PAUL JAMES
BRITISH RECOILING
CHAMPIONSHIP 2016
When these two aren’t knocking down targets they are scaring
kids and old ladies, both are taking private bookings.
It seems strange that it’s
now all over now but work
started on PJBRC months
before the event goes live
on the web, usually with
Coop and Andy down the
woods hammering in a
few pegs to plan the route
we are going to take, then
the course is built and
changed as we get closer
to the date.
I got to help on a few pegs
this year, I’m not much
of a course setter, I’m
allergic to manual tools,
but understanding what
goes into a good course
has always interested me.
It’s not just the framing
of a great shot when you
sit down but also how it
fits into the course as a
whole. I thought I’d found
a couple of good places
but two days later our
Andy had moved one of
them because the distance
was too close to another
targets on the course,
it’s all in the detail. That’s
what I love about Anston
courses, everything is
considered.
What also starts months
before is the endless
banter battle between
Coop Dawg and Andy
about who’s going to win
between themselves, the
loser ends up putting the
extra £20 into the charity
pot, last year that was
Coop, Andy had a full
years worth of reminding
him about it. “Aye but I
beat you with your own
gun” was used like a full
stop.
Full shed of shooters getting that early morning practice in, I just
have a brew and a bacon butty.
This year though Coop
was pretty sure that wasn’t
going to happen again and
took the opportunity to
remind us all in the shed at
least every 15 minutes, it
never got old though and
its great fun.
I placed my bet on Si
Higgins to win, John Amos
as my outsider and our
Andy to beat Coop by 7.
Coop wasn’t that confident
on Saturday when Andy
finally had a quick go with
the gun and manages to hit
everything! My bets looked
I thought Coop was setting very safe indeed, just the
himself up for a fall though, winning raffle tickets to
sort then.
Booking in opens in
February and quickly
starts to fill up, it’s always
amazing to see the support
coming in, I reckon Paul
would be well chuffed that
132 people are gathered
in a woods to shoot
springer’s, its pretty crazy
when you think about it.
Everyone who knew Paul
always speaks about how
much he loved the sport
and his love for springer’s
plus what a top lad he was.
Always up for a laugh but
willing to help anyone as
well as pushing the sport
forward, never a bad word
for anyone. Something for
us all to aspire to when
someone is moaning or
banging on about nothing.