It was such a pity that only 10 shooters made the journey which leaves us well short for a team.

Round 1,  Single Barrel DTL.

We started out on the DTL layout with some shooters having never shot it before, but everyone enjoyed the experience and some good scores were recorded. The weather was perfect and the birds flew straight and true. Well done Gwyn on a fantastic 25 straight and father and son Dennis and Sion on 24, followed by me on a 23.

Scores were as follows, Gwyn Richards 25,  Dennis Evans 24,  Sion Evans (his son) 24,  Ken Griffiths (me) 23,  Elgan Pugh 19,    Rhys Davies 19,  Keith Hill 18,  Dave Jones 17,  Glyn Jones 14,  Barry Hughes 3.

Round 2,  ABT.

Again, some of the squad had never seen an ABT layout let alone shoot one which reflected in the scores.  So many shooters can be grateful for the ‘full use of the gun rule’,  otherwise quite a few would have ended up in single figures.

All in all the scores were respectable considering we don’t have an ABT layout in our County.

Best scores came from ex International DTL shooter Dennis Evans with an excellent 21,  followed by Elgan Pugh on 20, and Gwyn Richards on 19.

Scores were as follows, Dennis 21,  Elgan 20,  Gwyn 19,  Ken (me) 18,  Sion 18,  Keith 17,  Glyn 16,  Dave 14,   Rhys 13,  Barry 9.

Round 3, Skeet.

Expectations were high and good scores were expected, but some shooters were left disappointed after missing easy targets (particularly me)

High bird was a very high bird which resembled a teal at times, making it very easy to over-lead.

Elgan  and Gwyn  showed the way by shooting a great 24,  followed by Dennis on 23 and me on 22.

I was gutted to miss the pair on 4 followed by the easy low 7, which proved to be costly at the end of the day.

Scores were as follows,  Elgan 24,  Gwyn 24,  Dennis 23,   Ken 22,  Keith 21,  Sion 20,  Rhys 19,  Dave 18,  Glyn 15,  Barry 13.

Round 4, Sporting.

With very few targets between the top 5 scores it was all to play for on a very tricky 3 stand sporting course.

The best score of the day came from junior Sion Evans on a superb 24,  fantastic shooting Sion well done mate.  Glyn Jones our one and only veteran redeemed himself after a poor showing on the other disciplines by shooting a great 23,  and was followed by Ken (me again) on a 22 and Keith  21,  and a best ever 20 for Dave Jones.

Scores were as follows,  Sion 24,  Glyn 23,  Ken 22,  Keith 21,  Dave 20, Gwyn 18,  Rhys 18,  Elgan 17,  Dennis 16,  Barry 16.

A special mention must go to Barry Hughes, who will admit to having struggled over the few months he’s been shooting (and after having a bout of pneumonia at the beginning of the year), but he thoroughly enjoyed himself today and he shot an excellent 16 on the tricky sporting.  It does get easier Barry, keep it up mate.

When the scores were totted up it was close at the top.

Gwyn and Sion on a fantastic 86,  Ken 85 (bloody low 7 )  Dennis 84,  Elgan 80,  Keith 77,  Dave and Rhys 69,  Glyn 68,  Barry 41.

A shoot off was needed to decide the captaincy this year between Junior Sion Evans and Gwyn Richards.

It was agreed by all that the ABT layout would be utilized for the shoot off .

Showing nerves of steel, Gwyn pipped Sion by 5 targets to shoot a superb 23 to Sion’s 18.

Well done to both, great shooting and it’s a pity that one had to lose.

My thanks once again to the Williams family of Mid Wales for giving us a superb shoot and a great breakfast (thanks Rachel).

Pictures to follow soon:

So scores in the morning were as follows:
Keith 43, Gwyn 40, Ken 39, Meic 35, Rhys 34, Robin ‘Two Left Hands’ 32, Dave ‘chav’ Jones 27, Elfyn ‘Slim’ Richards 25, Hefin 25, J.R. 23, Sue 23, Roger 23, and Barry ‘I love Rhys’ Griffith on a big fat 0.

