Congratulations to Edward (8J), who secured first place in the 28 Bore High Gun competition at Bisley Shooting Ground!
Bisley Shooting Ground, one of the oldest and most esteemed shooting grounds in the world, has a rich history that dates back to 1860, when Queen Victoria herself inaugurated the first-ever annual rifle meeting. This is a unique sport, where precision, discipline, and exceptional hand-eye coordination are key. In its tenth year, the youth competition sees participants taking aim at 20 challenging clay pigeon targets.
Edward is still a novice at clay pigeon shooting, and this victory is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting future for him in the sport!
We caught up with Edward to hear more about his journey into clay pigeon shooting.
How did you get into clay pigeon shooting?
I got into this sport because my parents thought that I was good. Prior to clay-pigeon shooting, I enjoyed Airsoft and got the 7th best score ever with a pistol and so I thought I’ll probably be pretty good at clay-pigeon shooting. Pistol shooting is at a target that doesn’t move, while I was doing targets that do move, so I decided to try a shotgun instead.
How old were you?
I was 13 when I started, I’ve only been clay-pigeon shooting for a couple of months.
Who got you interested?
I got myself interested in it. My mother just booked me a trial session at the national shooting range at Bisley and on my first go I shot all 12 clays, and the instructor was very impressed.
What bore of the shotgun did you first use?
I used to use 28 bore, now I use 20 bore. The smaller the number, the heavier the gun and larger the cartridge.
How many hours of practice do you put in?
I practice every Sunday for two hours. Sometimes on Saturdays too.
How do you go about hitting a moving target?
First, I make sure my foot position is correct. My left foot should be facing where I’m shooting the target, and my right foot should be a bit behind my left at an angle. Then I have to prepare myself mentally, it is important to be really focused and calm. I try and breathe normally and hold my breath for a moment when I pull the trigger. It’s also important to keep both eyes open. One eye should be on the barrel and one eye keeps on the clay. I follow the target with my eyes, move the barrel in front of the target and then use my instinct in terms of when to pull the trigger. You have to lead in that your aim has to be slightly in front of the target, because the clay is moving.
What’s the difference between a shotgun and a rifle?
A shotgun shoots around 250 pellets which are encased in a shell or cartridge. A rifle shoots one single bullet.
What other facts would you like to share?
The fact I shoot around 90 out of 100 clays each time, means I’m above average. Most people shoot between 60 and 70 clays per session. I hope to get to the Olympic standard. I will soon be shooting Olympic standard in that the target moves more quickly at 70 or 80mph. And for Olympic standards, you have to start with your gun down, the stock has to be 70cm beneath your shoulder and when you shout pull there is a delay of up to 3 seconds during which you can’t move. Also, the two clays get launched at the same time, coming from two different sides and you have to shoot them with two different shots.
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