Zoe and Iwan Learn to Shoot the ‘Going Away’ Target

Zoe is first up to shoot and John reminds her of the standard preparation:

1. DECIDE

2. KILL POINT

3. FEET POSITION

4. PICK UP POINT

5. KILL PICTURE

John shows her the kill picture by holding a clay target just above the bead; he encourages her to see a little bit of daylight between the bead and the clay. He tells Zoe to imagine that this clay has little feet and you are going to try to shoot its feet off!

Zoe has a practice point at the going away target with an empty gun. She says: “Everything seems to happen at great speed, but I am ready to have a go”.

She loads one cartridge, sets herself up calls ‘Pull’ but misses with her first shot. She realises that she has chosen a Pick Up point too close to the trap where the clay target is flying so fast, she is unable to see it clearly enough to point at it. John also tells her that she is waiting too long before she fires. She tries again, but misses. John says: '”Waiting too long before you fire is what most adults do at this stage. You are trying too hard, you are trying to make certain; then lifting your head as you squeeze the trigger because you want to see yourself succeeding! Try again, lock that gun stock really tightly into your cheek and shoot this target as quickly as you can. See the clay sat above the bead and fire. Resist that very normal adult desire to aim. Point at it, shoot!”

Zoe loads again, sets herself up with her weight well forward, pauses as she focuses; calls 'Pull', shoots quickly and to her great joy powders her third target! She kills a few more then contentedly takes a rest.

Iwan is ready; he has been watching intently and looks very determined. He takes a practice point at the target with an empty gun and is keen to attempt his first going away clay. Iwan loads, mounts the gun carefully, calls ‘Pull’, Bang! Missed! Much to his annoyance, he had obviously been listening to John encouraging Zoe to shoot quickly. John reminds Iwan that he must be able to see the clay sat just above the bead before he fires.

Iwan tries again, and to his great satisfaction, smashes his second target! He confidently kills a few more, but then misses one as he lifts his head up to watch that clay break. However Iwan is not phased by the miss and is quite happy with his performance on the 'Going Away' target.