Down-The-Line
Encyclopedia
Down-the-line clay pigeon shooting
is a variation of trap shooting
which is very popular in Australia
, New Zealand
, South Africa
, Zimbabwe
, Canada
, the United Kingdom
and Ireland
.
The traditional DTL shooting includes a layout which is set up with 5 stands in a crescent shape 16 yards from a traphouse which throws a target between 0 and 22.5 degrees to either side of a center post set 50–55 yards from the traphouse. The average speed for a clay target leaving the traphouse is usually between 60 and 100 mph.
A normal competition would have the competitor shooting at 100 targets in total in a day. This would be built up of 25 targets at 4 different layouts with 5 targets shot on each stand rotating on a 1 > 2 >>> 5 basis. On the scorecard points will be given as, 3 points for first shot kill, 2 points for a second shot kill and 0 points for a lost target.
Other variations are double rise, single barrel, ball trap, and handicap by distance.
The Governing Bodies in the UK and Ire are the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association
(CPSA; England), Irish Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (IPSCA), Ulster Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (UCPSA; Northern Ireland), Scottish Clay Target Association (SCTA) and Welsh Clay Target Shooting Association (WCTSA).
, Ireland
, Scotland
, Wales
and, the newest inclusion, Northern Ireland
.
The Home International consists of all host countries competing with teams of 25 seniors, 5 ladies, 5 veterans and 5 juniors to become the winning nation. The main competition is between the seniors with their greatest involvement in the event, although there is great pride shown when the other teams win their specific competition. On the night after the international there is a hosted banquet in which the prizes for the day are handed out.
The British Open has an element of the previous days activities with the teams competing but greater emphasis is put on the competition of the overall British senior, ladies, veteran and junior champions.
Northern Ireland hosted their first ever DTL Home International and British Open in 2006 at Culbann C.P.C, Ballynease, County Londonderry. This event was the culmination of a lot of preparation from Culbann C.P.C, by upgrading from a 4-layout facility to an 8-layout facility. Through the upgrading of the ground, the 4 layouts originally used were deemed redundant and they have been demolished to make space for the 8 new layouts.
It was a great time for Northern Ireland
as not only hosting the event for the first time they managed to walk away the overall winners of the Home International 2006.
Clay pigeon shooting
Clay pigeon shooting, also known as clay target shooting, and formally known as Inanimate Bird Shooting, is the art of shooting at special flying targets, known as clay pigeons or clay targets, with a shotgun or any type of firearm....
is a variation of trap shooting
Trap shooting
Trap shooting is one of the three major forms of competitive clay pigeon shooting . The others are skeet shooting and sporting clays. There are many versions including Olympic trap, Double trap , Down-The-Line, and Nordic trap. American trap is most popular in the United States and Canada...
which is very popular in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
The traditional DTL shooting includes a layout which is set up with 5 stands in a crescent shape 16 yards from a traphouse which throws a target between 0 and 22.5 degrees to either side of a center post set 50–55 yards from the traphouse. The average speed for a clay target leaving the traphouse is usually between 60 and 100 mph.
A normal competition would have the competitor shooting at 100 targets in total in a day. This would be built up of 25 targets at 4 different layouts with 5 targets shot on each stand rotating on a 1 > 2 >>> 5 basis. On the scorecard points will be given as, 3 points for first shot kill, 2 points for a second shot kill and 0 points for a lost target.
Other variations are double rise, single barrel, ball trap, and handicap by distance.
The Governing Bodies in the UK and Ire are the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association
Clay Pigeon Shooting Association
The Clay Pigeon Shooting Association is the National Governing Body for Clay Target Shooting in England.Founded in 1928, it is recognised by Sports England, the Department of the Environment, the Home Office, the Police etc...
(CPSA; England), Irish Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (IPSCA), Ulster Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (UCPSA; Northern Ireland), Scottish Clay Target Association (SCTA) and Welsh Clay Target Shooting Association (WCTSA).
Events
In the UK the main events for down-the-line shooting is held in July every year, the Home Internationals and British Open events. These are held every year on rotation between EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and, the newest inclusion, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
The Home International consists of all host countries competing with teams of 25 seniors, 5 ladies, 5 veterans and 5 juniors to become the winning nation. The main competition is between the seniors with their greatest involvement in the event, although there is great pride shown when the other teams win their specific competition. On the night after the international there is a hosted banquet in which the prizes for the day are handed out.
The British Open has an element of the previous days activities with the teams competing but greater emphasis is put on the competition of the overall British senior, ladies, veteran and junior champions.
Northern Ireland hosted their first ever DTL Home International and British Open in 2006 at Culbann C.P.C, Ballynease, County Londonderry. This event was the culmination of a lot of preparation from Culbann C.P.C, by upgrading from a 4-layout facility to an 8-layout facility. Through the upgrading of the ground, the 4 layouts originally used were deemed redundant and they have been demolished to make space for the 8 new layouts.
It was a great time for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
as not only hosting the event for the first time they managed to walk away the overall winners of the Home International 2006.
External links
- Clay Pigeon Shooting Assoc. (England) .
- Irish Clay Pigeon Shooting Assoc..
- Ulster Clay Pigeon Shooting Assoc. (Northern Ireland).
- Scottish Clay Target Assoc..
- Welsh Clay Target Shooting Assoc..
- Clay Target Shooting Association of South Africa
- Australian Clay Target Association
- New Zealand Clay Target Association
- Japan Clay Target Shooting Association