Fauxdegla DTL Grand Prix 2023 – Day 2 – 28/5/23

Day 2 of the Grand Prix at Fauxdegla, and after yesterday there were still four or five shooters within striking distance of the overall win (including me).

It’s been quite a while since I shot at that level, and I wasn’t too sure what would happen when I went out this morning.

I felt good enough though and started fairly well, until the layout we were on decided to test us.

It started giving us delayed releases (where the target appears a second or so later than you expect), and sending out targets when nobody was calling for them.

I had one that left the trap a split second before I called, and was all set to claim a baulk if the referee said “lost”, but he didn’t and let me take it again.

The retake disappeared in a cloud of smoke, but I knew that I would be fortunate to make it through the rest of them without another gremlin making things interesting.

Sure enough, a little while later, I had a slow release that surprised me, and I was just a fraction in front of the target with both shots and missed it.

Had I been more switched on, I might have dealt with it better, but yesterday had taken more out of me than I realised.

Rounds two and three were hard work, and although I got them all, there were quite a few second barrels - the levels of focus and concentration were nowhere near where they needed to be to build on what I’d done yesterday properly, despite my best intentions!

I managed to dig something out in round 4 and shoot a 25/74, but by then the damage had been done, and I finished up with a 99/290 for today.

Not the result I was hoping for, but still pretty good.

That wasn’t enough to get me anywhere near the leaders, or for me to pick up any prize money from the weekend.

But it was enough for a decent 2 day combined score of 199/589, and I’m quite happy with that.

I came away to have a good time and do the job well, and I feel like I’ve achieved that.

My shooting is also starting to flow and feel easier again, which is quite exciting going into the Bisley 200 next weekend, and Bywell the weekend after that.

I’m not saying for one moment that the results are going to be stellar, but I am hoping for a similar performance, if not slightly better.

Aside from my experiences today, there was some excellent shooting on display from the big names.

Following on from his 100/299 from yesterday, Dan Price shot a 100/300 to win High Gun for Day 2, and set up a shoot-off for overall weekend winner with the High Gun from Day 1, Steve Janes.

Steve himself shot a 100/299 of his own today, and the shoot-off promised to be a close fought battle.

Watch it here:

In the end, Steve produced yet another 25/75 (Dan had a second barrel or two) to clinch the trophy for the third time in a row!

Paul Chaplow shot a 100/298 to go with his 100/300 from yesterday, and take 2nd in AA over the two days with 200/598.

For the full results, click here.

The full list of class winners:

AA Class

🥇D Price

🥈P Chaplow

🥉C Harris

A Class

🥇E Pritchard

🥈J Malden

🥉B Keightley

B Class

🥇D Owen

🥈N Scott

🥉J Fairclough

C Class

🥇R Thomas

🥈S Cross

🥉D Crain

Ladies

1st J Fairclough 🥇

2nd S Morris

3rd C Morris

Juniors

1st I Mills 🥇

2nd C Morris

3rd S Cross

Veterans

1st E Pritchard 🥇

2nd J Malden

3rd A Davies

Well shot everybody, and huge thanks to Mike and Debbie Faux, and their team of ground staff, caterers, and referees for a thoroughly enjoyable weekend of shooting.

I’m looking forward to next year already!

Stay tuned to find out what happens at Bisley next weekend – it’s sad that it’s the last big shoot there, but the entry list has no shortage of quality, so it promises to be one to remember!