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I’m feeling a bit better heading into the Tawd Vale GP, although I’m hoping it’s a better course than last year, the wind and loads of targets over 50 did me completely in last time. I found myself also losing interest half way around, which was very unusual for me but with the course setting on the GP’s this this year has been

exceptionally high so I’m expecting good things at Tawd because it’s a great ground.

With the terrible score from Millride well behind me I’m definitely more settled after all of the practice. I was super pleased with pulling it back at GP2 in Bisley, that really helped my frame of mind. I also had a very

good shoot at Harriers in the MFTA Summer League last Sunday. My confidence in myself and the gun is back, welcome back old friends! These are both big things when they’re on your mind but all I’ve got to do now is keep my focus and knock those tin chickens down, no biggie eh!

I’m getting at least 3 practice sessions in a week now and working hard on a repeatable routine for all three positions. Gilly pointed out at Harriers that I should be checking the distance more and staying on the gun for follow through so I’m going to be looking at that today down at Anston. Should get a good 5-6 hours in with

GRAND PRIX 3TAWD VALE

film, kind of a cross over between Kes and Selwyn Froggitt. I still don’t reckon I’ve managed to talk him out of buying a Leup though. He’s left handed and has a tendency to pull things into focus rather than use a smooth action, it would kill him off for sure, his money though and he’s not one for listening.

the weather, just hope the mozzies aren’t out to eat me to death. The goal of getting to the top end of B Grade this year is the plan and it’s starting to come together. If I can pick up a top ten place in the GP’s I’ll be pretty chuffed with myself.

Saturday was mostly just sitting on the plinker as the

wind was all over the place at Anston. I practiced a load of standers and had a quick shoot around on the HFT course. Nothing too testing but Gilly was right, I am coming off the gun too soon, even on standers.

Phil The Bear was buzzing when he got in the car on Sunday, he informed me he’d been up since 4am

and had cooked himself 3 pork chops with a load of veg and was full to the brim! It’s like picking up a giddy toddler sometimes but it made me smile as we headed up the M1 listening to Public Image Limited. As I listened to Phil rattle on I reckoned by the time we get to Tawd I’ve got enough material to write the next Ken Loach

We land and the sun is beating down nicely. I do my best Del Boy impression with the BFTA merchandise and go off to walk the course, check the layout and get a couple of photos for the next AirGun World article. There are a few people shaking their heads in the bottom of the woods, the wind comes from two directions as you get closer to target 50. Looks like a tricky course but not as long as last year. I swear it looks like there’s a reducer on every lane. Of course there isn’t but I stop looking and head off to get my pictures.

I wanted to get pictures of Little Jack and young James Head because they both have great seating positions, a very wide gate with so little of the gun over the knee. They’d be useful for new starters.

While taking a picture of James I lean on the bridge banister and it snaps, bosh, I’m in the drink! It was kind of funny but I’m just glad I didn’t end up on my arse in it. I hoped that would be the only bollock of the day I would drop, it wouldn’t be!

I was taking anything from zero to 80mm on the plinker but the gun seemed fine. I had 3 different sessions with it before missing most of the Silli’s. It’s all or nothing for me on the standers as usual, it can only get better!

A couple of the lads I know had come off with great scores. Gilly and Wrecker had both done a 46 so I needed a good score not to bust my grade coupon. Wrecker is doing great this season and I’m wondering if he’ll end up beating Gilly in the GP’s, it could happen!

I start on lane 21, reducer and a long one. I plant the reducer but the long one goes low and left, striking 8 o’clock. That was the pattern to target 50. I adjusted the clicks and aimpoint, got a couple more, but the wind was doing a very strange bit of vortexing as it came from left to right and met the wind coming right to left from the plinking range over the wall. That was a tough start but I was pretty confident I’d be OK, so I get my head down and dig in. I missed the 15mm on lane 1 but nailed the

Ozzy doing a different kind of shooting, always top captures as well.

back one as we headed up to the top of the site. Managed to pick up a good run for the next 7 lanes, even the targets in the dark were going down, sweet.

Missed the two long ones in the open (17 & 18), a classic “too much and not enough” but that was the first double dink of the day. I was pretty pleased to get the first set of standers but that second 15mm high in the tree did me. The scope picture was whited out completely and I could only just make out the kill

on 15mag. Oh well, I was still on for an OK score. Back down to the woods for more switching wind, I missed a couple of the long ones by giving them too much but finished strong.

