HFT DIary: Cambridge, Worlds and More

Mid-April saw the season opener, down at Cambridge HFT, and at this well-established venue, we are now guaranteed an excellent target, course and a real challenge.

HFT masters-round 1- Cambridge

Cambridge HFT has a huge log processing operation on site, and the unique set up makes for a great backdrop to our sport. It’s the sheer variety that makes it such an exciting ground to navigate, with sections of the course spread throughout the wood, then a few targets out on the edge of the open field, where a swirling wind can really test our nerve. Do you have the guts to aim way off the kill, or wait for a lull? It’s the classic dilemma, and a key aspect that makes our sport so exciting.

I had a bumpy start, throwing away a few targets, which I soon realised were some of the jokers! Holding it together through the copse section restored some pride though, and a 50 at the close was respectable, as it turned out, as some big names crumbled in the breeze too. Simon Vant shot a superb 55ex60, and finished clear winner, which was some performance, given the conditions. Brilliant support from main sponsor BSA and a host of others (see www. hftmasters.com for full details) means there’s cash prizes among the goodies to be given away in the raffle, after every shoot, and with a two-tier prize system to encourage newcomers, there’s plenty of reason to give these shoots a go.

World HFT championship - Kelmarsh

Just one week later, and we had the World HFT Championship to contend with, back at the good old Kelmarsh Country Fair. I’ve always loved shoots where a country show is the backdrop, as this creates a great atmosphere, with the hubbub of the show in the distance…..crowds of happy spectators (not that our sport adequately encourages this!), and of course food marquees!

Rain and wind was heavily forecast for this Easter weekend jamboree, yet as it panned out, we had a light spotting for one or two target lanes, then dry and cloudy for the duration. Relief on that score, yet day one saw my challenge quickly evaporate, in a haze of miscalculations and underestimation of the breeze.

Come day 2, and I had that resigned feeling of just making the numbers up, which was a shame, since the wooded target courses were superbly laid out. James McLachlan clearly had no such negative cloud to contend with, and after banging in another superb 58, emerged clear winner….whilst I drowned my sorrows in the cheese and specialist sausage marquee!

With a host of fantastic prizes from Steyr, Air Arms, Sureshot and MTC Optics, along with £2500 cash to be won in the raffle, even us sad losers had something to get excited about when the dust had settled. Nick Hopkinson won the Steyr Challenge, and Ken Swift went home with an Air Arms HFT500. All in all, another tiring but enjoyable championship, and thanks go to Pete Sparkes and the gang who put in hours of hard graft to get the target courses up to scratch.

For pre-booking application forms and downloads regarding established UKAHFT events (where bookings are possible), and all the latest information on anything connected with Hunter Field Target shooting, take a look at the following websites: https://sites.google.com/site/ukahft/ and www.shooting-the-breeze.com https:// sites.google.com/site/whfta1/ In addition, details of HFT Masters events can be seen at www.hftmasters.com and www.whfto.com

Results:-

Tier 1

Open Class:

1st Simon Vant 55ex60
2nd Jack Houghton 54
3rd Alex Larkin 53.22
1st Jason Lockett 52

Recoiling

1st Paul Burt 48

Ladies

1st Charlotte Edmonson 29

Veteran

1st Finn Cochrane 51

Tier 2

Open Class:

1st Jake Miller 50
2nd Glen Law 50
3rd Finn Cochrane 51.22
1st Dean Auger 46

Recoiling

1st Nick Stanhope 46

Ladies

1st Katy Ellis 49

Veteran

1st Dave George 46

Junior Winners

Emily Palmer 46 (all winners, no 1st etc.)
Jess Ellis 44
Lara Jones 42

2017 competition dates so far

2017 UKAHFT National Series

R2 18th June Buxted, Sussex
R3 22nd July MAD, Essex
R4 23rd July MAD, Essex
R5 26 th August Furniss Mill, Shropshire
R6 27th August Furniss Mill, Shopshire
R7 24th September Cambridge, Cambs.
R8 14th October Emley Moor, Yorkshire
R9 15th October Emley Moor, Yorkshire

HFT Masters Events 2017

7th May Harrogate (6th &7th May Northern Shooting Show)
27th May MAD, Essex sponsored by BSA & Hawke/prizes to BSA/Hawke users
28th May MAD, Essex Open shoot sponsored by BSA & Hawke
11th June Cloybank, Scotland
24th June BSA International Championship
25th June BSA International Championship
30th July Emley Moor
13th August Meon Valley
30th Sep-1st Oct European HFT Championship
29th Oct MAD, Essex