Grand Prix de France de Parcours de Chasse — Poussan

The 2008 FITASC Sporting Grand Prix of France was a premier international clay target shooting tournament held from August 22nd to August 24th, 2008. Staged as a flagship late-summer event on the European clay shooting calendar, this highly technical three-day competition brought together elite French marksmen and competitive international shooters to vie for top honors in the main Sporting discipline (Parcours de chasse). The championship was proudly hosted at the world-class and scenic facilities of Stand de Tir de Poussan (also known as BTC Poussan), located in the Hérault department (34) of southern France.

Event Highlights & Operational Parameters

Operating under the official international regulations of the 2008 global tournament schedule, this Grand Prix combined the warmth of the French Mediterranean coast with high-level shooting standards:

  • Sanctioning Authority: The tournament was governed under the direct international authority of FITASC (Fédération Internationale de Tir aux Armes Sportives de Chasse), in partnership with the Fédération Française de Ball-Trap (FFBT), ensuring all multi-field course designs and safety parameters met strict tier-1 global requirements.

  • Global Cup Significance: As an official qualification match, the event served as a crucial continental leg for athletes accumulating points toward the annual international Beretta FITASC Cups and the global ranking leaderboards.

  • The Garrigue Terrains: Set in the heart of the "Collines de la Mourre", the venue utilized its rolling limestone hills and wild Mediterranean scrubland (garrigue) to present highly challenging hunting simulations. Shooters had to navigate deceptive depth perceptions, steep valley crossings, and shifting sea winds off the nearby Mediterranean coast.

1. Championship Program & Operational Schedule

The intense 200-target qualification course was distributed across a rigorous three-day schedule, preceded by training and safety checks:

  • August 20th – August 21st (Wednesday – Thursday): Arrival of international and domestic delegations, squadding registry, firearm safety compliance check-ins, and open training on designated practice ranges.

  • August 22nd (Friday) — Championship Day One: Phase 1 of the official qualification begins across specialized natural layouts.

  • August 23st (Saturday) — Championship Day Two: Middle qualification stages. Leaderboards tighten as competitors adjust to shifting morning glares and dry afternoon thermal drafts over the hilly terrain.

  • August 24th (Sunday) — Championship Final Day: Concluding qualification flights, followed immediately by sudden-death tie-breaking shoot-offs (barrages) to determine the individual and category podium placements.

  • August 24th (Sunday) — Official Closing & Awards Ceremony: Staged late Sunday afternoon to honor individual, category, and national team winners.

2. Venue Profile & Logistical Location Details

All tournament operations, shooting stands, and administrative offices were hosted by one of France's largest and most active shooting complexes:

Host Venue:

Stand de Tir de Poussan (BTC Poussan)

Chemin de Villeveyrac, Collines de la Mourre,

34560 Poussan, Occitanie, France

(Conveniently situated just 15 km from Sète's Mediterranean beaches and 7 km from the Étang de Thau)

3. Organizing Committee & Registration Framework

The administrative desk responsible for competitor registry validation, international squad placements, ammunition logistics, and processing European firearm transit declarations operated under the joint coordination of the host club, national federation, and global governing body:

  • National Organizing Body: Fédération Française de Ball-Trap (FFBT)

  • International Sanctioning Oversight: Fédération Internationale de Tir aux Armes Sportives de Chasse (FITASC)