Two clay shooters who train at Cropwell Farm in Southwell have had a strong year of success as Edward Armett and Catherine Smalley both have been nominated for awards

Two clay target shooters from the area have been nominated for national awards after an outstanding year in both domestic and international competition.

Both shooters train at Cockett Farm Clay Shooting Ground in Farnsfield.

The venue is open to all and is used as a training venue for several international shooters and some of the country’s most renowned coaches. Visit www.cockettfarm.com for more information.

Edward Armett from Farnsfield has been nominated for the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (CPSA) Young Shooter of the Year

Armett started shooting at 14 and has been competing for three years. He has had a remarkable year, beating several personal bests.

Armett's chosen shooting discipline is down the line.

His first success this year was in February when he shot his first 100 x 100, finishing with 298 points (maximum is 300).

Armett was invited to attend the selection events for the England team and at the first selection in March at the North of England Clay Target Centre, he shot a perfect 100/300.

He was the only competitor on the day who managed the feat and his efforts won him the shoot.

Throughout the remaining selection events, he continued to perform and qualified for the England team at his first attempt, finishing as the top junior.

Representing England at the Home International, British Open, and European Championships in Ireland, Armett was the highest-scoring England team junior, adding more silverware to his growing collection.

Armett continued his success at both county and national levels, winning the English and British Single Barrel Junior championships and Nottinghamshire County junior titles in both the down-the-line and Single Barrel events.

The last weekend of August saw him travel to Bywell in Northumberland for the biggest prize event in domestic trap shooting, the Krieghoff 500. This is a unique format event in the UK where the day one winner shoots off against the day two winner to determine the champion.

Up against some of the best down-the-line shooters from both the UK and Internationally, Armett shot 99 x 100 to win day two.

In the championship shoot-off, both were tied after 25 targets, but Armett showed nerves of steel to win following another 25.

Armett is the only junior to ever win at the championship proving that he is one to watch in the future.

Catherine Smalley from Bingham has been nominated for the CPSA Lady Shooter of the Year.

Smalley is a former NHS ward sister, now working in the private sector. She is a farmer’s daughter who was naturally brought up with shooting.

Smalley decided to try her hand at clay target shooting and quickly found she enjoyed it.

Smalley shot her first registered competition in 2019.

She is now juggling her shooting commitments with family life, including two young children.

Smalley shoots mainly in sporting disciplines where targets can be thrown at any height, angle, speed, and distance making it a real test of a shooter's ability to read a target.

In April she was selected to represent Team GB at the European FITASC Championships in Cyprus, winning a team bronze.

Back in the UK at Barbury in Wiltshire, she won the ladies’ category at the English Open Sportrap.

Another Team GB cap for the World FITASC Championships in Hungary followed before a short break on her return.

Smalley was back at it in August with her first England cap, this time off to Ireland for the Home International tournament, winning a team gold and individual silver.

Still in Ireland Catherine won the ladies’ category at both the Irish COMPAK Open and Irish Open FITASC Championships.

Not content with that, Catherine also achieved a bronze at the British Grand Prix.

The success of the pair highlights the level of talent that exists in the area in clay shooting disciplines.

They are both hoping for another successful year in 2024.