know all about Le Cafard. I see on Wiktionary it has a suggestion as to it's meaning as "extreme depression or sense of pointlessness".
I would say that unless British Shooting gets it's act together big time - and this may be more likely with the departure of Phil Boakes as Chairman - we might as well just get a team together to shoot beetles instead of bothering about anything else!!!
GB equipe cafard has a kind of ring to it or Equipe Les Tireurs cafard GB? Or, maybe, we just go to those other cafards - the ones from Liverpool and shout, very very loudly HELP!!

And so it goes on -

2009-07-21T00:18:00.000-07:00

The European Championships that is. I see Pellielo won the trap. 119 made the final so it could have been hard going again out there and the question of "International" targets raises it's head yet again.
I think we need to get a team together to get round the top six grounds in Europe, check the heights of the traps, where they are in the houses or pits, check the machines blah blah blah and come back and make sure the grounds where we have GB selections can make the same birds. Our trap men really got gubbed big time and they all can shoot. So, as ever, what's the problem?
Some of us perceive a big gap in preparation and it must be a bit of a joke that we don't even have dedicated coaches going to a major shoot like this. Ian Coley can only do so much and all of what he does is good, but he's only one man. I can't remember who called us the poor man of Europe but it fits us like a glove right now. Some of you will have seen the boot sale at a shoot recently where the shooters, off to represent us in Europe, were being offered the remaining kit that could be found to ensure that they had a bit of GB gear - not all of it - for Osijek. What a joke!!!!
Leighton Dyson and British shooting have a lot to answer for. Years of mismanagement are coming to fruition - very bad use of language - and we are looking at an Olympics in about three years. Ha, ha, ha. I can imagine us giving back our quota places. What an embarrassement. What will Britsih Shooting say then? I can imagine. "Oh, nothing to do with us". Watch this space folks.

Take that!!!

2009-07-20T00:10:00.000-07:00

I do believe there is a group of songsters going by the above title. Some young person can keep me right.
My point is this fine bruise that the lovely Polly managed to achieve - not when I was there I hasten to add - when her gun mounting was less than perfect. This was after a week incidentally when it had gone down a lot!!! Says a lot for her committment I think. Classic position for a bruise - there and the right bicep, for a right hander.
The one on the fizzog is when the stock whacks the jaw bone and the one on the bicep is when it slips off the shoulder after the shot. Both ouchy. Arnica can help, but good gun mounting is better, in my humble opinion.