The MFTA Winter League began at Far Coley in Staffordshire. Despite a clear sky and plenty of sunshine there was a cold edge that signalled winter was on its way. A light breeze drifted across the Far Coley woodland, just enough to tickle pellets away from the kill zone or perhaps not enough to guide that straight-one onto the paddle.
After a very successful summer for midlands' shooters there now followed the challenge of ten rounds of the Winter League. Whilst the WL is a great introduction to the sport of Field Target shooting it is also a fervent competition. Top gun from last year was Neil Daniels and there were many excellent shooters after his crown. Maybe the overall title was only for a coveted few but the lure of a place in the MFTA Inter-regional team (top 15) and the Frayed Knot team (top 30) was there for all to dream.
Steve Page, back from South Africa and amongst the favourites for the WL title.
Far Coley's shooting ground consists of various terrain set in working farmland. Today the course started with six targets around a fishing pool, it then meandered up to a new shooting line offering woodland targets. Then on to the empty pool, where declined shots could be found, and finally a tricky pair in exposed field. An excellent test!
Two shooters, Stuart Hancox and Steve Page, came off the course early sharing an impressive score of 28; this would be later matched by Neil Daniels. Michael Brown and Marc Fisher bagged a pair of 27's to give Castle three shooters in the top 5. The scoring then got tight with fifteen shooters sharing 16th spot having knocked over 24.
It was good to see old friends and some new faces on the line.
One of the bonuses of FT is that there's always something to see. Today the farmland was alive with birds but I was surprised when this little fellow flew across the pond whilst I was waiting at lane 1.

Round 2 of the MFTA Winter League took place at Castle FTC near Nottingham. It was a beautiful autumn morning, the sky was clear and there was only a little wind. The car park at Castle was bathed in sunshine but a trip into the woodland saw the temperature plummet. The weather forecast had promised 8mph wind and this coupled with Steve Page's poly-directional course was sure to be a test. The dense woodland of Castle can provide some shelter from the wind but there are open avenues that are exposed which meant that each target needed careful thought.
The misses on the targets today were offering little clues as to the wind direction. What was evident though was that some shooters were missing low, probably because of the cold. Targets were showing the tell tale crescent below the kill-zone. Some face plates had taken quite a battering, particularly the 40 yard stander!
Despite talk of lots of misses some top guns were constructing a good round. Once again Mr Daniels sent the message that he was MFTA Champion and wasn't ready to relinquish it. Well done Neil for an excellent 29.
Being close to the NEFTA region means that a Castle competition will attract our friends from the north but today a surprise Welsh interloper, fresh from 3rd place at the Worlds; well done Berty!
I wasn't there but I gather it was very windy. Congratulations to Marc Fisher whose score of 23 was 2 clear of the field.
Millride it seems is always blighted by poor weather. Last Winter League the wind was gale force and the GP in May saw conditions more akin to the Southern Ocean. So when the forecast for this weekend was for more of the same I'm sure many shooters considered doing a bit of DIY on Sunday. However, the sky remained blue all morning and the sun slowly warmed us all up. I think that some shooters were disappointed that the urban myth had been broken, I heard one claim "we're not supposed to get sunshine at Millride".
Today's shoot consisted of 22 targets within the small wood and 8 exposed targets in the field. It started with a welcoming 55 yarder which was quickly followed by a high stander that caused problems for a few. The wind direction was mainly parallel to the shooting line which meant only a little needed to be given for wind but deciding which side was tricky. It was a long course yet early scores were high. First on the line was Karl and Debbie Clarke from Millride; Karl set the pace with an excellent 28 and Debbie a strong 20 to help her pursuit for the C grade table. This is Debbie; I think!
Millride is the home ground of Mitchel Tomes who today added another 21 to his string of good scores. He is 2nd in B grade and a shoe-in for the Frayed Knot team. Keep it ip Mitch!
1,807 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 801 – 1000 of 1807 Newer› Newest»you seem to have upset Bearcat Jon.
where's Greg, watching the footie?
Always trying to upset someone hey Jon, whats he been upto now Phil
I think he might have mentioned that, from what he has seen, he didn't rate S&B's.
A guy who has been waiting ages to spend £2k for one took the hump.
you sprayed your boots silver yet Jonta?
Obviously doe`s not like constructive critisism then.
If DaveS comes on for a nose, what did you think of the 2 hour wait to shoot at Castle?
It would probably be quicker for us to drive up to NEFTA and shoot their WL. We'd still be back home before we'd finished a MFTA shoot?
