FEATURES RAFCPSA-
Clay Shooting, it’s like shooting fish
in a Barrel? Hardly by FS Al Sharp RAFCPSA Captain
2015 has been one of the best years for Clay Pigeon Shooting in the Royal Air Force since 2003. Not only has the RAF squad retained the Inter Service Championship but this year the RAF Squad also snatched the coveted title ‘Combined Services Challenge Trophy’ out of the grasp of the Great Britain Police; no other Service has won this trophy since the RAF hoisted it high back in 2003.
So what is clay shooting? The origins go back to live game shooting; but not everyone wants to go down that route so over the years practice discs (clays) were developed, loaded into spring operated traps and fired out at high speed to simulate live quarry. The shotguns we use come in a number of different gauges and stiles but all are loaded with cartridges containing small lead pellets (shot). With practice a shooter can shot at a moving target of ranges up to 90 yards.
There are many different disciplines that you can get involved in, DTL, ABT, ZZ, FITASC, Skeet and Sporting. All require different techniques and in some cases guns are adjusted to shoot a particular type of moving clay. Most of the Inter Service shoots we attend are ‘Sporting Targets’ which involve many different types of targets thrown as single or as pairs, some in the air others along the ground, the options are limitless.
As a CPSA qualified instructor it has become apparent that the interest in clay shooting has increased over the last 5 years. The RAFCPSA has done a number of ‘Training’ days for newbie’s, some of these
www.raf-ff.org.uk
individuals have gone on to take the sport up and have earned their place in the RAF Squad.
To be in a position to be selected to represent the Service a shooter ideally needs to attend the RAFCPSA Championship held every May (12- 15 May 2016) at the Nottingham and District clay club. If they finish in the top 20 they could receive a call up. Obviously in this busy day and age not everyone can get time off; if that’s the case the shooter can contact the RAF Team manager and could then be invited along as a guest to one of the many Inter Service shoots we attend during the year. At present the RAF is very fortunate that we have a number of shooters who shoot at a high level with a number shooting at county level and a number are on the cusp of gaining national recognition.
Clay shooting is a very sociable sport that allows you the opportunity to meet a number of like minded people from many different backgrounds, it takes time and effort to achieve your goals but when it goes well there is no better feeling.
If you would like to find out more please speak with your friendly PED Staff or visit the RAFCPSA website
www.raf.mod.uk/rafcpsa/ for all the contacts and info you might need.
Envoy Winter 2015 21
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