SPECIAL CHRISTMAS PRICE OFFERS

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1 CALL US FOR OUR SPECIAL CHRISTMAS PRICE OFFERS ENJOY YOUR SHOOTING ALL YEAR ROUND WITH THE SUPER HAWK WITH FOOT SWITCH PACKAGE OR THE RADIO CONTROLLED SUPER HAWK ABT Promatic International Ltd Call Janet on or Morag on

2 THE WORLD OF PROMATIC NEWSLETTER ISSUE 9 NOVEMBER 2011 IN THIS ISSUE CHRISTMAS OFFERS NEW SPORTING DOUBLE TRAP THEFT

3 FOREWORD... FOREWORD... FOREWORD... FOREWORD BY BRIAN JARDINE Thank you for taking the time to read the November 2011 issue of the Promatic Newsletter. Since August we have jumped straight into one of our favourite times of year as the game season gets under way. Many of our customers have recently purchased the Huntsman trailer and will, I m sure, reap the benefits. Please let us know how your season goes whether you shoot grouse, pheasant, partridge or go wildfowling. We have had a truly successful year sponsoring major competitions worldwide and increasing our domestic and international market. Although the major clay competition season has come to a close, Promatic will be putting its efforts into new projects and trap developments for 2012, such as our latest offering the Sporting Double, which has certainly caught the interest of grounds and clubs around the country. It offers single or double targets, a 600-clay capacity and a throwing distance of 73m that s over 80 yards in old money. And from the new to the old we are reminiscing about Promatic s past successful trap innovations, taking a closer look at the Ranger Chondel and reminding everyone of the procedure in case you are a victim of trap theft. This year has seen more cases of clubs and grounds falling victim to low-life criminals, so if you do buy a trap privately, we urge you to make sure you know it s a legitimate sale. If in doubt please call us we re always here to help. We re continuing our Master Class events, which are free of charge and allow you to get a better understanding of our traps and how to maintain them and use them to create world-class targets. Our engineers that run the classes are the very same that were on hand at the British Open at the West Midlands SG Hodnet, the Classic at E.J. Churchill s and the World FITASC at Orville, France. So they have a wealth of experience and are happy to answer any questions you may have. As Christmas approaches we have some excellent seasonal offers on the Elite and Super Hawk traps that would make an excellent gift so don t miss out. And on that note, let me wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Promatic team and we will look forward to seeing you in NEW MASTER CLASSES Venues and dates for the new Master Classes are as follows: E J Churchill (postcode HP14 3NS), Tuesday 8 November. 9.30am meet for a 10am start. Northall Shooting Club (postcode TN22 3SA), Tuesday 10 January am for a 10.00am start. Don t miss out on this great opportunity to get free advice and tips from the guys who build and set the traps. Places are on a first come first served basis, please call Clare on to reserve your place. IMITATION IS THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY As you know, we strive to develop and improve our machines in order to bring you the very best targets possible. Over the years we have invented and pioneered cutting edge technology to ensure we produce quality machines. So popular are our developments that many other manufacturers have incorporated them into their equipment. Below are just a handful

