Getting together – Olympic disciplines

BASC and British Shooting teamed up to hold a day of shooting Olympic-style targets at Fauxdegla International Clay Shooting Centre. Anita North tells us more…

Olympic disciplines

How much do you know about Olympic shooting disciplines? Did you know that there are clay and target shooting events at the Olympics? And that we will have GB competitors at the Paris Olympics?

On Thursday 28 March, I got to spend a day with a group of BASC members at Fauxdegla International Clay Shooting Centre near Wrexham for a day of Olympic shooting. The day was organised by BASC Wales’ David Boden and hosted by Meurig Rees. I was one of two coaches from British Shooting there to help guide people on how to shoot Olympic Skeet and Olympic Trap.

Katy Poulsom was there to coach Skeet, while I coached Trap. We were also joined by Katy Essex, a 15-year-old Olympic Skeet shooter who has just been selected to join the junior team to compete for Great Britain at this year’s European Championships in May. She came along to demonstrate how to shoot a round of Olympic Skeet.

Enjoyable day for all

After an initial introduction and briefing by Meurig, it was time to put everyone’s abilities to the test. Each person got to try both Olympic shooting disciplines between morning and afternoon sessions with a break for lunch and a chat in between. There were lots of opportunities for questions and discussions throughout, too.

It can be daunting to try a completely new type of shooting, but we were there to provide coaching and support. Soon enough, everyone understood that while the Olympic shooting disciplines present a challenge, that in itself can be captivating and enjoyable.

Rising to the challenge

By the end of the day, it was clear that everyone had enjoyed Olympic shooting disciplines, and gained useful skills from Olympic Skeet and Trap to take forward in whatever shooting they do.

A massive thanks goes everyone involved in making this day such a success – BASC staff for organising the event, Mike Faux and his team at Fauxdegla for welcoming us, and most of all, everyone who came along and rose to the challenge so brilliantly. Katy Poulsom and I look forward to doing more days like this.

More Olympic discipline events

The day was a fabulous example of being brave enough to have a go at something new because you never know what might happen.

For me, British Shooting and BASC teaming up is a very positive move forward – it is all about getting involved, finding out about different shooting activities, and learning from each other. Together, I hope we can help dispel some of the myths surrounding this side of shooting sports. You might find it becomes a good way to hone your shooting skills or an opportunity to have fun.

There is already another Olympic shooting day scheduled – check out BASC events for more details.

Anita North

Anita became hooked on clay shooting after a taster session at The Midland Game Fair and went on to represent GB and England at international level. She won four medals for England in the Commonwealth Games. Anita now supports current and future shooters as a ISSF Coach, working with British Shooting and is an all-round advocate for shooting.