FITASC Sporting

Report on the GB FITASC Sporting Team Performance At
The 32nd World FITASC Sporting Championships
Laterina Shooting Club Arezzo Italy, 15 - 18 Jul 2010

 

The Laterina Shooting Club is located approximately 1 hours drive South of Firenze (Florence) in the Tuscany/Chianti region of Italy.
 
This region is famed for its vineyards producing various Italian wines most famously Chianti, with scenic mountains and tiny meandering roads for access; the 32nd World championships took place in this setting.
 
The targets were set by Mr Veniero Spada and were categorised and authorised by the FITASC Sporting Technical Commission representative Mr Hans Wenger Switzerland, Hugh Smith (GB) and Glen Rider (AU) over 1,150 competitors registered for this event.
 
There where 8 courses set for the competition all had 4 stands per layout, the courses where named:
 
Promatic, Rizzini, Euro Target, Krieghoff, Benelli, Elfipa, Beretta and Fiocchi.
 
The layouts were in open, undulating recently harvested areas also, over water and light scrub. The club served as an administration HQ, there was also a tented trader's centre; catering facilities were available and not expensive, the price of quality ammunition equated to 70 Euro for 250 cartridges.
 
For layouts requiring transportation of the competitors an efficient transport system was available and was gratefully accepted by the competitors as the daily temperatures quickly soared to +35 degrees by 09:00.
 
GB was represented by Senior, Veterans, Ladies, Juniors and Super Veterans teams. There were 160 competitors registered from GB. Mike Farquhar and Andrew Paul GB referees also took part.
 
Daily start times were early due to the large volume of competitors with the final day commencing at 07:00 quite a shock for those expecting a leisurely Sunday mornings competition.
 
The competition ran over four days; as usual the first day is a settling in period with not a lot to report, however, George Digweed posted 50 ex 50 and Ben Husthwaite and Christophe Auvret 49 ex 50 one target behind the lead. John Pool (GB) led the Vets on 48, Michael Taylor (US) S/Vets on 47, Ira Kirenska (LV) top Lady 45 and Michael Spada top Junior on 47
 
On completion of day two it became obvious that the competition targets were there to be had, with the Benelli layout punishing many of the competitors particularly earlier in the day with the Sun making targets difficult to pick up their line of flight early.
 
All layouts produced good scores with such a good variety of targets competitors would be challenged up to the last shots fired.
 
George Digweed continued the second day's competition posting another 50 ex 50 closing day two on 100 straight, Ben Husthwaite on 97 with French shooter Christophe Auvret 96.
 
Stefanie Stienkraus (Ger) was leading ladies with 87 with Cheryl Hall and Beatriz Laparra Cuenca (ESP) on 86.
 
Vets leader was now John Bidwell 91, Graham Stirzaker (GB) and John Wooley (US) also on 91.
 
Junior lead still Spada (IT) on 93, Patrice Senyarich (Fr) 90, and Chris Papworth and Renato Vitelli (IT) also 90,
 
Super Vets saw Michael Taylor (US) 90, Colin Foden (GB) 89 and Floyd Hartlage (US) and Philippe Vialfont (FR) both on 84.
 
In the team placing the GB Senior team were in 5th position on 361 chasing Italy 366, France 367 USA 367 and Spain 369.
 
GB Vets were leading the pack on 266 with GB S/Vets 238 3rd GB Ladies 237 first with only 2 targets clear of the pack and Juniors second to Italy 261 against 270.
 
At this point it is worth mentioning that the heat of the day was taking its toll with a number of withdrawals. However, the GB teams continued to press the leaders and were working extremely well, as teams, in an attempt to cut back the leads of the other National teams.
 
Day three commenced and Digweed finally dropped a target posting 49 ex 50 for a day three score of 149 could he keep it up and claim a new record or would the heat finally get to him?
 
It was all still in the balance for teams and individuals for the final 50 on day 4.
 
The Senior individuals were only separated by a couple of targets and George Digweed was looking for his eighth world title had crumbled before (by his standards in Prague and Australia) would he continue with his magnificent performance? Well of course he did closing the door on Ben Husthwaite by posting 197 against 195; a good chase by Ben but not good enough with George on top form.
 
RESULTS:
Medal positions GB Non Team
 
Seniors: George Digweed 197 Gold, Ben Husthwaite 195 Silver.
 
Ladies: Cheryl Hall 175 Silver.
 
S/Vets: David Payne Silver 171.
 

Individual Team Medals
 
Vets Gold Graham Stirzaker 181
 
Juniors Silver Phil Gray 185, Chris Papworth Bronze 183.
 
Team placing:
 
Seniors: USA Gold, 744, France Silver 733, Bronze Italy 729 (GB 5th 720).
 
GB Senior Team: Paul Bachelor (188) Martin Myers (186) Roy Cherry (175) Andrew White (171)
 
Ladies Teams: Spain 478 Gold, GB 474 Silver, Austrailia 473 Bronze.
 
GB Team: Janine Preece 165 (4th) Pet Easton 159 and June Speakman 150.
 
Juniors Teams: Italy 548 Gold, GB 542 Silver, France 516 Bronze.
 
GB Team: Phil Gray 185, Chris Papworth 183, Jack Lovick 174.
 
Vets: GB 531 Gold, France 530 Silver, Ireland 490 Bronze.
 
GB Team: Graham Stirzaker 181, Steve Brightwell 176, John Pool 174.
 
Super Vets: USA 511 Gold, GB 483 Silver, France 477 Bronze.
 
GB Team: Alan Coy 163, Jeremy Bland 162, Roger Ward 158.
 
Statistics:
There were 93, 25 ex 25 with Benelli posting 2 proving to be the toughest statistically and 27 on Fiocchi.
 
Average score over all layouts was 74.5%
 
The high scoring results give the impression this was an easy shoot, be assured it was not easy it was demanding at every position. The scores yet again reflect just how far FITASC Sporting competitors have progressed.
 
It was apparent that although the GB teams and individuals were very successful, we need to work on home territory on closer targets as these were the ones that caught most of the GB competitors out.
 
I am not suggesting we stop shooting long bird however, the other Nations know how to level the playing field regarding UK competitors.
To make such a change will require the shooting grounds to come on board as well as the bread and butter UK competitors so that we are better prepared next year in Spain and France.
 
It was an outstanding workmanlike performance by all teams. However, I must mention that new cap Jack Lovick performed beyond expectation and is a very good future prospect.
 
Phil Gray Juniors individual Silver, shot 99 out of the last 100 targets proving to all he has come a long way from his earlier days at this level and yet another outstanding Junior performance and probably his last as he very soon moves into Seniors came from Chris Papworth; Seniors had better look out next year with this young man in the background.
 
All team members were exceptional ambassadors for their country, worthy of note was the efforts of the GB Captain Roger ward.
 
Hugh Smith, Chairman BICTSF FITASC Sporting.