4 PROMATIC NEWS... of innovative design improvements attributed to Promatic. Knife Edge System: One of Promatic s finest moments was the introduction of knife edges to our machines. As with most ingenious ideas, it is simple in concept yet it transformed the automatic trap and made it efficient in target release irrespective of whether the clays are wet, frozen or hot. At a stroke, this simple device minimised nobirds and made the automatic trap reliable. The knife-edge is now an industry standard. Quality British Components: To manufacture strong, reliable clay traps you need to source strong, reliable components. That done, Promatic went a stage further and decided to fabricate the main shaft from one piece of metal rather than three to reduce weaknesses in the bar and to make the chassis from cast aluminium. We also use materials that have been produced in the UK to support British Industry. Plating with conscientious materials: When the EU banned gold coloured chrome plating for its harmful effect to the environment last year, we were the first to gain the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) approval. This meant using a stronger chrome mix rather than Chrome VI+ or Chrome III, which are cheaper substitutes and often used by other manufacturers. Being in an industry that integrates with the countryside, we endeavour to do as little harm possible to the environment. Simulated Game: Sharing a passion for game shooting, the staff at Promatic saw an opportunity to produce targets that replicate game birds such as pheasant, grouse, partridge and duck. This gave birth to the Huntsman Trailer and Flurry Radio allowing realistic presentation of coveys and flushes. The Huntsman trailer has undoubtedly become the shooters favourite machine for simulated game and invaluable when preparing for the season especially grouse and partridge. Currently we are developing some exciting new offerings for 2012 that will certainly get the industry, as well as the shooting fraternity, talking. However, we do emphasise that without your support and your valuable feedback this development work would not take place. So please, do keep your comments coming. RANGER CHONDEL As a member of the Ranger family, the Chondel incorporates the reliability of Promatic traps with the diversity of three different clay presentations horizontal rabbit, near vertical teal or a challenging looper. It can hold between clays, comes on a tilt turn base for easy angle change and can throw a standard target an impressive 80 metres. A favourite at National and International competitions, the Ranger Chondel was used this year at the Triple Classic, the World FITASC in France and the British Open. Jamie Peckham, Promatic s course setter, is mightily impressed and cannot recommend this trap highly enough. The Chondel has been used in all the major competitions to produce a variety of targets. At the 2010 World FITASC in Italy they were on high towers to give high crossing loopers. At this years Classic they were used with white targets against a dark corn field as an uphill incomer and at the British Open

5 PROMATIC NEWS... they were put on a cliff edge for a fast dropping target. Jamie adds, Another good trick with the Chondel is to swap the trap spring for a skeet spring to give a slow rabbit. That definitely tests a shooters ability to slow down their swing. Combined with a fast target, this always gives a good challenging stand that will get competitors thinking and talking. For more information about the Ranger Chondel, go to or call MAGICAL CHRISTMAS OFFERS! Being the season of good will, Promatic are offering you the chance to buy an Elite, Super Hawk or Harrier at rock bottom prices. Elite Super Hawk Harrier And that s not all. We are also offering huge discounts on all our range of traps (excluding Huntsman trailers). Don t miss the chance to get your loved one or yourself a bargain this yuletide. Call us on or to find out more. ORDER YOUR SPARES ONLINE! Don t forget you can buy spares, trap accessories and shooting accessories from our shop online. Rather than calling to order parts, the online shop gives you the option to see photos of the parts before you purchase so you know you are getting the correct items. It s all there, the item name, the photo that can help you identify it and the product code. The shop is easy to navigate, listing both electrical parts and main trap parts and the payment system is completely secure through PayPal. Simply go to Happy shopping. WHERE ARE YOUR TRAPS FROM? It s a sad fact of life, but this year has seen more incidents of trap theft from clubs and grounds up and down the country. Just type stolen clay pigeon traps into Google to see the countless tales of machines being pinched. Unfortunately it s easy to see why traps are targeted as they are often left exposed in fields and woodland where there is no security or deterrent. Rob Fenwick, of E.J. Churchill tells us about their recent experience, The traps were taken on the very first night we put a few out to test them for the Classic. They took a Chondel and a Sporter neither of which are exactly light. The traps were well over 500m from the nearest road and out of sight. We guess we were being watched while working on the course and then at the first

