The Pro Sporting format has grown from strength to strength over the years since its inception.  This year we had four qualifying events, getting shooters excited from the start about the prize pot that would lie ahead for the Super final.  We take a look.    

The Pro-Sporting retained most of its original format for 2023 of having the targets numbered 1-7, each one worth it’s corresponding points in terms of difficulty.  The same qualifying format also took place with each competitor shooting single targets first 1-7 followed by a speed round shooting 1-7 to give a maximum score of 56.   However, this year we decided to be a bit kinder to the shooters by adding a further second in the speed round making it up to 5 seconds between target releases which as many know is what really puts the competitors under pressure.  The leaderboard as always was live so the scores throughout the qualifiers can change.  After the qualifiers the top 8 shooters will go through to the super final with 2 competitors drawn out at random from all that have entered the qualifying events making 10 in total.

It was fairly apparent early on that the shooting standard was very high, with several maximum scores of 56 being set on the very first qualifier.  The cash built up quickly as well with good numbers of entrants having a go at all the qualifying events.

The day of the final qualifier and what would be the super final came alongside the Blackshaws 150 Sportrap & NOE Sportrap championship.  Even more straights made it onto the board and in the end the entries into the super final were pushed up, with 10 shooters going through on the maximum of 56 and 2 wildcards making 12 shooters in total for the final spectacle.

 

The finalists were…..

Tom Oldham

Tony Gradwell

Frank Lowrison

Colin Noble

David Renton

Michael Booth

Paul Wheatly

Colin Will

Lee Jackson

Paul Foster

Myles Shipway (Wildcard)

Ralph Thompson (Wildcard)

 

The stage was set and with a good crowd to watch the pressure was on.  All competitors took part in the first round, each shooting the singles 1-7 and then again coming back to the stand to shoot the speed round with the scores added together.  The singles proved easy but some accomplished shooters seemed to let the pressure of the speed round get to them.  After the first round it was David Renton, Tony Gradwell, Michael Booth & Colin Will who went through all of which were capable of going all the way.

The second round was purely and simply a speed round with the scores set back to zero, with some shooters adjusting where they had maybe made errors on their technique of re-loading and how to best approach it after the first round.  Michael Booth secured a comfortable 21, but then a tie between Colin Will and David Renton on 15 meant a further speed round was required to see who would go through.  Colin Will managed an impressive straight of 28 whilst David Renton allowed the pressure to come in and only managed a 12.  The final nomination round awaited both Colin Will and Michael Booth.

This is what it all came down to, the nomination round.  This sees report pairs shot and then simultaneous pairs shot alternating until 8 pairs in total have been attempted.  The shooter decides what two traps to shoot, therefore can select easier or harder targets worth their corresponding higher or lower points.  It was Michael to shoot first.

It seemed to be 4 and 5 that were popular for both shooters, and after 5 pairs it was within one point with Colin on 38 to Michael’s 37.  Colin began to pull away but then was edged back by Michael with only 6 points in it before the final pair.  Michael shot a 5,6 pair putting him on 57 at 5 points ahead leaving it all for Colin to do.  He stepped up nominated 5,4 and shot the full pair with target 5 only a few inches off the ground when it broke giving him the victory on 61 points.  What a final!

It was great to see such as vast range of shooters in the final, all very much capable of going all the way.  Colin Will took home £2,000 cash as the winner so it’s definitely a shoot to win.  Yet again this has proved a popular format and we are already excited for getting the planning underway for the 2024 Pro-Sporting.  So next time make sure you give it a try, you never know it could be you in that final taking home a very generous cash prize fund!