Welcome to the Staffordshire CPSA Automatic Ball Trap (ABT) Page

In Automatic Ball Trap (ABT) there is one trap set in the centre of the layout that throws targets faster and at more variable heights and angles than DTL does.

There are five stands in a line behind the trap, but a sixth shooter can wait behind stand one. Starting from the left shooter, each takes a shot at a target, then all move to the right one stand (the waiting shooter then takes stand one, while shooter on stand five moves to wait behind stand one). This continues until each shooter has shot at 25 targets.

Two shots are allowed per target, with one point per hit regardless of if the hit is on the first or second shot.

Staffordshire CPSA Team Manager: Ian Hull

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💥 Automatic Ball Trap 💥

💥 Staffs County, WM Area and Inter-Counties – 25 August 2024 💥

Another excellent performance from Team Staffordshire, this time at the West Midlands Area and Inter County Championship.  The event was staged at Garlands Shooting Ground, hosted and organised by The Clay Shooting Company.

In the WM Area, congratulations to Graham Evens of Shropshire who took the Gold medal with 97ex100.  Our own Adam Gutteridge took joint Silver with Malcolm Grant (Shropshire) with 95.  And in the Veterans, Martin Hambleton and Rob Borsley shared the Bronze with 92.

Staffordshire Gold and Silver winning ABT squads

In the team event, our Staffordshire squads had a cracking day out. Perhaps no surprise, when you consider we had 6 shooters finishing in the top ten. With a combined 456ex500 the first team of Adam Gutteridge (Team Captain), Luke Hambleton (new cap), Martin Hambleton (new cap), Richard Lees-Styler, Ray Sutton and Darren Wood put on a great performance to take the Gold.  And our second team of Ian Hull (Team Manager), Marcus Iddon, Paul Insley (new cap), Martin Osborne and Mark Wright hit 444ex500 to take the Silver!   Phenomenal performance boys – well shot.

New caps: Martin Hambleton, Paul Insley & Luke Hambleton

Waiting for confirmation of the other team placings but you can see the full results on the CPSA website here: https://www.cpsa.co.uk/scores/fixture/automatic-ball-trap-garlands-shooting-ground-20240825/117108

Martin Hambleton, Adam Gutteridge & Gill Grealey

We also held our Staffordshire County Championship at the same time with an excellent turn-out of 19 competitors.  Adam Gutteridge with 95 saw him retain his trophy.  In the Veterans, we have a new champion, Martin Hambleton with Gill Grealey once again retaining the Ladies title.

Well done to everyone who take part and who represented Staffordshire so superbly. Special thanks to Ian Hull for doing a cracking job as Team Manager.  Thanks also to The Clay Shooting Company for putting on a great shoot and to all the referees.

Steve Kilner - Chairman

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 ABT England Selection Shoot at East Yorkshire CSG - 15-16 June 2024 

Fine performances from a couple of our top Staffordshire shots in the third England selection shoot over the weekend at East Yorkshire CSG.  Adam Gutteridge hit a magnificent 100 straight on the Saturday and followed it up with 96 on Sunday to finish joint second with Cory Doble of Durham on 196, just two off Matt Panter and Ian Woodhead. 

Adam Gutteridge

Ray Sutton shot 97 and 96 for a 193 and share of top spot in the Veterans category with Nicholas Harris of Lancashire.

Ray Sutton

Good luck to all of our Staffs ABT shooters taking part in the English Open at Nuthampstead on 20-21 July.  The ABT Home International will be taking place at Fauxdegla on 6th-7th September 2024.

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Automatic Ball Trap (ABT) Staffordshire, WM Area and Inter County Championships - 25 August 2024

The Staffordshire ABT County Championship will be taking place at Garlands on Sunday 25th August.

This will include the WM Area and Inter County Championships and will be run by The Clay Shooting Company.

Sunday 25 August

Garlands Shooting Ground

Steve on 07342 338390

info@theclayshootingcompany.com

https://www.theclayshootingcompany.com/

Please contact The Clay Shooting Company directly to book your place.

2023 County Champions:

Senior: Adam Gutteridge

Veteran: Ray Sutton

Lady: Gill Grealey

Junior: Lucy Christie

Team Manager, Ian Hull will be in touch with squad members to confirm their place in the Staffordshire team.

Good luck to everyone taking part and we look forward to seeing you there!

Steve

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 ABT at Ruby & District - 31 March 2024 

Congratulations to Richard King of Dorset who took high gun with 95.  Staffordshire’s Luke Hambleton was second with 92, Ian Hull third on 91 and Darren Wood fourth with 89.  Great shooting!

