Posted by Stuart Elliott on Dec 09, 2011; 1:15am
URL: http://oldforum.flyshooter.com.au/Shooter-Of-The-Year-SOTY-qualification-tp5060476.html

Hi All, I would like to start a discussion about the SOTY and make some suggestions about what shoots qualify and minimum numbers etc.

I know that the SOTY administration is run by others these days and that is great and I appreciate it but I just wanted to make some suggestions if they are open to receive them.
I can see things have grown with the 500 Fly and the SOTY is a much more  sort after award. Many people may not know that the SOTY award was first setup by Fergus Bailey and myself back in the '90's. We organised and paid for the trophy.  We decided the events. The shoots involved varied but usually one in each State. We tried hard to ensure that each shoot involved were  matches properly run and had reasonable numbers. This was difficult and sometimes and we refused to allow some shoots because they were poorly run. The early days of Batemans Bay is an example of this and we refused to allow it to be part of it. That drew some critazism from a couple of people but we were trying to ensure credibility and until that changed we would not allow it. Fortunately things at Batemans Bay have turned around completely and that is good.
The main aim of the SOTY was to encourage travelling and reward shooters who became effective with their shooting in different environments at different locations. Put simply, a better reflection of a shooters ability in a variety of environments. This also would boost numbers at these selected events we hoped.

So my suggestions here now are that  there be up to 2 events per State allowed in the system each year. Each event must be to a minimum standard. Each event must be an official registered event. Now Fly Shoot is part of SSAA this means the usual rules apply to have your shoots registered to be official. Official events for records and for SOTY or State Championships or a Nationals. That in minimum. There are procedures to have your events registered and if it is the first time you apply the range will be required to provide proof of a number of things. Including official range measurements, the standard of equipment (target frames, benches etc) and personal with experience to organise, run, score and control an official match. So that should be No1.

Since the SOTY was original designed to encourage shooters to travel I believe that whatever the total number of shoots  required that at least one result from each of 3 States should apply. Any 3 States. So, to give an example, if a person shoots 2 events in Vic at Little River and one at Canberra and two at Batemans Bay they cannot have their annual SOTY result derived from only the shoots at Little River and Batemans Bay. In this example they would have to include the Canberra result and leave off a result from one of the others.

Suggestion No 3 is that a minimum entry number be required to get points. Maybe 10 per class.

Anyway these are my suggestions. Looks forward to comments.

Stuart Elliott