You know how much I love catapults. I went all the way to Germany to see YouTube catapulting
sensation Joerg Sprave. So when another YouTube star, Gamekeeper John, says come to the UK
Catapult Championships, how can I say no?
[Music]
Held at the Yellow Lion pub outside Sheffield, this is the third year of the competition
in its current form.
2012 it started. There was a shoot in 2011 before it.
So what have we got here today?
10-metre UK title, a 20-metre UK title, 15-metre Welsh title, a pickle-fork event, which is
a catapult with a less than half-inch gap and a Polo shot, which is the first one to
hit it in the quickest time wins GBP300. So, there's loads of trophies up for grabs. it’s
going to be a good one.
In each competition you have to hit a 4.5cm bullseye, which scores 10 points and you have
seven shots. A total of 70 points to play for. Gamekeeper John is current reigning 10-metre
champion.
There are plenty of people who hit 70s so the pressure is on.
Before we get going, let’s have a little on technique from one of the greats. Keith
Dighton is among the top shooters in the country. He moves the frame away from his face. He
uses ear plugs in competition to help him zone out.
It’s just blocking everyone - simple as that.
Keith uses tubular elastic instead of flat elastic.
With tubes, they do last a bit longer.I use my set-up for hunting and targets - the same.
Also, with respect to the tubes, it's easier to change a band set, because all you do is
you go 'click' and it's done. Ready to shoot.
Keith is sponsored by a Chinese catapult company.
Dankung are the people that make the elastic that goes on the catapult. They solely make
tubes and frames. And, because I shoot their tubes, they sponsor and make me - well, basically
give me free tubes. All is good. I haven't got to pay for it, which is good.
You know things are about to get going when a tonne of 9.5mm steel ball arrives in the
back of a Transit van.
The person who ordered the 20,000 please.Can we have him? 20,000 please?.
The scoreboard arrives, another sign that the competition is about to start. That’s
Skipman, one of the people who founded the UK Catapult Association.
Well, what it was - I used to shoot air rifle and it comes to the point where people don't
like you shooting air rifles on the land, and things like that, so I took it upon myself
to start firing a catapult. I went on the internet and there was only me that was really
getting into it. I spoke to a gentleman called Marcus Senior from London. He said to me:
'How do you fancy getting something together?'
So we made an association called the UK Catapult Association. It is GBP10 a year. And out of
that you get three meetings, you can bring your children, because this is what it is
all about.
All the children that turned up today, they get an Easter Egg and they get a colouring
book and they get all different things like that.
If you are any good with a catapult, this is the place to come. We have got Gamekeeper
John - everybody knows Gamekeeper John - and there are several other good, very good shooters.
Running a show with this lot is not easy. Skipman manages to get a team photo. He even
manages to get everyone signed in to the competitions
If your name is not on the board, we cannot shout at you to tell you that you can have
a shoot.
Thank you very much for all listening - seeing as none of you have!
When the scoreboard moves down to the range, it’s a sign that it has started. This is
the 20 metres, won last year by Jumbo.
So what did it take to win that last year?
Some good shooting.
What was the score?
I cannot remember off the top of my head, but I have won that twice now.
Hitting a target that far away with a tiny steel ball launched by a piece of wood or
metal and elastic is not easy. For every winner, there are more than 100 second places – or
lower.
Busy competition behind me. I scored seven, not the 25 I need to go through, but there
is still the 10-metre.
I use a Gamekeeper John catapult. He put new elastic on my old Milbro but it felt, well,
a bit '1950s' compared to the techie marvels on show. There are lots of catapult makers
here today.
I think they are SLR rifle bullets and that is a 12-gauge shotgun cartridge.
Asa is the Lamborghini of them all.
This is a catapult that I have made myself. it is a Sam Stanley blank and the scales are
walrus ivory with mosaic pins, brass faces and there is roughly about 18 inches of 2mm
solid silver inlay. That particular one I would not sell but if I was going to sell
it I would want offers in excess of GBP300 for it - at least.
Can I just say that Asa is one of the best craftsmen at catapults I have ever know.
You don't even know who he is.
Shut up!
[Laughs]
Gamekeeper John makes his own range of catapults.
You start off in blank form. These are just GBP2 each, finished myself. Sanded myself.
These are just cheaper plastic ones. They are solid frames. You can hit it with a ball
as many times as you want, drop it, throw it - it is OK. And then the handmade wooden
ones - the laminates - all come signed by myself. These are the ones I mainly make,
plus I have just started doing the aluminium range. I get those brought in and cast from
my patterns. It is not something which I actually make.