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 ABT National Inter Counties - 17 Sept 2023 

 

More success for Team Staffordshire at the weekend.

Our WM Area Gold medal-winning ABT team took part in the National Inter Counties at the weekend and came away with a terrific SILVER medal.

Well done to everyone in the squad - terrific achievement 

Steve Kilner - Vice-Chair and Secretary

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💥 Automatic Ball Trap 💥

WM Area and Inter County Championship at Garlands SG – 15 & 16 July 2023

Absolutely delighted to report on a hat-trick of wins for Staffordshire at the ABT West Midlands Area and Inter County Championship.  The event was staged over two days at Garlands Shooting Ground, hosted and organised by The Clay Shooting Company.

In the WM Area, congratulations to Graham Evens of Shropshire whose near perfect 99ex100 gave him the Gold medal.  But great to see our own Darren Wood (96) taking Silver and Adam Gutteridge (93) Bronze with Ian Hull just one behind in fourth.

Adam Gutteridge (Senior, Bronze), Colin Heathcote (Vets, Silver),

Gill Grealey (Ladies, Silver) and Darren Wood (Senior, Silver)

In the Vets, Colin Heathcote took Silver as did Gill Grealey in the Ladies – excellent shooting from both of you.

This put Team Staffordshire in pole position to retain our Inter Counties title. With a combined 461ex500 the Senior team of Adam Gutteridge (Team Captain), Ian Hull (Team Manager), Paul Cockle, Richard Lees-Styler, Mark Wright and Darren Wood finished a full 37 clays ahead of Derbyshire (424) and Warwickshire (417) to take the Gold 🥇

Team Staffordshire

In the Veterans, the team of Colin Heathcote, Martin Osborne and Ray Sutton put on a fine show to take top spot with 181/200.  To complete a tremendous hat-trick of team wins, our Ladies squad of Lucy Christie, Gill Grealey and Carole Wilson smashed a brilliant 157/200.

Well done to everyone who take part and who represented Staffordshire so superbly. As always, special thanks to Ian Hull for doing a cracking job as Team Manager.  And lastly but by no means least, to Steve Lovatt and the team at The Clay Shooting Company for putting on a great event.

Steve, Vice-Chair and Secretary

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 Staffordshire ABT County Championship - 21 May 2023 

A terrific County Championship with Adam Gutteridge defending his title as Staffordshire ABT County Champion for 2023.

Adam Gutteridge with Staffs Chairman and runner-up Ian Hull

Adam was pushed all the way by Staffs Chairman, Ian Hull with both hitting 93/100.  This meant a shoot-off with again nothing to separate them as both hit 23/25.  In the end, it came down to the equivalent of the dreaded penalty shoot-out with targets shot as single barrel. Adam hit 15 to Ian’s 14 to take the trophy be the closest of margins.  Great shooting from both.

It was just as close in the Veterans category with Ray Sutton and Colin Heathcote both hitting 90, Ray taking the trophy on count back having hit 24 in his final round.

Staffs Veterans Champion, Ray Sutton

Congratulations also to Gill Grealey who was once more Staffordshire Ladies champion, with Lucy Christie runner-up and Carole Wilson third.

Staffs Ladies Champion, Gill Grealey

Lucy Christie also successfully defended her Staffordshire Junior title.

Staffs Junior Champion, Lucy Christie

Thank you to all those who took part - hope you all enjoyed the day. 

Senior County Champion: Adam Gutteridge

Lady County Champion: Gill Grealey

Junior County Champion: Lucy Christie

Veteran County Champion: Ray Sutton

Full results at https://www.cpsa.co.uk/scores/fixture/automatic-ball-trap-garlands-shooting-ground-20230521/112784

Many thanks to Steve Lovatt and The Clay Shooting Company for putting on great shoot!

Steve Kilner, Vice-Chair and Joint Secretary, Staffordshire CPSA

 

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ABT First England Team Selection Shoot – 8-9 April 2023

More success last weekend for Staffordshire shots with Adam Gutteridge having a cracking weekend in the ABT.

Adam was taking part in the first England ABT selection shoot, at Nuthampstead Shooting Ground, along with a number of other shots from Staffordshire who all performed well over the two days.

Adam shot 95 on Day 1 and then followed this up with an even better 98 on day two, giving him a winning 193/200.

Great shooting Adam and we hope to see you representing England once again at the home international in September. And good luck to all those from Staffordshire for the remaining two selection shoots.

