Olympic Trap, Universal Trap, Double Trap, Helice
Selection
Shoot Survey Results: How we feel about the
current format, participation levels, the world
class program, and how we should go about
Improvements
The results of the survey show that most of us
would like to see some changes to the current
selection shoot format, the prices, an end to
world class, and if they don't change then the
future of Olympic Trap in the UK could be looking
rather bleak indeed.
Following the first day of shooting at East Yorkshire Gun Club last year there was an open forum meeting with BICTSF board members present. I think the aim of the meeting was to open communication channels between BICTSF board members and the shooters, some of whom had made it very clear that they were not happy with the whole selection process. Questions were raised over the current points system, the MQS/MCS rules, shoot format, date clashes etc etc. The general consensus was that the current points system is flawed, unfair, and that the selection shoot format and venues need to change. I watched and listened as shooters raised their concerns and others avoided, deflected, and confused to protect their own personal agendas and perceived legacies. This is of course how I observed the meeting, but I'm certain there are many others who were present who share my interpretation of the meeting. So after the meeting I thought that the best way to obtain an accurate consensus from shooters is to conduct a objective survey where participants can remain anonymous. The BICTSF can act on, or ignore the results.
Following the first day of shooting at East Yorkshire Gun Club last year there was an open forum meeting with BICTSF board members present. I think the aim of the meeting was to open communication channels between BICTSF board members and the shooters, some of whom had made it very clear that they were not happy with the whole selection process. Questions were raised over the current points system, the MQS/MCS rules, shoot format, date clashes etc etc. The general consensus was that the current points system is flawed, unfair, and that the selection shoot format and venues need to change. I watched and listened as shooters raised their concerns and others avoided, deflected, and confused to protect their own personal agendas and perceived legacies. This is of course how I observed the meeting, but I'm certain there are many others who were present who share my interpretation of the meeting. So after the meeting I thought that the best way to obtain an accurate consensus from shooters is to conduct a objective survey where participants can remain anonymous. The BICTSF can act on, or ignore the results.
Detailed
Results
There were forty three participants of the survey, of which, four were from the US so their responses were filtered. So the number of responses is almost half of the number of entries to an Olympic Trap selection shoot in the UK. The questions were designed to obtain a consensus on the current issues. The following ten questions were included in the survey and the results are expressed as a percentage in bold:
1. Do you think Olympic Trap has a future in the UK?
a. Yes of course, it has as much chance as any other target discipline. 22%
b. Yes as long as the selection format changes and we get better facilities. 30%
c. No it doesn't that is why I shoot Universal Trench instead. 21%
d. I have serious concerns about the future of Olympic Trap. 27%
2. How could the Olympic Trap selection shoot be improved?
a. The current format is ok. 26%
b. To shoot 200 targets with the first 125 to count would be more worthwhile. 32%
c. The current format in one day would be a lot better. 32%
d. To shoot 125 selection on Saturday and 125 competition on Sunday. 10%
3. What do you think of the MQS/MCS system?
a. It is fine as it is. 3%
b. Why have it? The best will still be at the top, it's just there as a mental hurdle. 53%
c. It should be slightly lower because of UK weather and grounds. 18%
d. We should select the shooters with the highest averages. 26%
4. What do you think about entry fees for the selection shoots?
a. Rip off. 10%
b. A little bit steep. 80%
c. Seems fair to me. 10%
5. What are your views on the British Grand Prix as an event?
a. It's great, I look forward to it every year. 15%
b. It's too expensive - Just a cash cow for the BICTSF. 27%
c. It used to be a great competition years ago. 11%
d. It's expensive but I shoot it anyway because it's part of my shooting program. 16%
e. I don't shoot it anymore. 31%
6. What Trap disciplines do you shoot?
a. I'm a retired pop star! I shoot OTR, UTR, ABT, ZZ, and some DTL. 5%
b. I've shot them all, but generally stick to UTR and OTR these days. 43%
c. I only shoot UTR because I feel that OTR is no longer worthwhile. 37%
d. I shoot UTR only. 10%
e. Other. 5%
7. Which of the following combinations do you feel are the most appropriate to hold OTR selection shoots and major OTR competitions?