I will show you my own personal one which I shoot but it has seen better days. It is
called TTF - 'The The Fork' shooting - and if you pull back you can see the little dimple
in the middle. That's what goes on my target - what you call an anchor point - which is
pretty much like archery.As long as you get those two points right - your anchor and reference
- you should be able to shoot the same - but it doesn't always happen with catapults.
Tim Oram is here from Suffolk Slingshots
I have been shooting catapults for four years and it has always been a thing that I go back
to. I basically got ill with my back when I worked as a postman and started watching
a lot of Gamekeeper John's videos and stuff, and decided I would have a go at it myself,
so it developed from there, really.
This is a little pickle fork. This one comes over the top,so the ball will go over the
top, whereas the Through The Fork, which comes around the side, will go through the fork.
If you are old enough to remember the 1950s, you may have seen the first Milbro catapults
for sale. They are still around today.
Some people like an old-school-style catapult. Some people want target catapults - ergonomic.
There are so many different styles of bands and things these days that, at the end of
the day, to get the perfect catapult - it is a dream.
This is a popular one that we make. It is a HTS, a Hathcock Target Sniper, so it will
do various types.it will shoot over the top, through the forks, it will take tubes. It
is a million miles different from the original Milbro.Things have moved on tremendously with
the help of the association and things like that - the internet these days has people
sharing ideas. The designs - people's designs - the world is their oyster, really.
Back at the competition and Skipman reckons he is out.
Unfortunately, I think I am through.
The 20-metre is reaching the final three.
There’s always the 10-metre.
Gamekeeper John is in the final
I think it is the first time I have hit 60 from 20 metres, so if I can keep that up in
the other rounds, I will be happy.
It’s a gripping finish but there can only be one winner
Come on then!
As Keith says, there is always the 10-metre, and Gamekeeper John is in the final of that
too.
It's a rough old game isn't it?
I am gutted. It is a rough game. Bring on the beer.What can I say?
It is another tense shoot-off.
Normally we have got a clear final by now.but because the standard is so high, everyone
is shooting 66 out of 70 and we have got to keep going until we get finalists.Unbelievable.
Two years ago, that would have won it.
[Music]
After examination of the targets it’s clear that he’s won it as well. Here’s Chip
who came second.
It doesn't matter how much practice you put in, it is all about what you do on the day.
Just do your best.
Gamekeeper John wins the Welsh 15-metre title. And even puts in a good score for shooting
the polo mint at 20 metres in the fastest time. Man’s on fire.
Yes that Polo mint challenge. Skipman explains how it all started.
In Andover, a few years ago, somebody came up to the table with his wallet and put the
wallet on the table and said, 'The first person who hits a Polo takes the wallet'.
So, as he walked away, I aimed a catapult and shot the Polo mint first shot, and I picked
the gentleman's wallet up. So we said what we would do is if we got sponsored - the Minotaur
Group - thank you very much to the Minotaur Group - Glyn Jones thank you for your donation
- and he donated a giant plaque and some prize money. It is GBP300 to the person today who
hits the Polo mint.
One of the bonuses of this championship is that it is as much a family day out as a national
competition. There are people of all ages here, including the man who used to run the
Chatsworth Game Fair catapult event 25 years ago.
There has always been enthusiasm but it has never been catered for. now that is getting
better. The people are putting themselves about and presenting shows like this.
Another old hand at promoting the sport is Barbara Moxon.
My son bought the business - Derbyshire Dales Catapult School - about three years ago, and
we go all over the country to major shows. We put on trophies and the UKCA visit all
these shows and win the trophies, hopefully.
If you would like a catapult lesson at the Moxon’s range at Wirksworth, email garymoxon@hotmail.co.uk
There is young talent coming through at the championships, too.
This lad here never knew how to shoot, started shooting, isn't it Ronnie?
It only remains to hand the bulk of the silverware to Gamekeeper John, and to make some emotional
presentations.
Silver is what you give to a baby, because you don't give them anything else. And the
stainless steel core is for the backbone of his mum and dad.
[Clapping]
For more about the UK Catapult Association, go to its Facebook page. It is GBP10 a year
to join, there are a range of events, including Chatsworth Fair, the Midland Game Fair and
the field meeting at Andover in Hampshire… if you think you are good enough.