Steve, Vice-Chair and Secretary - Staffordshire CPSA

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 ABT County Championship - 21st May 2023 

 Date: Sunday 21st May

 Venue: Garlands

 Call 07342 338390 or

 Email info@theclayshootingcompany.com

 https://www.theclayshootingcompany.com/

Contact The Clay Shooting Company directly to book your place. They are also running a series of ABT shoots on the last Saturday of every month (subject to confirmation) - a great opportunity to practice for the upcoming County Championship. Contact the Clay Shooting Company to check dates and book your place.

If you've never shot ABT before and would like to have a go, contact us and we'll put you in touch with the Staffs Teams Manager, Ian Hull who will be happy to help.

Ian will also be looking for expressions of interest to shoot in the Staffs team at the Inter County Championship on 17th and 18th June at Garlands.

Good luck to everyone taking part and we look forward to seeing you there.

Ian Hull, ABT Team Manager

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💥 ABT Home Counties International Tournament 💥

Ireland – 2^nd-3^rd September

We’re delighted that two of Staffordshire’s top ABT (Automatic Ball Trap) shooters will be part of the England team taking part in the HCIT this weekend.

Our very own Chairman, Ian Hull and new cap Darren Wood will be journeying to Ireland for the competition.  This year’s HCIT is hosted by the ICTSA Irish Clay Target Shooting Association at the National Shooting Ground, Co. Galway, Ireland on the 2nd and 3rd September 2022.

  

Good luck to everyone in Team England, especially Ian and Darren – we’re incredibly proud of you.

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Registered ABT shoot at Garlands - 16th October 2022

A 100 target ABT registered shoot is being run by The Clay Shooting Company at Garlands on Sunday 16th October.

Steve Lovatt has given us a great facility in Staffordshire, so it’s important that all those who are interested in these shoots support it.

Please contact Steve Lovatt at the The Clay Shooting Company to book you peg.

See you all there - don't miss out.

Ian Hull - Chairman, Staffordshire CPSA

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💥 Automatic Ball Trap 💥

WM Area and Inter County Championship at Garlands SG

- 6&7 August 2022

Delighted to report on another GOLD medal-winning performance from Staffordshire's Senior team in the CPSA ABT WM Area and Inter County Championship.

The event was staged over two days at Garlands Shooting Ground, brilliantly hosted and organised by The Clay Shooting Company.

In the WM Area, a terrific 96/100 from Luke Hambleton saw him take the title of WM Area Champion and Gold medal. This was backed up by Silver for Staffordshire's Richard Lees-Styler with 95. Darren Wood with 93 narrowly missed out on the Bronze by one to Ben Stubbins of Derbyshire.

This put Team Staffordshire in a great position to retain their Inter Counties title. With a combined 459ex500 the Senior team of Adam Gutteridge, Ian Hull, Richard Lees-Styler, Andrew Statham, James Sutton and Darren Wood saw off a strong challenge from Warwickshire and Shropshire to take the Gold 🥇

L to R: Ian Hull, Adam Gutteridge, Darren Wood, Richard Lees-Styler, Andrew Statham

(not pictured: James Sutton)

In the Veterans, the team of Colin Heathcote, Martin Osborne and Ray Sutton had a great day, taking Gold with 179/200.

L to R: Rod Davies (WM Area Secretary), Colin Heathcote, Ray Sutton, Martin Osborne

To complete a SUPERB hat-trick of team medals, a Ladies team of Lucy Christie, Carole Wilson and Gill Grealey smashed it with 139/200 to take Silver. Brilliant shooting from all of you.

L to R: Carole Wilson, Lucy Christie, Gill Grealey

Well done to everyone who take part and who represented Staffordshire so superbly. Big THANK YOU to Ian Hull for doing a cracking job as Team Manager and bringing home another GOLD 🥳

Special mention also to Carole Wilson who did a great job in putting together a scratch MEDAL-WINNING Ladies team 👏👏

Last but by no means least, Steve Lovatt and his fab team at The Clay Shooting Company did a great job hosting the event (as well as an ESP shoot on the Sunday) - THANK YOU!

Steve Kilner, Vice-Chair and Secretary - CPSA Staffordshire

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ABT County Championship - 19 June 2022 

Another cracking County Championship with Adam Gutteridge defending his title once more as Staffordshire ABT County Champion for 2022 as well as taking overall High Gun for the day in a field of 42 shooters. Congratulations, Adam!