a. Southern Counties and EYGC only. 5%
b. Southern Counties, EYGC, and SW2000 only. 0%
c. Southern Counties, EYGC, SW2000, NCSC, Loch Ness, and Carnview. 42%
d. Southern Counties, EYGC, and Nuthampstead only. 27%
e. Southern Counties, EYGC, SW2000, and NCSC. 16%
f. Southern Counties, EYGC, SW2000, and Nuthampstead. 5%
g. Southern Counties, EYGC, NCSC, and Nuthampstead. 5%
8. What gun do you shoot with?
a. Beretta. 26%
b. Perazzi. 25%
c. Miroku. 35%
d. Browning. 10%
e. Other. 4%
9. What cartridge do you use for competition?
a. Fiocchi. 6%
b. Eley. 37%
c. RC. 16%
d. Express. 6%
e. DIANA. 0%
f. Nobel Sport. 0%
g. Clever. 21%
h. Other. 14%
10. How do you think we can increase the participation levels in Olympic Trap ?
This question was designed to give shooters the opportunity to voice their concerns and to offer some constructive ideas for improvement of the selection shoots and the OTR circuit as a whole. There were some very good ideas put forward so I have reported on them separately. To read the report visit my blog here
There were forty three participants of the survey, of which, four were from the US so their responses were filtered. So the number of responses is almost half of the number of entries to an Olympic Trap selection shoot in the UK. The questions were designed to obtain a consensus on the current issues. The following ten questions were included in the survey and the results are expressed as a percentage in bold:
1. Do you think Olympic Trap has a future in the UK?
a. Yes of course, it has as much chance as any other target discipline. 22%
b. Yes as long as the selection format changes and we get better facilities. 30%
c. No it doesn't that is why I shoot Universal Trench instead. 21%
d. I have serious concerns about the future of Olympic Trap. 27%
2. How could the Olympic Trap selection shoot be improved?
a. The current format is ok. 26%
b. To shoot 200 targets with the first 125 to count would be more worthwhile. 32%
c. The current format in one day would be a lot better. 32%
d. To shoot 125 selection on Saturday and 125 competition on Sunday. 10%
3. What do you think of the MQS/MCS system?
a. It is fine as it is. 3%
b. Why have it? The best will still be at the top, it's just there as a mental hurdle. 53%
c. It should be slightly lower because of UK weather and grounds. 18%
d. We should select the shooters with the highest averages. 26%
4. What do you think about entry fees for the selection shoots?
a. Rip off. 10%
b. A little bit steep. 80%
c. Seems fair to me. 10%
5. What are your views on the British Grand Prix as an event?
a. It's great, I look forward to it every year. 15%
b. It's too expensive - Just a cash cow for the BICTSF. 27%
c. It used to be a great competition years ago. 11%
d. It's expensive but I shoot it anyway because it's part of my shooting program. 16%
e. I don't shoot it anymore. 31%
6. What Trap disciplines do you shoot?
a. I'm a retired pop star! I shoot OTR, UTR, ABT, ZZ, and some DTL. 5%
b. I've shot them all, but generally stick to UTR and OTR these days. 43%
c. I only shoot UTR because I feel that OTR is no longer worthwhile. 37%
d. I shoot UTR only. 10%
e. Other. 5%
7. Which of the following combinations do you feel are the most appropriate to hold OTR selection shoots and major OTR competitions?
a. Southern Counties and EYGC only. 5%
b. Southern Counties, EYGC, and SW2000 only. 0%
c. Southern Counties, EYGC, SW2000, NCSC, Loch Ness, and Carnview. 42%
d. Southern Counties, EYGC, and Nuthampstead only. 27%
e. Southern Counties, EYGC, SW2000, and NCSC. 16%
f. Southern Counties, EYGC, SW2000, and Nuthampstead. 5%
g. Southern Counties, EYGC, NCSC, and Nuthampstead. 5%
8. What gun do you shoot with?
a. Beretta. 26%
b. Perazzi. 25%
c. Miroku. 35%
d. Browning. 10%
e. Other. 4%
9. What cartridge do you use for competition?
a. Fiocchi. 6%
b. Eley. 37%
c. RC. 16%
d. Express. 6%
e. DIANA. 0%
f. Nobel Sport. 0%
g. Clever. 21%
h. Other. 14%
10. How do you think we can increase the participation levels in Olympic Trap ?
This question was designed to give shooters the opportunity to voice their concerns and to offer some constructive ideas for improvement of the selection shoots and the OTR circuit as a whole. There were some very good ideas put forward so I have reported on them separately. To read the report visit my blog here