Had not thought about that Phil. Silver boots with red laces hmmmmm
although all might change after tonight, if the Millride Mafia get their way
how about a silver gimp coat like Daz's?
Unless something is done about this waiting around, it will start to put people off attending shoots
I think someone left on Sunday. I'm sure Paul said one guy said bugger this and left.
No straight jackets for me mate. Not even if it was a nice red and silver combination..... actually that sounds rather spendid
we got there at 8.30 and started shooting at midday. we were not in the pub until gone 3, completely unacceptable.
You sure he did not look for someone to bugger
Whats Greg upto...
where's Shaun with glad tidings?
As he got his santa suit on then.
Blog end of the week...
later
Sorry for the delay - forgot my password :)
I enjoyed the shoot at Castle but the waiting around was a real pain. I just thank the lord that it wasn't raining.
When I was leaving the house my wife asked what time I would be back in - I told her that I had no idea as I didn't know how long I would have to wait before I could shoot. When I shoot the NEFTA comps I can usually estimate when I will be back as I know I will shoot at 9am and I can estimate everything around that. That is a big plus point to me as a family man :)
While I was waiting to shoot I was grilled by a chap from Far Colley (I think) - he said he was going to bring it up at the next meeting??
He asked quite a few questions about how we do it in NEFTA.
As I said before - I don't come to the shoots to moan - we always have a good day and enjoy the banter with the MFTA shooters :)
Evening all!
A brief hello before I go to Spanish and then fly to San Francisco.
Good luck to those competing in the Bisley Classic.
Hopefully I'll pop on the blog from over in the US.
And for Phil, the tax payer has given me extra spending money!!!
Evening all.
Shaun, gimmicks of the job, got to take the rough with the smooth.
Have a good trip.
Ah makes sense now John, backs against the wall.
I know someone who arrived at Castle at 7.30, i was there at 9.45 and got on well after 12am, the other chap would have had at least another 3/4hrs wait.
MFTA meeting last night, whats the outcome?
John, Phil nah not trying to upset him, could do if i wanted to. Just putting a few things straight, might have cornered him today in my own polite fashion.
Never ever said i dont like S&B, i do but as i told Andreas and four others including chief whip, the optics should be a lot better, mechanically its what they should build.
White out easy a sure sign of poor lens polishing and coating. If my VX3 $1000 unmodded can live with them in low light theres something wrong!
The rave about S&B being the best lenses i know two scopes that will slaughter in all lighting and only have 40mm front bell!
As is he wont have it that they move with temp, i could live with it just learn it. Hungarians production jobby had 45 degree markings on wheel to correspond to differing temp!
John, Phil nah not trying to upset him, could do if i wanted to. Just putting a few things straight, might have cornered him today in my own polite fashion.
Never ever said i dont like S&B, i do but as i told Andreas and four others including chief whip, the optics should be a lot better, mechanically its what they should build.
White out easy a sure sign of poor lens polishing and coating. If my VX3 $1000 unmodded can live with them in low light theres something wrong!
The rave about S&B being the best lenses i know two scopes that will slaughter in all lighting and only have 40mm front bell!
As is he wont have it that they move with temp, i could live with it just learn it. Hungarians production jobby had 45 degree markings on wheel to correspond to differing temp!
Hicups Jon?
I'm back from Spanish, the verb for tonight was, 'To Want'. El verbe, 'Quiere' and we touched on the verb 'To Take' El verbe 'Tomar', because we were buying food & drink, something I was surely born to do, in fact I took to tonight's lesson like, ¡un pato en el agua!
That better, loss of connection again at the time and definately only hit post button once.
Speak of the devil the Hungarian lad who came to Millride has emailed me.
Shooting FT now exists in Bulgaria, hear it first here.
Dont seem to have took off in South America and know a few exist in Venezuela, Brasil and Mexico.
Well, the last I heard Brazil had joined the WFTA & of course Puerto Rico has atleast one club because they go to the American Comps from time to time.
I'm currently trying to find out if Australia has even an embryonic FT scene by asking the Kiwi's on their forum.
Well, I'm going downstairs to get some tea.
Good evening everybody. I'm looking forward to a report from the MFTA meeting. C'mon Ian, we need you. (We are allowed to ask, aren't we?)
Buenas noches amigos!
I see the Spanish is taking place in the blog.....comer, beber, the best verbs to learn Spanish.
good evening. wat you want to know
ok ..... nothing then
I'm back, anybody still here?
That's a no then, ¡Hasta luego muchachos!
I heard Brasil well over two years ago, thats old hat Greg i am usually the first to know.
Australia is a bit iffy as at three years ago. There forum closed then but was still live for reference. Have to shoot at a designated shooting ground and believe the laws changed on ownership etc.