The lunch was a veritable feast, served by the wonderful Richards Family under the stewardship of chef Elfyn ‘Slim’ Richards, our thanks to them all for their hard work

In the afternoon the skeet was severely affected by the strong wind (not from Robin’s arse this time) from behind the high house, which made for very unpredictable birds.
3 shooters managed to shoot a 44, Keith Hill, Ken Griffiths, and Gwyn Richards, followed by Robin ‘two left hands’ on 40, and Dave and Elfyn on 36.

Scores at the end of the day stood as follows:
High Gun Keith Hill on 87, Gwyn Richards 84, Ken Griffiths, 83, Father Christmas 73, Robin 72, Meic 70, Rhys 68, Dave 63, Elfyn 61, Hefin 60, J.R. 57, Sue 57, Roger 48, and bringing up the rear Barry Griffith on a 25.

Pictures from the shoot

My lifelong ambition has been to shoot for my country but I’ve never had the funds to do it.

As I get visitors to my blog from all over the World, I’m hoping that someone will take pity on my plight, with a generous donation to help me on my way

Things just got better for Gwyn as the following weekend he was to attend the final two team qualifiers – the Welsh DTL Grand Prix/Welsh Open at Mid Wales Shooting Centre. The Sunday of the two days is the main event as this is when the various Welsh championships titles are won and lost. Gwyn rose to occasion on the Sunday and produced a score of 100/296 which was to give the title “Welsh Open DTL Junior champion 2010″, he can now add this to his other current Welsh title as in the last Welsh DTL counties final – Gwyn was shooting for Gwynedd and was crowned “Welsh Counties Junior DTL champion”.

A few days after the Grand Prix, the DTL executives confirmed that this year Gwyn was to be made Junior team captain – which is a great honour in itself. Gwyn then travelled to Mid Wales the following weekend for a ritual gathering of the new Welsh team, which allows old and new caps to come together and shoot together in their planned squad layouts before the international. Gwyn was to achieve something special that Sunday, he shot his first ever 100/300 in registered competition – the pinnacle for any DTL shooter and what a confidence booster for the coming international.

Gwyn travelled to the Home International in Scotland the following week and shot the highest score for the Welsh junior team, so was presented with the “The Wilhelm Heidrich Cup” in the international banquet.

All the above was done in the space of 4 weeks, what a remarkable month for this young Gwynedd shooter !!!

Gwyn now looks forward to the European championships in Southern Counties in August and we all wish him the very best – who knows – Gwynedd may have a European champion next month if all goes well !

My thanks to Dave Lea and DTL exec Ian Jones for the info and pics.

Gwyn at the 2009 DTL counties final with his Gwynedd team mates.

Gwyn gets his prize once Arthur has drunk the contents (whisky I think).

Gwyn receiving his trophy for being Welsh Open DTL Junior Champion 2010.

Latest news on Gwyn:

Mid Wales Shooting Ground at the 100 DTL Hereford and Worcester championship Gwyn was High Gun on 100/299, fantastic achievement for a young junior, well done indeed.

Are we being priced out of shooting, I really think most of us are?

More pictures added 28/04/10

With lessons arranged at Llandegla, Catton Hall, or any ground of your choice.

Visit: http://www.clayshootingcoach.com/

As to the shoot, I really thought it was good, although the targets were basically identical to the one’s we shot two (or was it three) years ago.
The two 95s were outstanding (oh if I could shoot like that ), congratulations to both shooters. I can’t remember their names but to be honest I struggle to remember my own these days due to 30 years of being nagged endlessly by she whom must be obeyed.

Well done to all the winners who showed the rest of us how crap we really are.

In all, a good shoot, shot with good friends, fantastic ground, OK clubhouse, horrible toilets, and a knackering hill walk thrown in for free.

I bet the West Glamorgan competitors are all thinking it’s them now

I am actually talking about Elena Allen and Cerys Evans…

Whose that old bloke with the two youngsters from Gwynedd..

As I live way up North I depend on shooters from the South to provide information about their area.
What did you think of the Skeet Final at Mid Wales?
Where do you like to shoot and why?
What do you think of the WCTSA?
Who are your shooting friends?
Are you looking forward to the Sporting Final?