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7 PROMATIC NEWS... opportunity the low-life pounced. With a feeling of closing the stable door, we put on a 24/7-security patrol throughout the whole area during set-up, the week s competition and then the breakdown of the two courses. This was a big undertaking in its own right as the courses were spread over some 500 acres. The cost of putting on security on this scale was considerable as it included not only staff but also vehicles to get around in. Barbury Shooting School had a similar experience in August. Thieves gained access to a small area of the ground and took a standard Ranger 8 (serial No 20233), a midi Ranger 8 (serial No 20227), a standard Osprey (serial No 56070) and an 8-stack standard Super Sporter. If you are the victim of such crime, then you must inform the police and give them the serial numbers of all the traps that have been taken. Contact us with those details too. We will then flag the theft in the Owners Register and if ever the serial numbers resurface we will confirm the traps are still missing and pass on the relevant details to the Police. You can publish the trap serial numbers on social websites, such as facebook and twitter, and specialist websites like: itsbeennicked.co.uk The more publicity the better. If you ever buy a Promatic trap through a private seller we urge you to find out exactly where the trap has come from and if in any doubt, ask us about its history. Make sure that the trap s serial number is clearly stated normally a five figure number stamped on the base. If you are in any doubt or have any suspicions then please contact us on TAKE A LOOK AT THE FUTURE If shotgun shooting is to survive in whatever format, be it clay pigeon, game, rough or wildfowling, it is vital that we promote our sport and encourage others to become part of the shooting fraternity particularly the younger generation in whom the future success rests. Caithness Clay Shooting in Scotland put on a day to do just that. Ten young members of the club, aged around 12, took part in a DTL style day using a Promatic Super Hawk with a training spring. They started off with a.410 and then moved on to a 20 bore. Owner and Chief Instructor Gordy Levack commented, They all thoroughly enjoyed the day and some of the youngsters showed great potential, so we had better watch this space for the 2020 Olympics. Caithness also holds simulated game days using the Huntsman XP, which is great practice between game days, and offers some challenging birds that will help keep your eye in. For more information about Caithness Clay Shooting, go to or call Gordy Levack on ( csgs.gordy@btopenworld.com). TRAPPED AT KEGWORTH This year s two day Promatic Challenge at Kegworth SG was, as expected, a big hit with over 300 competitors braving the weather, which on the second day was a lot more than quite wet. Arnie Palmer

8 SHOOT REPORT... HG s Nick Hendrick (Lt) & Ed Solomon. designed an imaginative 100-bird course that was considered by many top shots as amongst the best seen this year. It certainly had more than a few of the competitors scratching their heads as they were beaten by speed, angle and deception. Arnie has an uncanny ability to set birds that look far easier to hit than they actually are. That said, the lower classes still had enough to keep them happy and allow them to enjoy their round to produce a score within their class average. But you don t get something for nothing and those that worked hardest got a share of the 2,000 prize purse. S Rayns and P Smith proved to be the best of the bunch on day one, their scores of 88 certainly looking respectable but most felt there would be more to come on the final day. Ben Husthwaite had an uncharacteristic shaky start but eventually got into the groove. However, by then, Ed Solomons and two times winner of the event, Nick Hendrick, had built a What a team! John Wroughton (Lt) and Arnie Palmer. substantial lead matching each other almost shot for shot as they followed each other round the course up to the last stand. They tied on a very impressive score of 96, splitting the High Gun prize between them. Promatic s Becky Bream took the Ladies title with 81 the same score as Tim Webster who won Juniors. Colin Saich secured the Veterans honours with a mature 90. For more information visit 4 DIV CHAMPIONSHIPS The 1,000 acre disused Army ammunition depot at Bramley in Hampshire is primarily a military training area. Recently however, part of it has been put aside to accommodate a clay shooting ground with DTL and Sporting layouts under the capable management of Capt Vince Valance REME. Promatic have a long association with the Armed Forces and has helped in setting up many military clay ranges this is just the latest. As part of the official opening ceremony in September it hosted the 4 Division Sporting Championships with a 100-bird course set over 14 stands. The degree of difficulty of the targets had to cater for the 103 entries ranging in ability from beginners to the Army team and this was accomplished using a variety of Promatic traps, including a Huntsman. Top Shot Andy Robbins. Andy Robbins from the Army Training Centre, Pirbright, took top honours with a well shot 86 using a Beretta 682 and Hull Sovereign cartridges. His team also won the Major Unit trophy. Andy said, It was a great competition with good targets and I didn t get a single nobird to spoil my concentration. That s a shield worth winning.

