Grand Prix de France de Parcours de Chasse — La Cerisaille
The 2009 FITASC Sporting Grand Prix of France was a premier international clay target shooting competition held from May 30th to May 31st, 2009. Serving as a standout late-spring fixture on the European competitive shooting calendar, this prestigious two-day tournament gathered elite domestic and international marksmen to compete in the main Sporting discipline (Parcours de chasse). The championship was proudly hosted at the highly technical facilities of La Cerisaille in Guigneville, situated in the Essonne department (91) just south of Paris, France.
Event Highlights & Operational Parameters
Operating under the official international framework of the 2009 global tournament calendar, this Grand Prix combined France's deep-rooted clay shooting heritage with strict international regulations:
Sanctioning Architecture: The competition operated under the direct international authority of FITASC (Fédération Internationale de Tir aux Armes Sportives de Chasse), certifying that all multi-field course configurations, target trajectories, and weapon compliance parameters conformed to strict global tier-1 standards.
Global Ranking Value: Staged as an active, point-scoring qualification match, this event functioned as a critical leg for athletes accumulating points toward the prestigious annual international Beretta FITASC Cups circuit and the worldwide ranking standings.
The Woodland Challenge: Set within a beautifully managed private estate featuring a mix of mature woodland and open plains, the venue allowed course designers to present exceptionally realistic hunting simulations. Shooters were tested with diverse target trajectories, steep vertical windows, and shifting shadows.
1. Full Event Program & Schedule
The tournament operational timeline concentrated the intense technical qualification rounds across the weekend, preceded by official preparation windows:
May 28th – May 29th (Thursday – Friday): Arrival of international and domestic delegations, squadding confirmation, official shooter registry check-in, weapon safety compliance verifications, and open training lines on designated sporting tracks.
May 30th (Saturday) — Grand Prix Day One: Phase 1 of the official qualification course begins across specialized natural terrain layouts, testing shooters with the first major block of high-velocity targets.
May 31st (Sunday) — Grand Prix Final Day: Concluding qualification target flights, followed immediately by high-stakes, sudden-death international tie-breaking shoot-offs (barrages) to determine the definitive individual and category podium positions.
May 31st (Sunday) — Official Closing & Awards Ceremony: Staged late Sunday afternoon at the main pavilion to honor individual, category, and national team winners.
2. Venue Profile & Logistical Location Details
All tournament operations, specialized shooting tracks, and official administrative bureaus were hosted at a highly regarded French shooting facility:
Host Venue: Ball-Trap de La Cerisaille Route de la Sulpice, 91590 Guigneville (Essonne), France
La Cerisaille is widely recognized as one of the premier clay shooting complexes in the Île-de-France region. Renowned for its professional target presentation and extensive infrastructure, the facility features diverse shooting stands deeply integrated into the local landscape, offering an ideal competitive environment easily accessible to international travelers arriving via Paris airports.
3. Organizing Committee Contact Framework
The administrative desk responsible for competitor registry validation, international squad placements, ammunition logistics, and processing necessary French firearm customs declarations maintained direct coordination through the national federation and the global governing body:
National Coordinating Partner: Fédération Française de Ball-Trap (FFBT)
International Sanctioning Oversight: Fédération Internationale de Tir aux Armes Sportives de Chasse (FITASC)
