CLA i The BUCS Clay Pigeon Shooting Championships shall be conducted in accordance with the following BUCS sport specific regulations, the BUCS general regulations, and the CPSA (Clay Pigeon Shooting Association) General and Technical Rules. Further event specific requirements, rules, and regulations will be contained within the entry and pre-event information for each Championship.
CLA ii In the event that these regulations contradict the BUCS general regulations, these BUCS sport specific regulations will supersede, unless specifically stated otherwise.
CLA iii In the event that these regulations contradict the CPSA (Clay Pigeon Shooting Association) General and Technical Rules, these BUCS sport specific regulations will supersede, unless specifically stated otherwise.
CLA 1 Championships BUCS will host annually a Clay Pigeon Shooting Championships. The programme shall include the events listed in Appendix 1 (‘BUCS Competition Offer and Associated BUCS Points’), subject to entry numbers. All competition specific event information will be available in the event entry information and pre-event information.
CLA 2 Disputes at events In line with REG 7.7, should a dispute occur at an event, the event appeal panel for Clay Pigeon Shooting shall comprise of a representative of the CPSA or Ground and a BUCS Staff Member.
General Rules
CLA 3 Referees A referee is authorised and competent to adjudicate at any competition in accordance with technical and general rules of that discipline. Whenever possible, CPSA qualified Referees should be used at registered events and must be used at CPSA Major and Minor Championship events.
CLA 3.1 Duties Referees shall ensure that the competitors comply with and compete according to all rules; and ensure that the equity of the competition is maintained at all times.
CLA 3.1.1 When the Referee is satisfied that a variation in target trajectory is such that the equity of the competition cannot be maintained, a request may be made to the Jury by the Referee for the targets to be re-set.
CLA 3.1.2 Referees shall “DULY NOTIFY” a competitor when it is their turn to shoot by calling out the name(s) on the scorecard/squad sheet for each stand/round.
CLA 3.1.3 If a Competitor is absent after being called, the Referee will call the name on the card loudly three times, equally spaced within one minute. If the competitor is still not present within that time, they will be “Declared Absent” by the Referee, after which they will not be allowed to join the squad.
CLA 3.1.4 This will be noted onto the score sheet and the Jury will then penalise the competitor according to the Technical Rules of the particular Discipline and the competitor shall be given the opportunity to shoot that round (if possible) at a time to be decided by the Jury.
CLA 3.1.5 The Referee will make a decision on whether a target is “HIT”, “LOST” or a “NO-TARGET” (on these matters the Referee’s decision is final) and shall mark the result on the squad card/score sheet.
CLA 3.1.6 In all cases where a target has not been hit, the Referee must give a verbal indication to the Competitor (after the second shot at doubles).
CLA 3.1.7 It is at the Referee’s discretion whether they call out the result of all shots, but it is mandatory to call out losses or in the case of Down The Line, losses and second barrel hits (two).
CLA 4 Target definition “hit” A regular target that in the opinion of the Referee only: Has had a visible piece broken from it, is completely destroyed or, in the case of targets that are presented whole and during flight holes are seen to appear which have been caused by the Competitor’s shot.
CLA 5 Target definition “lost” A target, which has some “dust” removed from it, by the shot, but remains otherwise “intact”, is not a hit target. A target shall be declared “LOST” when in the opinion of the Referee only:
CLA 5.1 A regular target remains unbroken after being fired at and is not a “Hit Target” in accordance with the above rules.
CLA 5.2 The competitor after an apparent malfunction or misfire opens the gun or moves the safety catch.
CLA 5.3 A competitor suffers a third or subsequent malfunction or misfire in the same stage.
CLA 5.4 The competitor fails to fire for any reason due to personal error, fault or negligence.
CLA 6 No target After a target has been declared a “No Target” it is no longer part of the competition. When a Referee has declared a target a “No Target”, on NO ACCOUNT must it be shot at. When a No-target is deliberately or intentionally shot at, the Referee will warn the Competitor and mark the scorecard accordingly. Should there be a subsequent occurrence within the same stage/stand the Referee will report the matter to the jury for a decision in relation to loss of target.