9 PROMATIC NEWS... ARMY CHAMPIONSHIPS Following the Olympic and domestic trap competitions at the NCSC Bisley, the Army Championships returned to the Mainstone Hill shooting ground, Pirbright, in mid October. This was the first ground that Promatic helped set up which started a close association with the Army that has continued and developed over a decade and now includes support to the Armed Forces and Emergency Services, both serving and the service charities. Steve Maude and his team set a 100-bird course over 14 stands that tested all of the 127 entries. Army clay target shooting has had a new lease of life and it is great to see so many young soldiers taking part, said Maj Tony Higham, secretary of the Army Rifle Association. The individual winner, after a shoot-off with Capt Stuart Ferguson, RE, was Pte Simon Craggs, (late RA) and now of the Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS) with a score of 89. High Gun Simon Craggs (Lt) and Stuart Ferguson. Caps on for the flush winners A scratch team, who each collected a much sort after Promatic cap, won the Promatic Flush. CARL BLOXHAM SHOOTING SCHOOL For around ten years Carl Bloxham s little corner of the Long Marston airfield in South Warwickshire has effectively been one of the best-kept secrets in clay shooting circles and is possibly better known by overseas clients. Carl s performance at International events overseas has resulted in him attracting a huge client base of foreign customers, particularly Austrian and German shooters who admire both his shooting and coaching style. An epitome of function over form, Long Marston is far from being the prettiest of grounds with a scrap yard to one side, earthmovers and stone crushers to another and a runway/drag strip to the rear. As a venue for regular Sunday Markets and Drag Racing, along with the Gods Kitchen Music Festival and the annual Hells Angels Bulldog Bash, the airfield also suffers from an unsightly litter problem. However, the quality and combinations of targets thrown from Carl s 18 Promatic traps truly whet the appetite of every sporting shooter regardless of their experience level or ability leaving them hungry for more. Moreover, Carl s attitude to pricing further ensures he is always fully booked with repeat customers. Charging just 30 an hour for instruction and only 10 for 100 clays, a valuable developmental lesson with this former World Champion effectively costs about the same as a morning of practice anywhere else. My father always taught me to be happy with what you get, and while some instructors suggest I should charge more, I find this price keeps me busy all through the year. Carl will not use anything but Promatic traps. Without doubt they are the best and the backup I have had has always been exceptional. Carl also uses Promatic clays, acquired through his long term shooting friend Phil Smith down the road at Evesham. It s ideal for me as I haven t got room to store too many and Phil will let me have them in the quantities I need without the pressure to buy more than necessary. Both trap and clays are Promatic.

10 SHOOTING GROUNDS... Chris Durrant at Hill Farm Watergall. Surveying the future. Carl and the owners of Long Marston airfield jointly want to make more use of the ground and the earth movers are already building a series of banks similar to those at Kibworth around and between which over a dozen sporting stands will be created. Two skeet layouts and a small clubhouse are also planned and once completed will greatly improve both the facilities and aesthetics of the ground which on a clear day is overlooked by the picturesque Malvern Hills. It is hoped that this facility at Long Marston will be opening some time next year, probably rebranded as The Carl Bloxham Shooting School. HONESBERIE SHOOTING SCHOOL Ask Nick Hollick of Honesberie Shooting Ground why he has no fewer than 48 Promatic traps and his reply contains so many genuine and heartfelt tributes to the Promatic staff that it resembles an Oscar acceptance speech. Without doubt I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Iain Petrie who from the very beginning supported me with a personalised and affordable finance package to help get my fledgling business off the ground. As a consequence I have been only too willing to repay that generosity with repeat purchases. Over the eight years he has been running his shooting school, Nick has acquired traps from the whole of the Promatic range from the smallest Harriers, through the usual range of Standard, Midi, Chondel, Rabbit and Battue traps to a couple of left handers as well as the flagship Huntsman and Supersporter ABT traps. I find all the Promatic traps are robust and durable as evidenced by the fact that some of the traps I first bought eight years ago are still in daily use. The term daily use for Honesberie means anything from coaching a handful of novice and corporate clients on gentle, confidence building targets, to extreme high tower or grouse butt action for the serious game shooting clients as well as running regular 100 bird registered events for ever demanding competitors. The traps move between both of Honesberie s two South Warwickshire venues, (an unfortunate necessity due to planning permission issues) as well as going off site to a range of stately homes where Nick and his staff are increasingly called upon to stage simulated game days or charity clay shoots. Dependability is essential and for simple reasons of continuity of parts, servicing and maintenance it made sense for me to stick with one manufacturer. The service I have received from Promatic has been second to none, with Monty (Barratt) and Jamie (Peckham) always at the end of a phone and ready to give prompt, helpful and professional advice. The relationship with Promatic doesn t end with traps. Two years ago Nick also added a Promatic airgun Sharpshooter target system.

