David Turner catches up with championship-winning Matt Hance
David Turner catches up with championship-winning Shot Matt Hance
Matt Hance, 52, has been involved in shooting sports for more than 40 years. He competes on the national and international circuit and has been a member of Team GB for the past three decades. His main shooting discipline is FITASC Sporting and he has won the British Grand Prix, English Open and UK FITASC Championship during his career. He spends a lot of his time coaching and working on the mental side of the game – building style, techniques and confidence with those he works with, which he says is ‘almost’ as rewarding as his own successes. I spoke to him recently to get an insight into his career and his approach to shooting.
How long have you been shooting?
From when I could first carry a gun. I come from a farming background and part of the farm’s income came from a large commercial cherry orchard, so pest control was essential, especially between May and September. I started with the usual airgun, then a 9mm garden gun, and by the time I was seven, I was shooting a single-barrel 12-bore Baikal, which kicked like a mule. The first time I did clay shooting was in 1982 at a local club, and though I enjoyed the day, for me it was a waste of cartridges as you had nothing to show for it at the end. It wasn’t until the early 1990s that I started to go again and gradually started doing more and more.
What brand of gun do you shoot and why?
I shoot a Krieghoff Super Sporter. It is a ‘Marmite’ gun, but I love mine. For people starting out, I would recommend trying a few different ones to get a gun that suits your build, strength and, of course, budget. I would strongly advise having a lesson and gunfitting combined as what may feel right in a shop isn’t always the same on the range.
What cartridges do you shoot with in relation to different disciplines?
I have been shooting Hull cartridges for 18 years. For clays, I try to keep things as simple as possible and use Pro Ones in shot size 8 for 90% of all targets. I do, however, always have a few Hull Sovereign Parcours 6.5s in my pocket for the odd occasion when you get a crazy target. I don’t think there is a bad cartridge on the market today, so it’s just a question of finding what’s right for you and knowing how the different shells and shot sizes behave through your gun. Experiment until you have 100% confidence that your ammo works, and then if you miss a clay, at least you will know it was you and not your cartridge. On a peg or pigeon shooting is a different scenario and you need to ensure that you are equipped for the quarry you are after. In a pigeon hide shooting over decoys, I would usually go for a 30g 6; on a peg under some big birds I’ve been known to go as big as 36g 5s; if wildfowling, location dependent, I have shot up to 42g 3s. Do your research and ask the gamekeeper, guide or host any relevant questions.
What chokes and barrel length do you use?
I have been shooting a 32in gun for more than 30 years. I like the weight and balance it gives me, but everyone is different and it is dependent on what discipline you shoot. Find what works for you and what you’re comfortable with. Regarding chokes, I shoot half/half. I always carry others in my bag but never change. The combination of gun, choke and cartridge I have can’t be beaten, so why change?
Where do you mostly shoot and do you have a preferred ground?
I am fortunate to be located in the South East and have some amazing grounds near me – Barbury, Royal Berkshire, Westfield and E J Churchill are all within an hour’s drive. However, to shoot the championships and selection shoots I go wherever necessary.
Which disciplines do you prefer and why?
When I started out clay shooting, my chosen discipline was English Sporting, but by the mid-1990s I had caught the FITASC bug and that has been my passion ever since. I first qualified for the England team in 1998. That was the first year for the event and being captain and winning Overall High Gun at the Home International was just amazing. I followed that up by shooting for Great Britain and have been fortunate to be able to continue that to this day. I have shot most other disciplines but usually only at county events. I did shoot a lot of English Skeet in the early to mid-1990s as I found it to be the perfect training practice for Sporting.
What bogey targets do you have?
For me there’s no such thing as a bogey target. Naturally there are targets you like and therefore feel confident about and then there are the others. However, shooting is really all about mindset; get that right and nothing should stop you. I see on so many occasions the fear of missing a target or
sometimes people just talk themselves out of it before they have even shot. Negativity leads to failure.
What techniques do you use and do you use different techniques for different targets?
Style and technique has to change depending on the type of target presented. One technique will never enable you to navigate your way around a championship course unscathed, so you really do need to learn to master several. I use the pull-away method as my go-to option, but swingthrough, maintained lead and even spot shooting are sometimes required. Everyone will develop their own technique, but it is important for anyone wishing to take the sport seriously to endeavour not only to understand the different techniques but have the confidence to give them a go.
Do you change your technique when shooting game?
I would never change regardless of quarry, be it fur, feather or clay. Every shot I take has to be the right one – controlled, disciplined and methodical; using the correct method, footwork, connection to target and execution regardless.
How do you practice and how much do you do?
The past year has obviously been very different and I, like everyone, have found the lockdowns challenging. I don’t normally get to shoot much practice during the season as with work, coaching and competitions there is little time for anything else. That is me and everyone is different. Some people I know need to shoot several thousand rounds just to get back into the swing of things. If I do feel I’m struggling a little with seeing sight pictures and such, then usually a quick round of Skeet and 25 balls of dust usually fixes it.
Who and what has helped you regarding coaching and tuition?
It’s really important when starting out to try to find a like-minded shooting buddy, and to travel to as many different venues as possible, not only to appreciate the number of fantastic grounds the UK offers but also to meet some amazing people. We are very fortunate in our sport that we can mix with first-timers and multiple champions. Regarding advice to others, as I said earlier, we are all different; we shoot differently and we see things differently. So I would say rather than just struggling on week after week hoping to get better, spend a bit of time researching a coach and perhaps try a few lessons with someone who not only knows what they are talking about but understands you and what you are aiming to achieve. Finding a good coach is not easy but there are plenty out there to choose from. Remember that learning is a two-way street – you need to be able to ask as well as listen.
Anything you avoid?
It’s very hard to avoid things nowadays, what with social media and the way things are covered so quickly, be it results or performances. My thought process on this is if you are consciously trying to avoid something then you cannot focus on the things you should be doing. What will be will be – stay strong, stay positive and believe in yourself. After all, that is the only thing we are ever in total control of.
What have you seen change over the years and what would you change?
The sport has changed a lot since I started out – the venues, the quality and the frequency of shoots is so different and has definitely become a large commercial entity. Today you can shoot every day of the week somewhere. I’d like to see the grounds, clubs and organisations doing more to encourage newcomers’ progress from the initial ‘have a go’ or practice rounds they shoot to trying out more on the competition scene by running more intermediate events to give them a taste of what a true competition is all about. Years back, we literally had dozens of small straw bale-type shoots on each week with both open and novice classes, but today
I feel there is very little support out there that bridges the gap between someone who is just starting out versus a seasoned pro. It seems to be an all-or-nothing scenario, unlike back in the day with events such as the clubman. One comment I hear a lot nowadays is that some registered shoots are too daunting a prospect for a beginner to have a go, so naturally they don’t. This is such a shame and actually quite an easy fix.
“Shooting is all about mindset; get that right and nothing should stop you”