Heard NZ in 2004 same as SA, Russia 2003. Sweden two years ago high power along with Turkey.
Had enquiries from China and Philippines some years back but bombed em out.
Strange laws in a few countries worse than ours, only need Japan now.
This was the Aussy forum a few years ago http://ausairgun.hunters-hut.com/forum/index.php
Dead link.
Same as original NZ http://airgunners.co.nz/airgun/index.php?sid=878eed797cfd3ac7f3c9d7790e020004
Best Focus versus Parallax thread ever.
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f18/parallax-vs-focus-1988/
Evening all. An interesting thread developing on STB regarding next years Worlds, several descrepencies between HFTA NGB rules & the WFTA Core rules. Not at all helped in my humble opinion by the WFTA Core Rules link seemingly being now defunct!
Greg your just a naughty boy hell bent on causing trouble.
Locations a bit iffy may be better to fly into another country and ride across. Looking at that map its around 160 mile from Budapest and a couple of toll roads. You seen how quick Hungary drives! Hire a pony.
Might get that Steyr going tonight, wheres my butchering tools.
Ooops! Just bought a Fridge Freezer, it's too easy to buy stuff online!
One of these Greg
http://www.dixons.co.uk/martprd/product/536232?int=refrigeration-slider1
No but by god she'd love one! It's a Bosch.
Knock Knock
Who's there?
Glad someones still awake. Been looking for pos new shooting locations for Millride..... Have a look at post code WV10 7JF. Not to far from the ride either..
That little copse below the farm, the one with the horseshoe like open bit looks interesting.
waas thinking more about the woodland in the direction of millride from the farm with the lake on the left hand top side. Now that looks interesting. I can phone him tomorrow see if he owns the woodland and see if interested in renting it out on a long term basis, given certain criteria.
Seems shaun has not done a tales of winter for WL2?????
Wouldn't of thought he'd have had time, lots of last minute things before the trip etc....
You been buying fridges? What have i been missing out on.
Precious little, I just hope all talk of F/F will cease after they deliver the bloody thing Tuesday!
more storrage space for beer i hope. cant have you filling it with healthy things like SALAD. Got to beat that CLARKE chap tomorrow. Hope he is reading these. JOHANSEN is gonna kick butt.
Hi Phil. It looks to me as though the area you've identified may be part of the Hilton Hall estate, and if so, the farmer could possibly be a tennant rather than a land owner. Worth asking though.
IT'S CHAMPAIGN CHARLIE!
Ooops! here come the shakes. Back in a bit.
Greetings young Roy... Hows it goin with you. You at the ride tomoz.
Has our greg gone for more sustanance....BEER Monster
I'll be there and looking to score more than young Greg - The Ice Man - after his purchase.
Brrrhhhhhhh, is it cold in here or some left the new fridge open
Greg's probably gone fore a sugar fix if he's got the shakes.
Probably of got a steyr for less than he paid for the fridge. No good for keeping lettuce in though.
Sorry about the spelling but watch out for that golf ball just in case.
Youve lost me.... I can accept miss spells as I am not a teacher..... But golf Balls?????
Fore
ok. Took you a long time to type that again. Been and filled my beer glass and had a sy ciggy in the garden. Problem with them there digits royston....
tak about mis speing ive gone and ost a my L's
And that there chaps was 3 fat ladies for me...
No probs with digits Phil. --see you tomorrow, goodnight.
Goodnight Roy.
If you return Greg, Goodnight and see ya tomoz.... Hope shakes have gone...
This close to 900 & Ian never showed up!
Thanks lads, abit of cheese on toast sorted me out.
See you all down the'ride!
I never got wet....
Its a hollow victory Johannsonne
Good fun and good company again today.
Villa can beat Chelsea but not Wolves. Champions league, here we come!!!!!!
Might be a quet night tonight?
Trophy hunters off to Bisley.
That's a surprise I expected the last 3 or 4 posts from Phil G.
Now Jon, if you reply to my post, I'll reply to yours, getting the 900 over and done with.
Hows 900 sound?
Thank goodness for that, blog ya later.
I already copied it ready for pasting, thought about talking to myself
By Roy.
Might have a go at the Steyr.
What do i need?
Saw
Long milling cutters
Some laminate
You wont recognise it as a Steyr when ive finished with it.
Nice to shoot, shame about the trigger.
Here I am, just sitting here sizing pellets!
you will find Shaun has done a WL2 report.
It follows on from the WL1 report. He said he wasn't going to do a fresh one for each round, so you have to scroll down a bit to find WL2.