CLA 6.1 Please refer to Technical Rules for specific discipline clarification on “No Targets”.
CLA 7 Disqualification Disqualification entails the forfeiture by the individual of all entrance money and rights in the competition to which it relates.
CLA 8 Coaching Referees must ensure that no coaching or tuition is permitted from any quarter once an event has commenced and whilst the competitor is actually at the shooting mark or in the process of completing a round.
CLA 8.1 Penalties regarding coaching If a Referee is satisfied that the competitor is receiving coaching from someone outside the shooting stand they will, in the first instance, warn the person(s) involved not too continue. Failure to do so will result in one of the following:
CLA 8.1.1 A one-target penalty (from the score achieved on that stand) to be deducted from the score of the Competitor shooting.
CLA 8.1.2 If the competitor does not score on that stand, a zero is marked in the first free spot of any stand that has not been shot. The Referee will indicate this with the word “penalty” on the scorecard.
CLA 8.1.3 If all stands have been completed then the Referee will keep the scorecard and hand it to a Jury member so that a target may be removed from the overall score.
CLA 8.1.4 If those involved continue:
- The cards of those involved will be confiscated and a request by the Referee will be made to the Jury to disqualify the offending competitors;
- The Referee will make all deductions at the time of any incident and the decision will be confirmed or otherwise by the Jury at a later time;
CLA 9 Balk The Referee will make any judgment on a claim for a “Balk” from any competitor.
CLA 9.1 A “Balk” is any occurrence, which in the opinion of the Referee materially handicaps the competitor after the call of “Pull” or any other verbal remark, but then only if it deters the competitor from shooting or distracts at the moment of shooting.
CLA 9.2 Only the competitor directly concerned may claim a “Balk”.
CLA 9.3 Any claim must be made immediately after the incident in question. Later claims, however presented will not be permitted.
CLA 9.4 A claim for a “Balk” which is upheld constitutes a “No Target” and will entitle the competitor to a repeat target(s).
CLA 9.5 A claim for “Balk” which is not upheld will be scored accordingly.
CLA 10 Ammunition The length of the cartridge, before being fired, is not to exceed the maximum length specified for the discipline being shot. Cartridges must be of normal loading with no internal changes, and shall not exceed 28 grams of shot. (For ISSF and FITASC disciplines different rules apply, see current rulebooks.)
CLA 10.1 The shot shall be spherical shot of normal production and no larger than 2.6mm in diameter (English size 6): plated shot may be used.
CLA 10.2 Home load, black powder and tracer cartridges may not be used. The Referee may at any time take unfired cartridge(s) out of a shooter’s gun for examination and analysis. Any competitor found using prohibited cartridge(s) will be liable to disqualification.
CLA 11 Hearing/eye protection The wearing of a recognised and purpose made hearing protection product is compulsory and must be worn on or in both ears by all persons taking part in registered events while in the act of shooting, refereeing, scoring, trapping, officiating in any capacity, or spectating near the shooting stands.
CLA 11.1 The appropriate wearing of adequate and effective visible eye protection by competitors, scorers, trappers, officials and Spectators at, or around any shooting position at all registered events is mandatory. It is recommended that this protection be to a minimum standard of BS EN 166:2002.
CLA 11.2 In the event of a shooter not wearing protective glasses/ear defenders they will be given three minutes to obtain a pair. If they fail to obtain glasses/ear defenders within three minutes they will be stood down from the round, or stand, and allowed to shoot later, with glasses/ear defenders, but with a penalty of three targets deducted.
CLA 11.3 Referees and Jury members have the power and the responsibility to stop anyone stepping on to a shooting stand or standing by, or officiating in an event, unless they are seen to be appropriately wearing some standard form of proprietary hearing and eye protection.
CLA 11.4 Ground Owners/Managers/Organisers must comply with everything required by the Health & Safety at Work Act and must instruct those who refuse to comply to leave the ground.
CLA 12 Tie breakers In the event of any ties for medal or BUCS Points places, the Count-Back system of rule 1.10 of the CPSA General and Technical Rules shall be used to break these.