11 SHOOTING GROUNDS... This has proved a very popular attraction for all ages and sexes at country fairs and charity fundraising events, as well as adding another useful dimension to Honesberie s varied Corporate, Young Shots and Country Sports events. The sharpshooter system is quick to assemble, easy to transport and cheap to run. Have a break. Testing tower targets. While Nick is constantly seeking further ways to develop his business, clay shooting will remain at the core and against that background the relationship with Promatic looks set to continue. MANCHESTER CLAY SHOOTING CLUB (WORSLEY) Set in over 400 acres of beautiful woodland just a stones throw from the M62 is the Manchester Clay Shooting Club (formally known as Worsley). The club offers a great variety of targets including a new skeet and ABT range, driven high tower targets and a sporting layout. You can rest and have a bite to eat between disciplines in the recently refurbished clubhouse. Whether you go by yourself, with a group of friends or even on a corporate event, there are bespoke packages available to suit your needs. David Lloyd (Club Director) and his staff offer a warm welcome as well as coaching for beginners and advanced training for the wellseasoned shooter. David has also introduced simulated game days, which are ideal practice before and during the game season. He uses the high towers to replicate pheasant, duck and grouse and comments, I have around 100 Promatic traps now and would certainly recommend them to anyone particularly the Super Sporter, Chondel and Ranger series. In the next development phase, which is well advanced, David plans to build a Universal Trench layout and a further DTL range. For more information and for the full list of facilities available, visit call or info@manchesterclayshooting.com Editor & Advertising Keith Fisher Kingfisher Sporting Services keith_fisher2@sky.com Contributions from Clare Smith. If you have a comment or question or would like to contribute or advertise please contact the Editor.

12 QUESTIONNAIRE TELL US WHAT YOU THINK? At Promatic, we value your expert opinion and knowledge of our sport. Help us to improve our service by answering and returning a few questions, and we will reward the first 30 customers with a FREE PROMATIC cap and key ring! YOUR FULL NAME... ADDRESS... YOUR ADDRESS... Are you a single trap owner or a Shooting Ground/Club A. Single trap owner B. Shooting Ground/Club? (If B, please state ground/club name)... In order of preference (1 being your preferred, 4 being least preferred) why did you choose to buy Promatic? A. Brand Reputation B. Price C. Quality D. Other If D, please state reason... In order of preference (as above, using 1-5) what are the most important characteristics you consider when buying a trap? A. Performance B. Price C. Reliability D. Customer Service E. Other (If E, please state)... Are you thinking of buying a trap(s) in the coming year? A. Yes B. No (If Yes, please state model or type of trap)... If you are a trap owner, on a scale of 1-5 (1 being excellent, 5 being very poor), how satisfied are you with your trap(s)? (please circle answer) In order of preference (1-6) which manufacturers would you consider when buying a trap and why? A. Promatic B. Bowman C. Laporte D. Acorn E. J. Bidwell F. Other (If F, please state)... In order of preference (1-5), which brand of targets would you buy and why? A. Promatic B. CPC C. CCI D. Hornet E. Other (If E, please state)... Thank you. Please send marked questionnaire to: PROMATIC INTL LTD QUESTIONNAIRE, Station Works, Hooton Road, Hooton, Ellesmere Port, CH66 7NF