I really enjoyed the course, good mix of lengths and angles to keep it interesting, plus I felt it was more balanced than last time. You have to remember 85% of the shooters that turn up aren’t AA so every lane doesn’t need to be designed to stop them clearing it. Well

done to everyone at Tawd Vale, great course and well worth the drive up.

The chrono tent was the final thing before handing in my card with a fine 33 on it, not brilliant but on a day like that I’ll take it. I failed all 3 shoots with an average of 800 fps. I checked on my Combro and the gun was running bang on the limit of 795 fps. Yellow carded! I was pretty mortified because I’d checked the gun earlier it was at 780 fps, never failed a Chrono before. The next day I filled the

gun as it was down to 100 bar and checked my Combro against a Air Chrono (cheers Mangers). The difference was 17fps higher on the Air Chrono on a string of 25. Looks like I need to recalibrate my Combro because I was sailing incredibly close by running on 780 fps. Lesson learned, that won’t be happening again.

Cost So Far For 3 GPS1088 Miles Travelled£183.58 In Petrol

They start them young at Tawd Vale! What do you mean it’s more interesting than a middle aged bloke having a crisis?

Young Josh taking the winning shot against Mick, even with a big crowd there was no sign of nerves.

AA1st Ian Taylor 472nd Mark Henson 463rd Jack Harris 46

A1st John Sears 442nd Rich Shepherd 423rd Ian Stoddart 42

B1st Josh Vaughan 382nd Mick Trowman 383rd Graham Fleeman 37

With two GP wins under his belt Ian Taylor steps up the lead by 8 points, fine shooting from the NEFTA master. Mark “Wrecker” Henson was only 1 point behind and has been improving his scores every GP. The one to watch is Wrecker. It’s a shame Little Jack went home as that would have been a great shoot of to watch. Well done lads, impressive score for the weather.

Great score from top MFTA man John Sears but hot on his heals is NEFTA’s Rich Shepherd, massive improvement this year from Rich. I seem to remember he was in C Grade just over a year ago, that’s one hell of a jump. Ian Stodders wasn’t far behind and is sitting in a strong position in the table, just 4 points behind the number 1 position.

Great shoot off between young Josh and Mick with Josh just pipping Mick to the title and win that still keeps him top of the table, however Josh is future star. Anston’s top B Grade Bandit Graham Fleeman picked up 3rd place after a bad start to his season but keep an eye on him, he’s more than capable of sticking the scores on.

LEAGUE 11 Air Arms - Wales 845.772 Air Arms - England A 845.293 NEFTA new boys 841.214 Castle Crusaders 810.795 Rowan 809.956 Air Arms - England B 802.017 Anston Massive Bombers 724.69

Air Arms Wales jump 3 positions to just take the lead from the England A squad, impressive. NEFTA New Boys slip one place but look pretty safe at the moment.

Bobby allows us to test the strength of the lense on our snapper cam.

C1st George Heath 352nd Darren Hillier 343rd Mark Rodgers 31

Piston1st Steve Privett 432nd John Amos 423rd Brian Samson 40

Open1st Ian Challis 432nd Barry McGraw 413rd Julian Head 38

All change in C grade with George lifting 1st place with an impressive score of 35 but Darren was there again with another consistent score to again pick up 2nd place. Anston’s new shooter put in an amazing 31 after only shooting his S400 for a couple of months, well done that man.

Amazing shooting from Steve, dropping just 7 on a course like that with a boinger. Looks like he’s going to give John and Brian a run for their money. John was only one point behind him tho, great shooting John. Rock steady shooter Bri Samson is out in front with his super consistent scores though.

No change in the top two positions but the Underlever’s jump right up the table after a weekend of great scores. Anston Massive B are also off the bottom and we don’t care if it’s a technicality, we’ll take it.

LEAGUE 21 Air Arms - England C 760.162 NEFTA Old Boys 2016 731.23 Underlever Underachievers 723.694 North Oxon Bulldogs 718.535 Midlands Mediocrity 716.266 Anston Massive B 599.917 Kelly’s Heroes 472.02

It was only a matter of time before Ian lifted first place but Barry has also been sticking some great scores in to hold first place on the table. Looks like Julian could also be in the running with another great score.

Great to see the Scottish lads down at the GP’s, Guy is busy trying to find the kill in that blasted 15mm.

Wrecker watching another target fall over, it’s happening more and more for him.

Si was still clear at this point but that was to change as he went around the corner.

Young Red taking aim on another one, the lads got some made skills.

Ian taking out the kneelers with his old and trusty Pro-Target, still a favourite on the circuit.

Mangers having a mare apparently but he still put a good score in.

The M62 about to turn into yet another car park on the way home.

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