Preview - For those midlanders who didn't visit Hungary it has been a long month since some FT competition. So a visit to Far Coley to open the Winter League is most welcome. It looks like sunshine and little wind for tomorrow's competition so high scores are to be expected.
Well the weather forecast proved to be accurate. The early starters today were troubled by cold air and sunshine down the scope but had little wind to bend the pellets. Later on the Sun rose high and out of sight but perhaps it warmed the ground enough to create a light breeze. Those shooting after midday enjoyed sufficient wind to require a kill or more adjustment on the long targets.
Millriders Marc Asbury and Jason Jones posted a pair of 28's to lead the field. However, soon after Mark Brewitt continued his fine GP form with a 29. A few shooters looked like they might match Mark's mark but all fell away.
Far Coley proved a popular venue with nearly 80 competitors kicking off their WL campaign although none looked better, or warmer, than Sam in her new hat!
Castle - 31st October 2010
The mist struggled to rise from the ground, its flight dampened by dark spirits. In the woods the trees were as if drenched in smoke from a nearby cremation, there was little noise from the shooters present as they huddled together for warmth and to assuage fear of the unknown. Yes, it was Hallowe'en at Castle and strange creatures had been seen wandering through the woods. I saw one; it was big and wore a black cape, under its arm was a long cylinder of pain. Its face was adorned with hair which pointed like a horn to hell below. Fear struck me as the creature expelled a cackled laugh "HA HA HA" and then the words "only missed one" before again it was absorbed into the woodland. There were also many small demons lurking in the undergrowth and up in trees. Sir Anthony of Castle killed them all but watched as each one rose from the dead. A young page, Mitchel of the Ride, also killed many and won the respect of his elders.
Harriers - 14th November 2010
It's not often Harriers can be described as windless but today was very close; mist and cold combined to offer perfect conditions for shooting. Inevitably the top guns of the midlands put in some high scores. At the front was 2009 champion Neil Daniels and 2010 champion Marc Fisher who both cleared the course. Close behind was 2008 champion James Osborne on 29 and five shooters posted scores of 28.
Harriers proved a popular venue for visitors from other regions. There were four from Central Southern and a whole raiding party from Wales. Here's Simon who we usually find on the other end of the lens.
When I set out from my house it was -4 degrees and when I arrived at Millride it was -9 degrees! Cold yes but dare I say it was rather pleasant; there was only a hint of wind, the air had no moisture and the rising sun slowly offered some warmth. The Millride members were up early checking that the targets had not frozen stiff; surprisingly none had and we were under way soon after 8am. The course started with a shorty followed by a full distance so if there was going to be drop in the cold lane 1 would show you. Unusually I shot with the early birds and felt quite nervous as they don't seem to miss much! It was Bobby and Kev who set the early pace with a 28 and 27 quickly followed by me and Mitch adding a pair of 27s. I thought the conditions very benign and it was no surprise to see a triple of 29s from James Osborne, Neil Daniels and James Griffiths winning the day.
Next time out the MFTA goes abroad with a trip to Sywell.
Sywell - 12th December 2010
Today was a first visit for the MFTA to the regular FFTA GP venue at Sywell. The course utilised the garden area and the infamous bank. When I arrived some shooters had already finished and it was clear that conditions were tricky; the early lead was 26 and a score of around 24 would probably be very good. Ahead of me on the line was Andras Fekete-Moro and James Osborne and despite the varying wind both were clear through the first 20 targets. James managed to hold on until he got beaten by target 28 on the bank. Congratulations and much respect to Andras who cleared the lot! It was a day when if I'd had 2 shots per target I wouldn't have cleared it so I dip my hat to these guys.
The WL reaches the half way point and things are hotting up for the title and qualification for the MFTA inter-regional (top 15) and the Frayed Knot (top 30) teams. Leading overall is James who, incredibly, has hit 143 of the 150 targets so far, in second and third place lie 2008-9 and 2009-10 champions Neil Daniels and Marc Fisher. Although they trail by 12 and 22 points respectively they both have low scores to drop so the contest is still on.
The WL takes a break now until Dowry Hill on the 9th Jan but there is plenty of shoots over the Christmas period to enjoy.
Dowry Hill - 9th January 2011
The WL began 2011 at Dowry Hill. The weather of the preceding days was poor and I had visions of heavy snow and a cancellation. Thankfully the snow was washed away and Sunday proved to be sunny yet cold.