Bugger!!..... I've only just seen the Blues result.
don`t forget to put clocks back i do not want you at mine at 3 greg
CLOCKS BACK! I'VE PUT 'EM FORWARD!!!!!
in that case, you're late
you'd better get the car loaded and get over to Ian's now.
Ian, you'd be well advised to keep an eye on Greg tomorrow. The abuse he subjected me to this afternoon was shocking. Phil had to hold me back at one stage.
i will keep an eye on him alright
hold you back or hold you up? I thought you smelled of alcohol.
Right bedtime for Bisley shooters. Nighty-night bloggers!
well, it is half ten really
Hope you two have a great time tomorrow and am looking forward to reading your comments.
its only nine now. has every body gone
no, its ten past 11
in Greg's world it is, so you better start getting ready
i am going to be on the blower to him at 4
It's a good job Greg isn't reading all this because he'd be in a highly confused state just now.
Well, the 'Auto Update' facility on my Mobile apparently doesn't mean it corrects automatically for time changes & it went off at 0230hrs!
Atleast I won't be late!!!!!
Good morning bloggers, although it's only 10pm where I am. Today I went to Alcatraz, rode on a tram and cycled across the GG bridge. Had a great day.
Good luck at Bisley.
Hi from this side of the pond Shaun.
Thought i was hearing things this morning at Cross Guns. A Hungarian wants to shoot it.
Now me being nosy and with some good contacts in low places done some digging. Didnt take long but same person that shot Weston with P70 and S&B, great lad.
A bleary eyed Greg has returned, happy & more confident. Greater care with that 'Gorrilla' trigger finger meant a much more satisfying day all round. 26 on the second Course(which we shot first) & 32 on the first gave me a total of 58ex80 & third in B.
Top scores were 3 on both from Andy Calpin & a John somethingorother! Settled by a shootoff.
Debs shot a stunner bringing in a 59 & after a shootoff took C Grade, Karl put in a stirling 68, I think!
Thanks to Ian for his company today & I'm xtremly pleased he found Bisley as exciting as I thought he would despite what he thought was a poor score from himself of 59ex80.
I really can't understand why Bisley doesn't hold more comps as it very nearly is the perfect shooting ground, you lads will definetly have to come down next time & give it a whirl!
put ch 5 on now guns bad boys 2 ....hope you enjoying them beers greg
Ooops! Left them in the car, Ta for reminding me Ian!
you got film on mate. ooosarr
lads! bisely is fantastic, me and greg are going back soon. i want to live there
Only shot the 2007 GP there and qualified.
Nice ground if you live within 50 mile.
This was the shoot off
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL15/728921/19827387/320269701.jpg
Sounds a great day. How long to get there?
Stu was in fine form at Cross Guns with Bob and Dave.
Had Steyr at time zeroed for 30 yards, guess range, holdover etc plus stock you have to be deformed to use one.
Played my usual trick on em even took a 51 yard reducer standing.
Them Steyr triggers are a bit naff.
Currently set so it has creep but will have to do, tap butt it fires like a Ripper dangerous. Single stage jobbies as well and not a patch on the LG10 which incidently was same design with 1 moving part less on the first gun i made late 92 in to 93.
When i went there was 30mph average speed on M1 for an eternity well before Milton Keynes.
M25 ok, M3 slow getting there.
M3 rammed on way out just ventured north until i knew some where.
About 2hrs 40mins
Evening all.
Was that from Brum Balts?
If so can add 25 to 30 mins for me to Spaghetti.
No Jon, from Ian's.
Easy enough run though, despite having to negotiate the dreaded M25!
When I went down with Al, he missed out that bit & went another way. I'll have to ask him that route.
Got that rifle from direct from Germany, already took it apart.
Just seeing whats different.
Operations well underway then! When will we see the end result?
The "IT LIVES!!!" Moment!
Saturday all being well.
The lump hammer job on yours is nothing compared to what i have to do to this £2150 unmodded rifle.
Very east to scrap the front block absolutely no room for error and cant see what you are doing.
Thank you Professor Frankenstein, we await the creatures debute eagerly!
The 2002 i did last the chap seems quite happy with the firing cycle, also owns a Welham 8002 and 10 other decent rifles.
I will do this one the same and show the new owner before he flies out 21 Nov what to do in setting up felt firing cycle.
Wouldnt mind doing mine the same but its stable 4 years untouched and best left alone.
You say that to Phil!
New owners on the blower almost every night, hate to think of his phone bills.
I can get back on the SA forum, the owner wants me there, long story.