I really don’t mind what you say, so long as you please say something

Or leave a comment on my Forum where you can see whose online:

http://www.forum.clayshootingwales.com/index.php

I apologies that most are of Gwynedd shooters, but they all wanted their ugly mugs on my website
Report to follow when I get a chance.

In the past Gwynedd have always had to borrow from other Counties just to make a senior team, yet this year we’re actually lending out shooters to other struggling counties.

To me the secret is to get the shooters who usually don’t even try for a county place due to their belief ‘that they’re not good enough’, to shoot a couple of qualifiers.
Half this years Gwynedd team have never shot anything apart from local ‘field’ shoots, yet they’ve had a go after a bit of friendly persuasion from established team members.
I know they will enjoy the finals and it will be a great experience for them, hopefully encouraging them to try again next year.

My message to Welsh shooters, join the association and have a go, you WILL enjoy the experience and be a better shooter for it

Both are now associated with the WCTSA which is great news for North Wales Shooters.

We might be crap shots, but were good at posing and looking cool..

Keith Hill enjoys handling all the guns he can't afford.

Bala's infamous Father and Son, Sion and Dennis Evans.

Skeet.

A strong wind behind the high bird made for an interesting target as it dived towards the low house, which caused quite a few problems for the majority of shooters.
I’m glad to say the traps worked well (unlike Keith’s auto) and there were no breakdowns and very few no birds.

At the end of the morning it was very close between the top 5 shooters:

Ken Griffiths (me) taking the honours on a credible 47, followed by Gwyn Richards 45, Anthony Lowe 45, Keith Hill 44, and Dennis Evans on 43.

Team Positions for the Skeet Final:

Seniors:
1/ Gwyn Richards (Captain)
2/ Ken Griffiths (+1)
3/ Keith Hill (+4)
4/ Elgan Pugh (+5)
5/ Anthony Lowe (+8)
6/ Dennis Evans (+9)
7/ Gerallt Jones (+12)
8/ Dewi Griffiths (+28)
9/ Dafydd Jones (+32)
10/ Dave Jones (+37)
Reserve/Barry Hughes (+43)

Junior:
Rhys Davies (+31)

Colt:
Sion Evans (+13)

Vets:

Glyn Jones (+6)
Bob Carter (+13)

Sporting.

This was the most problematic sporting qualifier we have ever had.
Trap breakdowns on four of the five stands left many of the shooters frustrated and tempers were frayed.
What should have taken an hour and a half tops, lasted twice as long as it should have.

A much harder layout than the previous qualifier left many shooters with glum faces at the end of a long afternoon. A tricky long out crossing pair saw a few shooters leave the stand with a zero. Rhys Davies our junior had about 10 gun malfunctions using Keith Hill’s Semi-auto, which caused him to have a few tantrums.
Luckily the gun stayed out of the lake and I somehow think he will stick to his over and under from now on.
Father and son Dennis and Sion Evans had a good battle to the end, with Dennis getting his own back following an embarrassing defeat at the last qualifier.

Gwynedd may not have the best shooters but I’m glad to say the one’s we have, have a lot of heart. Half the Gwynedd shooters are clay pigeon novices and I’m glad to say this difficult qualifier did not put them off.

At the end of the afternoon the top 5 scores were as follows:

Keith Hill, Top Gun on 39, 2/ Ken Griffiths 38, 3/ Dennis Evans 33, 4/ Sion Evans (Colt) 32, 5/ Glyn Jones 32.

Team Positions for the Sporting Final:

Seniors:
1/ Ken Griffiths (Captain)
2/ Keith Hill (+1)
3/ Gwyn Richards (+9)
4/ Dennis Evans (+11)
5/ Elgan Pugh (+13)
6/ Anthony Lowe (+21)
7/ Gerallt Wyn Jones (+23)
8/ Dewi Griffiths (+26)
9/ Barry Hughes (+40)
10/ Dave Jones (+42)

Junior:
Rhys Davies (+30)

Colt:
Sion Evans (+15)

Veterans:
Glyn Jones (+11)
Bob Carter (+29)

Ladies:
Christine Carter (+28)
Sue Gauton (+30)