The 2011 FITASC Sporting Grand Prix of France was a premier international clay target shooting competition held from May 14th to May 15th, 2011. Staged as a cornerstone event on the early-summer European target shooting calendar, this prestigious weekend tournament brought together elite domestic and international marksmen to compete in the main Sporting discipline (Parcours de chasse). The high-level qualifier was proudly hosted by the BTC de Falaise in La Hoguette, Normandy, France.

Event Highlights & Structural Parameters

Operating under the official international framework of the 2011 global tournament calendar, this Grand Prix paired France's deep-rooted clay shooting heritage with strict international regulatory structures:

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-stand course configurations, target trajectories, and firearm compliance parameters conformed to strict global tier-1 standards.
Global Selection Standing: 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 Normandy Landscape Challenge: The championship utilized the beautiful yet deceptive rural terrain of the Calvados department, blending dense forest borders with wide open-field launcher trajectories to challenge the visual target acquisition and focus of the competitors.

1. Full Event Program & Schedule

The tournament operational timeline allocated dedicated pre-event preparation windows followed by the intensive qualification course split across the competitive weekend:

May 12th – May 13th (Thursday – Friday): Arrival of international and domestic delegations, squadding confirmation, official shooter registry check-in, weapon compliance safety checks, and the opening of warm-up training lines on designated sporting layouts.
May 14th (Saturday) — Grand Prix Day One: Initial qualification flights consisting of the first 100 competition targets open over specialized woodland and field layouts.
May 15th (Sunday) — Grand Prix Final Day: Concluding qualification flights consisting of the final 100 competition targets, followed immediately by international sudden-death tie-breaking shoot-offs (barrages) to determine the definitive podium positions.
May 15th (Sunday) — Official Awards and Closing Ceremony: Staged late Sunday afternoon at the main clubhouse pavilion to honor individual, category, and national team winners.

2. Venue Profile & Logistical Location Details

All local operations, specialized shooting tracks, and official administrative offices were hosted at a premier, fully equipped French clay target facility:

Host Venue: BTC de Falaise (Ball Trap Club de Falaise / ESF Ball Trap) Lieu-dit St Léger, Commune de la Hoguette, 14700 La Hoguette, Calvados (14), France

Located just southeast of the historic town of Falaise in Normandy, the venue is highly regarded for its rolling landscape and technical setups. The natural layout provides diverse backgrounds and unpredictable wind pockets, demanding high-performance technical adaptations from international competitors.

3. Organizing Committee Contact Framework

The executive management team responsible for registry validation, international athlete squadding, ammunition logistics, and coordinating logistics with arriving international squads maintained the following direct communication channels:

Primary Facility Landline Hub: +33 (0)2 31 90 88 18
Alternative Administrative Line: +33 (0)2 33 35 85 35
Mobile Registry Hotline: +33 (0)6 13 92 53 62
International Sanctioning Oversight: Fédération Internationale de Tir aux Armes Sportives de Chasse (FITASC)

Shooting Ground

Ball Trap Falaise

La Hoguette, France

Ball-Trap Falaise, widely known as Stand André Rabet, is a premier clay target shooting complex nestled in the scenic commune of La Hoguette in Normandy. What makes this facility uniquely legendary is its foundation: the entire complex was designed and constructed by dedicated club volunteers who invested over 20,000 hours to build its modern shooting lines. Operating as a non-profit association, the club accommodates shooters of all backgrounds, from absolute novices experiencing the sport for the first time to professional sports teams and international competitors.

The complex boasts state-of-the-art automatic clay launchers manufactured by Laporte, guaranteeing exceptional reliability and performance under all training conditions. Spanning three high-capacity outdoor shooting lines during major events, the facility is equipped to support a diverse array of shooting disciplines.

Key Disciplines Offered: Parcours de Chasse (Hunting Sporting), Compak Sporting, Fosse Universelle (Universal Trench), DTL (Down-the-Line), English Sporting, Sanglier Courant (Running Boar), Trap One, and Hélices (Propeller/Helice shooting).

Renowned for its meticulously planned, "cordon-bleu" organization, Ball-Trap Falaise is a regular host of major regional and national tournaments sanctioned by the French Ball-Trap Federation (FFBT). The venue made historical waves in the French shooting community when it became the first fully volunteer-run associative club in 40 years to successfully host the French National Championship (Parcours de Chasse).

Major Hosted Competitions: French National Championship (Parcours de Chasse), Normandy Regional League stages (Compak and Parcours), Calvados Departmental Championships, the Hervé Gilles Trophy (Challenge/Trophée Hervé Gilles), and popular Interclub tournaments with neighboring clubs like Evreux.

Training and instruction at the club prioritize safety, proper gun handling, and progressive skill development. While advanced sports teams utilize the layouts for competitive preparation, beginners can ease in comfortably with tailored training packages. Under the expert leadership of President Daniel Bisegna and technical coordinator Guy Allais, training aligns with the official federal standards of the French Schools of Ball-Trap (EFBT).

Core Offerings: Custom coaching sessions, group training, and "Discovery Packs" ("Packs Découverte") that include a designated club guide and insurance with options for 100 cartridges (€62) or without cartridges (€40).

The physical charm of Ball-Trap Falaise lies in its utilization of the rolling hills of Normandy. The natural topography enables the setup of highly creative and challenging target trajectories (known as "tracés superbes") that closely mimic genuine hunting scenarios. While the facility itself does not offer on-site lodging, it provides high-standard seasonal catering, shuttle transfers during big events, and coordinates closely with a wide network of partner hotels nearby.

Key Advantages: Dynamic trajectories enhanced by unpredictable regional winds, professional-grade Laporte launchers, an illustrious track record of hosting national competitions, and incredibly affordable services paired with a warm, welcoming volunteer-led atmosphere.

In conclusion, Stand André Rabet represents the absolute pinnacle of grassroots sports development in France, combining a world-class training ground with the supportive feel of a tight-knit community club. It stands as an absolute must-visit destination for any sport shooter visiting Normandy, whether to test their skills against challenging wind-affected clays or to enjoy a premium, friendly corporate or family event in the French countryside.

Saint-Léger, 14700 La Hoguette, France

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Website

esf-balltrap.fr

Grand Prix of France - Sporting - France (May 2011)

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Winners

About competition

Event Highlights & Structural Parameters

1. Full Event Program & Schedule

2. Venue Profile & Logistical Location Details

3. Organizing Committee Contact Framework

Ball Trap Falaise

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