Making Sense of Competition and Targets-Only Entries

If you’ve shot at a CPSA Registered event in the UK, you’ll know this already, but for those who haven’t taken the plunge yet, “Competition” and “Targets-Only” are the two types of entries offered when you book on to shoot.

Over my shooting career, I can probably count the number of times I’ve entered as Targets-Only from choice on one hand, and until very recently (just before this article was first published in fact), I had a somewhat negative view of Targets-Only entries being able to win trophies.

When this appeared in print during my write-up of the 2022 South West DTL Championship:

“It also saved us from the situation of someone entering Targets-only lifting a South West Championship Trophy.

This is NOT a dig at Richard, or anyone else who enters Targets-only. The option is there for them to use if they want to, and that’s perfectly fine.

But the CPSA are responsible for bringing in the completely ludicrous rule years ago that trophies at any level of Registered event can be won by shooters not shooting Competition, and creating this bizarre and very damaging situation.

Targets-only entrants do not contribute to the prize fund, and are not eligible to win any monetary class prizes. So how can they win silverware that they’re not competing for??

It really doesn’t make sense!!”

... I was rightly challenged on it. The comments forced me to think more deeply about why this bothered me, and I realised that I didn’t fully understand what a Targets-Only entry actually is.

Therefore, cue the counter-article where I put that right, and explain my views on the whole Competition vs Targets-Only question.

So what do the terms “Competition” and “Targets-Only” actually mean?

The CPSA Booklet 1 – General and Technical Rules (available here), Section 1, “Regulations for CPSA Registered Events,” says:

1.4 ENTRY FEES & PRIZES

In all CPSA registered shoots, be they normal shoots or any championship, all prize money funded from member’s entry fees will be paid partly to High Gun/Runner up/Third (if advertised) and the remainder distributed amongst the classes. When no High Gun is paid all monies will be paid only amongst the classes. In all cases the apportionment will be at the discretion of the shoot organisers.

Prize money from member entries will not be paid in the categories – Seniors, Ladies, Juniors, Colts, Veterans nor Super Veterans. If prize money is provided from any other source e.g. sponsorship, then this may be paid in the categories if so advertised.

a) The ‘Prize’ entry fee which must include the full amount to be paid back in prizes.

b) The ‘“Targets-Only”’ entry fee which must exclude the prize money stated above.

c) The amount to be returned to ‘Prize’ entrants only, which must be the exact difference between

a) and b) above and...

d) The amount of ‘Specified Sponsored Cash’, if any, to be paid to any winner.

Any levies applied by County or Regional Committees for their official championship shoots must be paid by all entrants irrespective of whether they reside within the County or Region.

Shooting Grounds/Clubs can continue to offer reduced (or free) entry costs to, for example, Junior and Colts but may not offer reduced rates at registered shoots to any of their club members.

Also to clarify, anyone entering as ‘Targets-Only’ must not contribute to the ‘Prize Fund’.

1.5 TARGET ONLY ENTRIES

“Targets-Only” entries will be permitted at all registered events, with the exception of certain events defined by the Directors of the CPSA. “Targets-Only” competitors at all registered events, will enjoy the same rights and privileges as ‘Prize’ shooters, except that they will not receive ‘Prize’ entry money, but are eligible to win any trophies, titles or donated prizes (including ‘specific sponsored cash’), either as overall winners or in their class or category.

So really, the only difference between a Competition entry and a Targets-Only entry is that Competition pays an amount into the class prize fund, and Targets-Only doesn’t. Other than that they are the same.

Targets-Only shooters still pay levies for County and Regional level events and Championships, and are therefore rightly competing for those trophies, titles and “donated prizes”.

What’s the problem then?

Well, when you turn up to a normal Registered shoot for the first time, where no trophies or special prizes are on offer, and you are asked “Competition or Targets-Only”, you could be forgiven for assuming that anyone who enters T/O are not competing.

Why wouldn’t you? If you haven’t bought a Competition entry you’re obviously not in the competition!

That’s what I thought, because of the words used and that T/O shooters just look like they are practicing by simply taking part. They can’t win anything, so why else would they be there?

I’d completely missed the fact that because a Registered shoot is a competition, all entries are competing regardless of whether they pay into the prize fund or not.

And reading that paragraph from the rule book doesn’t exactly explain things in black and white!

So with that realisation, I have to ask, why is it so unclear?

I can see what the intention is, to provide a simple way for shooters to choose if they compete against others in their class or not.

But by calling one type of entry “Competition”, it simply confuses people like me who tend to see things for what they are, and prefer things to be clear and easily understood.

Why not call it a “Class” entry? Or even just have an Entry, and then ask people if they want to buy into the class pot separately?

That would be so much better!

There are some shooters out there who are adamant that Targets-Only should be condemned to roast in the fires of hell for all eternity.

They maintain that a Registered shoot is a competition, so there should be one entry and everyone pay into the prize pot that everyone is eligible to win from. Practice is something completely separate, and is done at another time.

I agree with that view (although I’ll stop short of roasting anything in hell!) because that’s how I’ve seen it for my entire shooting career. It used to be that way and worked just fine. Nice and simple, completely clear, and there’s no argument because everyone is in the same boat.

But there’s one thing to consider before setting your fortress walls and deploring all other arguments.

Our sport is in a very worrying position. Participation in Registered shoots on the trap circuit is dwindling, slowly killing off the discipline, and the flow of new people is practically non-existent. Most concerning is the near complete lack of juniors.

Within the last 10 years, we’ve lost Southern Counties in Dorset and Mid Wales Shooting Centre to name two, and other trap grounds are under threat from noise complaints. And there’s nothing that I know of coming along to replace them.

I don’t know what the answer is, but anything that makes even a small contribution to keeping our sport alive should be welcomed.

If Targets-Only entries allow people to keep shooting and help keep the numbers up, we need them, because without shooters, we won’t have a sport.

Well then, if Competition and Targets-Only are the same thing, which should I choose?

I don’t believe that I’m the only one on the circuit who assumed that T/O entries were not competing. But they are, so it really makes no difference which one you choose, only in your own head.

I can certainly say that when I have entered as T/O, there’s something missing. That extra little bit of drive and focus that comes from knowing that you are shooting against others, and need to be on your A game to win.

The only reason to not enter as Competition is to save yourself some money. By not paying into the pot, you don’t risk losing that contribution if you happen to have a bad day.

But the flip side to that is, if you have an incredible day, you’ve denied yourself the winnings.

It all comes down to what your own personal shooting goals are, and what you are comfortable with.

If you shoot regularly, need Registered comps to do that, and are on a restricted shooting budget; are working on something very specific with your shooting technique and want to remove that extra element; or have your own personal reasons for not buying in, then go Targets-Only.

But if you want to really get better; enjoy competing and want to mix it with the best; have aspirations to go further and do the national circuit, or shoot for England or Team GB one day; or are like me and need that extra little something to get the best out of you, then you need to enter as Competition.

All the time.

Because you have to be used to the extra pressure and learn how to win before you can win more.

Has your view changed then?

Yes, a little.

Now that I properly understand how the entries work, and that everyone is competing even though it doesn’t look like it, my annoyance has shifted from T/O shooters winning trophies.

If they shoot well enough to beat all challengers and win them, they thoroughly deserve it.

Instead, I now ask, “Who on earth decided to call it a Competition entry??”, and "Why do you need 2 options in the first place?" The phrase “clear as mud” comes to mind!