Ian Hull (Chairman) presenting Adam Gutteridge with the ABT Staffs County Champion Trophy

Adam's cracking score of 96ex100, kept him 5 ahead of our County runner-up, Ian Hull, with Darren Wood and C Heathcote sharing third, the latter taking the Veterans title.

Congratulations to Gill Grealey who was once more Staffordshire Ladies champion, with Lucy Christie runner-up and Carole Wilson third.

To add to this, Lucy Christie took the Staffordshire Junior title - well done Lucy!

Congratulations to all those who took part - hope you all enjoyed the day.

 

Senior County Champion and overall High Gun: Adam Gutteridge

Lady County Champion: Gill Grealey

Junior County Champion: Lucy Christie

Veteran County Champion: C Heathcote

 

Full results at https://www.cpsa.co.uk/scores/fixture/automatic-ball-trap-garlands-shooting-ground-20220619/109083

Many thanks to Steve Lovatt and The Clay Shooting Company for their hard work and putting on a cracking shoot 👏💥

Steve Kilner, Vice-Chair and Joint Secretary, Staffordshire CPSA

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ABT County Championship - 19 June 2022 

 Sunday 19th June
 Garlands Shooting Ground
 01827 383300
 info@theclayshootingcompany.com
 https://www.theclayshootingcompany.com/

Contact The Clay Shooting Company directly to book your place.

Good luck to everyone taking part and we look forward to seeing you there.

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💥 3rd ABT England Selection Shoot - 28-29 May 2022 💥

Great performance over the weekend from our very own Chairman, Ian Hull at the 3rd Automatic Ball Trap CPSA England Selection Shoot at East Yorkshire CSG.

Ian finished 8th out of a field of 78 and second in his class with a fine 189/200.

Finger's firmly crossed that Ian can once again qualify for the England squad.

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💥 ABT and OT Registered Comp at Fauxdegla - 28 May 2022 💥

Great shooting from Adam Gutteridge in the 50 target ABT and Olympic Trap registered shoot at Fauxdegla Premier Shooting Ground on Saturday.

Adam came second in the OT with 47/50 and then topped the ABT with 49/50 - a terrific combined score of 96/100.

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ABT & UTR - Staffordshire County Championship - 9 Oct 2021 

Congratulations to both Adam Gutteridge - our new Senior County Automatic Ball Trap and Universal Trench Champion and to Peter Read, our Veterans Champion

In the event, held at Fauxdegla Shooting Ground today, Adam hit an impressive 47ex50 in the UTR and backed it up with a fine 44ex50 in the ABT to take the wins in the Seniors.

In the Veterans, Peter scored 43 in UTR and 38 in the ABT - excellent shooting Peter

Well done Adam, Peter and everyone who took part.

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 46th ABT Home Internationals - 11 Sept 2021 

Brilliant performance from Leah Southall at the Automatic Ball Trap home internationals.

Staffordshire CPSA are massively proud of all of our England shooters, and especially our Staffordshire ones. So a hearty WELL DONE to Leah, Ian Hull and Adam Gutteridge - terrific shooting

Leah speaks about her experience here:

"Great past few days down at Nuthampstead shooting the 46th ABT Home Internationals.

Yesterday I shot an 86/100 (a poor last line destroyed my score), and today I shot an 89/100 giving me a combined two day total of 175/200. This placed me joint 3rd in ladies overall.

Myself, Kath Bright and Mary Rowley were the winning Ladies team as part of the England team, and we were part of the overall winning team too. Congratulations to the rest of the England team who achieved a clean sweep across all of the categories.

It has been a pleasure shooting alongside an amazing England team this year in my first ABT Home International and thank you to Andy Greenwood for being a great team captain and to Paul Chapman for being a great team manager.

Unfortunately the banquet could not go ahead as a shooter has tested positive for covid meaning that everyone had to have a test at the ground this morning, pushing the whole shoot back an hour.

Congratulations to all of the winners over the past two days and I hope to see most of you tomorrow for the British Open.

Thank you to Ed and everyone at the ground for a great run shoot.

Thank you to my sponsors for their continued support.

𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑚 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑑

The start of 2021 was the hardest time ever losing my mom.

I vowed to her at Christmas that I was going to make the:

Great Britain UT team

England ABT team

Which I successfully did, all for you mom xx"

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 England caps for Staffordshire Shots 

Huge congratulations to our county shooters, Adam Gutteridge (Seniors), Leah Southall (Ladies) and Ian Hull (Veterans) who have been selected for the 2021 England ABT (Automatic Ball Trap) team. They'll be taking part in the Home Internationals at Nuthampstead Shooting Ground in September.

