Annual Awards Voting -Young Shot of the Year

I started shooting at 5 with an air gun, then moved on to a single barrel at 6, which I shot for about half a year before moving on to an under and over which I shot at my local clubs such as Gunner’s wood and Wallers Ash gin club. I grew more confidence after having some lessons with Barry Brown and I then shot my first registered at South Downs gun club at the age of 8 as a couple of years went by and discovering ground like Owls Lodge ,E.J Churchill ,4counties and Barbury enabled me to take my shooting to a higher level and start to compete with some very challenging targets.

At a shoot I meet Sean Gamblen who took me under his wing and started coaching me to a higher standard and perfecting little errors and my constancy with gun hold. At the beginning of 2021 I was approached by the CPSA to be part of the Colt initiative program meaning I would get a substantial amount of help and guidance from the top shot such as Richard Faulds and James Bradley-Day, also, I received the appropriate shooting equipment form all the participating sponsors like: Musto, Rizzini shot guns, Solware and many others, I also have Personal sponsors from Swatcom and Teague chokes.

This year was my first attempt at all major championships and competitions I was greatly successful in this because I managed to win the: pro one sporting at Barbury, World championships Colt sport trap at E.J Churchill and, I won the British open colts sporting and 2nd in the Colt’s sport trap event at E.J Churchill Swinton Estate.

My goal for the future is to be a world champion and over the next couple of years be the Junior world champion 

15 Years Old

I started shooting at our local Sunday Shoots with my dad at the age of 10.  It was whilst I was at Premier Guns Doveridge that I learnt of young guns, I started with a 410 but soon after we purchased my first ever gun a Yildiz 28 bore.  

After a few months of Shooting at Young Guns and for almost a year of shooting local Sporting shoots I had some tuition at Mickley Hall. Although I liked sporting, I found that I really enjoyed Skeet.  In the Summer of 2018 aged 12 I started to be coached by David Beardsmore. 

Things progressed quite slowly as David is very particular on gun fit / mount, eye dominance and most importantly technique.   Some lessons I didn’t move from peg 1 non the less I was hooked.   By the end of 2018 I had come a long way and with the help of Premier Guns and their expert advice we purchased a Beretta 690 Black. 

Lessons carried on throughout 2019 preparing for the start of 2020. Unfortunately, Covid 19 hit and we didn’t get much competition or practice time.  Towards the end of 2020 when we were allowed back shooting, I managed to come 3^rd in Colts at the Welsh Open, 2^nd in Juniors and 1^st in ladies at the Midlands ESK Championship then at the 2020 National Inter counties I came 1^st in Colts and Ladies. 

I practiced hard when time allowed to move forward into 2021 and I have achieved more than I ever thought possible.  Here are my achievements for 2021

Midlands ESK Championship 1^st in Ladies, 2^nd In Juniors

Cheshire Selection 1^st in Ladies, 1^st in Colts and 2^nd Overall

British ESK open, 3^rd in Colts

West Midlands Inter Counties, Won the shoot off to secure a first for Cheshire Ladies

National Inter Counties, 1^st in Colts, 2^nd in Ladies and Ladies team winners

Cheshire Skeet Doubles, 3^rd Overall, Ladies High Gun and 1^st in Juniors

Belvoir Skeet Championship, 1^st in Juniors, 2^nd in Ladies

Nottingham Skeet Challenge, 1^st in ladies, 1^st in Juniors and overall runner up.

2021 also brough about England Team selection after the 4 days of shooting I was sat Joint 3^rd in Ladies but unfortunately lost out to a worthy competitor by 1 target in the shoot off.

I am extremely thankful to my coach, sponsors, supporters, and family as without them I wouldn’t be where I am today.   

My name is Mathew Paley.  I am 15 years old and a keen young clay shooter, and I love the countryside especially agriculture. I have had a very busy year driving with my dad as far north as Bywell and south as Nuthampstead which are both quite the travel. 

I have a part time job at a local farm milking cows feeding the calves and heifers which I enjoy.

There a quite a few grounds in my area but for Olympic trap, the closest is Fauxdegla which is only around 80 miles away and is a world class venue

I started the year with DTL at Homeschapel after never shooting it before and developed quite a taste for it!  I shot a 99/290 in my first try then later shot a 100/296.  After applying for the England team and doing all the shoots I managed to get into the team. I shot really well at the Home International putting in a 100/294 which I won Juniors, A class and Overall Junior. I also shot the Essex Masters Sporting and got second.  Then onto the British Open where I won Sportrap and second in sporting.  

Then onto what I do best, Trap shooting.  I got picked to do the Junior trap initiative with the CPSA which got me using Fiocchi cartridges which I now love and have won plenty with them now. I am also on the elite talent pathway for Olympic trap with Steve Scott who is my coach and a very good one at that. 

I won the English open Olympic Trap at Beverley and got a personal best 113/125 at the talent pathway championships At Nuthampstead. I use my Beretta ASE 90 for Olympic trap and ball trap and a PerazziMX8 SC3 34” for sporting and DTL.

My name is Toby Hurstfield I live in Cheshire. I started shooting with my dad when I was 7 years old and followed in his footsteps with a passion for DTL shooting. I practice at home in between helping on shoot days at the family run shooting ground. I am coached by my dad who has always encouraged me and supported me in my ambition of gaining a place on the England Team. My biggest achievement this year has been earning that place on the England junior team at the age of 15. This culminated in me being part of the winning Junior International DTL team, International Junior DTL runner up and the English DTL Junior Team High Gun on my first cap. My results this year have seen me become the Colt British and English open double rise and single barrel champion and winner of the Dougal Memorial Colt and English Open Colt DTL championship.

I would describe myself as competitive, but also polite and respectful to fellow shooters. I have been lucky enough to have met lots of supportive and encouraging people during my shooting journey so far, which has culminated in me receiving some welcome sponsorship.