Here is a weird one, at Cross Guns thought my eyes were deceiving me, an old chap plinking with a GP. Dont think that counts, even so thats the 4th seen.
Evening guys.... Have you heard Kevin as the bug alright. He as just bought a Ev2, well actually he picked it up Saturday
Sorry I've been away so long, I've just composed a truly massive E-mail detailing myself & Ian's adventures at Bisley to Jesús, it took ages!
Kevin's gotta EV! WOW, that fella has been biten alright, which one of you lot did it? FT Vampirism!
Jonta, you missed a blindin' day matey, Ian almost forgot to scowl! I've never seen anyone look as happy as when he watched the bloke with the .223 shoot the Running Deer comp. He'll have an FAC by Xmas, mark my words!
WELL DONE DEBS!
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc267/Baltipal/Bisley%2080%202009/Bisley80014.jpg
evening lads or is it morning, just got back from bell match
How did you do mate?
Bisley info;
http://www.bfto.org.uk/open%20results/classic2009.htm
An earlier age of Air Gunning;
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc267/Baltipal/Bisley%2080%202009/Bisley80008.jpg
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc267/Baltipal/Bisley%2080%202009/Bisley80009.jpg
shot 28.4 ok not brill got 2 4s .....go though this again for me i am getting very fustrated, that thing in poto bucket how the bloody hell do i view it, i am lost !!!!!!!
There is an address that startes 'http://' yes?
If you left click & drag your cursor over it, it will highlight the text.
If you then right click it will give you the option of copying, do it!
The big long box at the top of your screen is where you take this info. Click on it & it will auto matically highlight. Right click & there will be an option to Paste, do it!
Did you tell your Bell Target Buddies about the Antique lads & their wish to pal up?
Your silence tells me that you've cracked it! I've got to get off, I need my bed now!
mine
1000 will be mine
mine
mine
mine
me
me
me
me
me
me
mine
nearly mine
me
me
i
posted
our
millride
festive
shoot
flyer
on
shooting
the
breeze
so hopefully
a
good
turn
out
nearly
there
nearly
MINE
1000 IS MINE ......AGAIN
Karl, it isn't a competition if there is only one bloke playing!!!!
I wonder how high the post count will go up to on this blog then?
I had the day off to wait for a Fridge Freezer to be delivered & it came 30 minutes early!
Too late to book the car in to have it's exhaust done today now, so I'm off tomorrow as well.
Off for a feed tonight, to a Taybarns. New one on me as well! but apparently they are all over the North.
All you can eat for £7.99. Well, you can imagine!!!!!!!!!!!!
how unsporting can you get! i ask you..............................
SH*T HAPPENS
Yes, at least Cmon and me have the decency to jump in at the right time.
Think i'll talk to myself for the next 90 odd posts to get 1100, bad boy, sore loser.
Balts, you have some days off wouldnt mind a job like yours.
Just spent the last 20 odd mins trying to open up Taybarns site, finally got the menu but locator dont work.
Does this work for anyone, 2 mins blank page and still transferring data.
http://www.taybarns.com/home/location-finder?postcode=all
Just left above link running, 27 mins later still transferring data same as the rest of that ultra slow site.
teabarns where you have jam and scones
Ian, I do see how that might confuse a Black Country lad!
Jonny, you don't need their site, I can tell you all about it!
I've still got 5 days left as well!
Ian, where can I find a list of the rules for Bell Target?
Well, I'm back from the garage. Not an exhaust in the end, just the Catylitic converter. Strangely that creaky noise I was complaining about has TOTALLY gone now!
Club Agg 16 on Saturday chaps!
Not a great weather forecast. I believe. .......no 49'ers tonight.
Aren't converters more expensive than exhausts?
Depends who you know Royston.
Oh well, got to be expected now the season has turned. Shouldn't we be building a fire in the field & leaping through it, to appease the goddess & asure us of a good upcoming GP Season?
My efforts today have left me too tired to consider the 49th. I just carried a Fridge Freezer outside to be ignored by the Bulky Waste collectors tomorrow morning!
Greg,count me out of any of your pagan rituals, I'll rely on warm clothes and a peacock handwarmer if you don't mind.
I think I'll write a song.....The Ballad of Greg's Fridge.
Ahh yes, that reminds me. I'll have to get myself a couple of them before the Winter sets in.
#It was big & white & it stood in the corner with a heart as cold as an unused Sauna......#
Excuse me while I have a Phil G moment.
http://www.peacockhandwarmers.co.uk/
Why, thank you young sir!
Well I woke up one mornin' and my shoes were full of feet.
The white thing in the corner shouldna been giving out that heat.
Keep it comin', Greg.
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