Good luck and congratulations to all those who have been selected to shoot for Team England!

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 ABT England Selection Shoot - 27 June 2021 

Over the weekend, East Yorkshire Clay Shooting Ground was the venue for the second Automatic Ball Trap England Selection Shoot.

Delighted to report on some notable performances from our Staffordshire shooters, including Ian Hull who hit a superb PB of 190ex200, winning his class in the process. On the same mark was Adam Gutteridge.

And Leah Southall continued her outstanding form this summer, hitting an excellent 178 to claim top spot in the Ladies.

Congratulations to all who took part and thanks to East Yorkshire CSG for putting on a great competition.

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 Automatic Ball Trap 

 WM Area and Inter Counties Championship – 20 June 2021

Double Gold for Staffordshire

Adam Gutteridge put in another stellar performance at Rugby and District Gun Club with 96ex100 to take Gold in the West Midlands Area Championship Well shot, Adam!

Congratulations also to joint Silver winners, Clive Rowe, Stuart Palmer and Paul Lilly.

Not content with his individual success, Adam was then part of a strong team including Ian Hull, Darren Wood, Ray Sutton, James Sutton and Graham Wainwright that then helped Staffordshire take Gold in the Inter Counties.

ABT: ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT TEAM!

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ABT English Open – 30 May 2021

Held at Nuthampstead Shooting Ground, delighted to report on more success for Staffordshire with Adam Gutteridge being crowned the 2021 English Open Champion 

In a top class field, Adam's score of 195ex200 over the two days saw him tie with Kevin Borley, Theo Ling with Adam winning a shoot-off to take the trophy back to Staffordshire.

Next best placed Staffs shooter was Ian Hull with an excellent 184.

And more medal success for Leah Southall who hit a fine 174, placing her second in Ladies.

Congratulations Adam, Ian and Leah and of course, to everyone who took part in the competition. An incredibly high standard with top class shooting on display all weekend.

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Automatic Ball Trap (ABT) WM Region Championship 2017 

Adam Gutteridge took another great win at Rugby and District Trap Club, shooting an amazing score of 98/100 to take the "Regional ABT Championships", adding yet another title to his name.

 

Adam shot very consistantly all day shooting the following scores, 25/24/25/24 = 98.

After all the shooters had finished and the team scores were added up, we had a draw for 1st place: Staffordshire & Hereford & Worcester both with 468/500.

This meant one thing - A SHOOT OFF!

Staffordshire Team Captain Adam stepped up to the plate against Hereford & Worcester's Nick Dean.  Adam dropped the first target so the pressure was on. Nick continued to kill target after target but then...............he dropped a bird!

All Square Again!!!

Adam, after his initial miss, dug deep and continued to smash the next 24. Nick also was shooting very strongly but then missed his 25th target giving the win to Staffordshire: Adam 24/25 Nick 23/25

Final Team Scores:

Gold - Stafffordshire: 468+24=492

Silver - Hereford & W: 468+23=491

Bronze - Warwickshire: 458

Shropshire: 446

Derbyshire: 436

Cheshire: 430

L to R: Ray Sutton, Adam Gutteridge, James Sutton, Ian Hull, Darren Wood, Dave Winter

Team Manager: Darren Wood / Team Captain: Adam Gutteridge

Staffordshires MOST Decorated Lady Shooter, Gill Grealey took the Bronze Medal in the Ladies Championship, with a fine score of 79/100. Great shooting Gill!

The weather was kind to us all day, making for great targets.  Thanks to John and the team; they were there for all to shoot it's just some found more than others!!

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Automatic Ball Trap (ABT) County Championship 2017 

Held on 16th April at Rugby & District Trap Club, there was a great turnout for the day with 88 shooters in all.  The weather was good to us for most of the day but the odd shower did fall.

Thank you to John Nightingale and the team at Rugby for another faultless day of targets - great job.

Staffordshire County Champion with a great score of 96/100 is Adam Gutteridge.

Adams scores by round were: - 24-25-25-22=96

 

The other very worthy winners on the day who all shot very well were.

Staffordshire Senior County Champion is Dave Winter with 92/100 (24-24-23-21=92)

Staffordshire Veteran County Champion is Richard Wright with 95/100 (24-24-24-23=95)

Staffordshire Lady County Champion is Gill Grealey with 82/100 (17-22-19-24)

 

 Left to Right: Richard Wright - Gill Grealey - Adam Gutteridge - Dave Winter