So the final BFTA Grand Prix rolled around on Sunday, this year seems to have gone nowhere again, where does time go? I’ve been sitting at the top of the table for a while now but I’ve resisted saying anything because, well, field target is a cruel sport. I’ve managed a few good scores and have been improving slowly over the year. I think a lack of being hassled or having to sort other people out has been a real benefit and it’s a shame that most don’t understand that this sport is actually run by volunteers. One day I may just publish all the moaning emails because some people think this sport is an actual picnic.
I wasn’t looking forward to Blackbrook, we’re not friends. I’ve shot some troubling courses here and they’ve never suited the predicted weather and are nearly always coupon busters. So, you can probably understand why I decided to keep quiet about being top, I was nervous about it because Andy Barnes and Chubby could easily take me out both are very capable, in fact, Chubby hit 44 on the World’s practice course last month. I’m happy to say that Blackbrook having been listening to the criticism and put out a well-balanced course, so well done to them.
The weather was heating up, 24 degrees and it wasn’t even 9 O’clock, certainly glad I booked into the AM session because later this was going to be a killer to shoot in, the bottom field on the course is super exposed and that’s going to be taxing.
I got off to a good start and only had to get through the field as quickly as possible with a good score, Chubby walked past and was still clear, that get me super focussed, this competition was mine to lose. That’s a heavyweight to carry so I dropped it and focussed on each target on their own, that’s what counts
With the sunbaked field out of the way it was back up the woods to shoot in the shade, this was most welcome but this is the part that can catch you out, the wind is pretty fast at Blackbrook as it’s a big open space. Gave target 1 a kill and it wasn’t enough, this was going to be tricky. I dropped a couple and missed a stander but when I got to lane 11 the wheels fell off, I double dinked both high. The scope had moved in the heat, OK I’ve got that now but I then missed both the standers, not good enough Martin. The heat was killing me now and trying to stay focussed and hold the win was becoming increasingly difficult. It wasn’t a hard course but the wind and heat was just playing havoc with a lot of people, myself included.
Was dropping 13 too many? Turns out Andy and Chubby had also been in field target hell, the title was mine. I’ve been working on getting inside the top 10 for the longest while, that would have been enough but instead of focussing on the spreadsheet I focussed on the targets and actually trying to stay focussed when I most needed it. I still made some silly mistakes, overthinking and not going with my instinct, when will I learn dear reader.
Winning those 4 GP badges and the Grade Title was everything to me and well worth the work.
