S_S_2015_05_

44 SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

AIRGUN | HFT DIARY

HFT

DIARY

HFT

W

ell, quite a month, and with various
rumblings doing the rounds about
new competition series forming, all
supposedly catering for the growing throng
that enjoy Hunter Field Target, there’s plenty
going on! One venture relayed to me was all
rather vague and mysterious, so I’ve no
more to add on that score. What I do have,
which is rather more concrete, is a new
series of competitions, to be known as the
‘HFT Masters’. Two well known names from
the competition circuit, Ian Bainbridge, and
Roger Lait, are behind the ‘Masters’, and
with some big name sponsors already

signed up, it already looks like being a

success.

DATES FOR THE DIARY

Five separate events have been specifi ed so

far, with BSA Guns the main appointed

sponsor:

Venues

Lea Valley Saturday 2nd May

TBA Saturday 20th June

Grey Hound Saturday 8th August

Cambridge Sunday 26th July

Emly Moor Saturday 17th October

Food and toilets available at each venue.

REASONING

So what’s the idea behind the new series?

Here’s what Ian Bainbridge and Roger Lait

had to say: “We both feel the time is right

to give something back to the sport we love!

We want pals, family and friends, to come

out and shoot and enjoy our sport, and just

have a good day-out. We will welcome and

encourage youngsters to accomplish goals

within the sport, and their fi rst shoot in the

series will be free for them to enter, as long

as they are accompanied by a parent or

guardian.”

Here’s what makes the HFT Masters

different! ALL standing shots will be

unsupported, to a maximum of 80 yds for

the 3-shots combined. i.e a 25, plus a 25

plus a 30 yarder. The minimum distance is

25 to a max of 35 yards.

ALL kneeling shots will again be

unsupported to a maximum of 80 yards for

the three on the course: minimum distance

20 yards to a max of 35. All discipline

targets will be 35 -40 mm By making all the

discipline shots totally unsupported; we feel

it will be much fairer for all. Where the

UKAHFT rules allow for the use of obstacles

to rest against, the end result means you

can face little trees, big trees or thin trees.

What suits one shooter may be in the wrong

place for the next. No more pallets or man

made obstacles at the wrong height. No big

tree roots to be avoided, if you happen to

be right or left handed! This gives every

shooter, no matter what size or shape, the

same opportunity to knock over each

target.

SPECTATORS

We actively encourage shooters and

visitors to look at our course before during

and after the competition. We feel this will

encourage new people into the sport, and

help bolster the all-inclusive credentials of

HFT. No more sitting in the cold - no more

sitting in the car bored and cold! We

welcome you all to have a great day out,

and what we really want at the HFT

Masters, is to create a place where people

want to come and shoot, but fi rst and

Roger Lait

(left) and Ian

Bainbridge, the

two shooters

behind the new

HFT Masters

This shows a support at the right height for

the shooter, but it’s not so easy for everyone

Masters

Mark Camoccio fills us in on the new direction HFT is

taking to get more bums on seats