Dowry is a compact ground that contains a lot of features and the members had made excellent use of these to set a challenging course. It started in an area of copse where reading the wind was tricky. There was no chance to get used to the wind though because by lane three the course had turned 90 degrees and we were shooting across a ravine that exposed the strings, not necessarily the targets, to the wind. By lane five the course turned again and this time we were shooting from the copse into a field. The remnant of the farmer's crop was offering a clue to the wind; and it was blowing. Then it was a 180 degree turn to face some elevated targets. The final four lanes were wholly in the field and the conditions were very variable. The first target was only 30 yards but if you shot in the kill then dink. The last target was 55 yard and earlier in the day the target could be seen only at the edge of the field of view of high mag scopes. Later the target only needed half a kill of wind unless you were unlucky to get a gust. Overall it was an excellent and enjoyable shooting test.
For much of the day the top score was 28 held jointly by Bobby Banks, Steve Page, Andrew Gillot and Marc Fisher; enter Mr Osborne who shot in the lane behind me. He entered the field with a clear card and quickly downed target 23. Then there was a long target set perpendicular to the wind; he pondered this target for some time and a crowd had gathered to watch. Dink! Perhaps there was a sigh of relief from the 28s as there were still 6 wind effected targets to go. Of course he got them all; that's 8 dropped from 180!
A great start to the year, well done Dowry Hill.
Greyhound - 23rd January 2011.
Only the second visit of the MFTA WL to Greyhound FTC. Last year the famed wind pixies had the day off and two shooters cleared the course; today was very different. Greyhound is an excellent venue, it's next to a pub, and it has terrain that exposes shooters to wind from different angles. The wind also seems to get channelled, perhaps by the surrounding buildings, which results in telltales on the course going in opposite directions. That said there was not a great deal of wind but it was enough to need an edge and then hope that the wind didn't drop or gust. Jason Jones and Marc Asbury, two strong candidates for the Inter Regional team, posted 27s early on and this score would win them the day. Their 27 was the lowest winning score since a rain swept and windswept Harriers in 2009. Today though it was not the weather, the course and the conditions combined to provide an excellent test. Well done Greyhound!
Woodend - 6th February 2011
Windy days; not one for a while and then two come along together! Memories of Woodend will not be of the excellent 180 degree course but of the unreadable wind that led to some very low scores. Not so Dean Burfoot whose score of 25 made it a hatrick of maiden winners for this WL; he joins Mark Brewitt and Anthony Johnson. Woodend's day job is a fishery; it consists of a 3 pools, with some islands and small areas of copse. The course was well set out offering a range of distances and difficulties. However, it was the wind that would win the day. Talking to top shooters who simply didn't know which side of the hit zone to shoot was reassuring for us mere mortals who remained clueless. Well done to Woodend, the wind wasn't their fault, and to Dean Burfoot who is now on track to receive an MFTA cap to wear at the Inter-Regionals in April. Next outing is at my favourite venue, Purley Chase, and I'm willing to sacrifice a sheep for a light breezy day!
Purley Chase - 20th February 2011
Thankfully the sheep sacrifice worked and shooting at Purley could be enjoyed with only a little breeze for company. Today we ventured into new terrain of the Purley woodland for a course of twists and ups and downs. The presence of only minimal wind suggested high scores and they flooded in. Jonta led early on with a 29 which was soon surpassed by Steve Mason and then by Karl Clarke; well done to both!
James Osborne's 29 was sufficient for him to win the WL title and rumour has it that his springer may appear at the final round at Shugborough. There's still plenty of competition to decide 2nd and downwards and the inter-regional team is not yet complete; three Harriers can still make the team: James Giffiths, Phil James and Kevin Sayers, but they'll have to shoot out of their skin! The Frayed Knot team is nearly sorted; six shooters can still claim spots for this excellent shoot against the NEFTA team.
Next outing is the Game Fair at Shugborough.
Come on Blues at Wembley!!!!!!
Well what a fantastic result for Birmingham City; keep right on!
Shugborough Game Fair - 6th March 2011
Last year's game fair had been blighted by snow and conditions had been tricky. This year there was no snow but conditions were trickier!
The big prize had already been won by James Osborne but there were still places to be filled and the all important honour of representing the MFTA in the Frayed Knot and the Inter-Regionals.
There's was no queuing today as to make a better spectacle for the viewing public the MFTA ran two sessions using a shotgun start. Conditions were tough all day but the early shooters benefited from less wind. Top morning score was an impressive 27 from Neale Marklew and no-one in the afternoon session got any where near it. So Neale scored 100 points but, incredibly, did not qualify for the Inter-Regional team; it just shows what shooting quality that we have in the Midlands.
Mr Daniels posted 26 which was enough for him to claim second overall; well done Neal. The A grade trophy had been wrapped up long ago with some impressive shooting from Millride's Jason Jones. In B grade Simon Francis was a popular winner and it was good to see newcomer Roger Dyson winning C grade.
Commiserations to Ian Stoddart who held a top 15 place up until the last round.
To finish the WL we have the Masters at Harriers on the 20th and the Frayed Knot at Millride on the 27th,