The 2013 FITASC Africa Sporting Championship was held from 28 February to 1 March 2013 as a premier segment of the multi-discipline African clay target championship festival. Staged at the prestigious Valley Gun Club in the Western Cape of South Africa, this specific continental event challenged elite international and regional marksmen over a demanding 200-target qualification course (100 targets per day) dedicated strictly to the main Sporting discipline (Parcours de chasse).

Event Highlights & Visual Analysis

Based on the official championship posters, the tournament integrated regional identity with top-tier international sanctioning:

Iconic Visual Backdrops: The promotional poster features the iconic silhouette of Cape Town’s famous Table Mountain overlaid against the vibrant colors of the South African national flag.
Sanctioning Architecture: The visual graphics showcase the official global seal of FITASC (Fédération Internationale de Tir aux Armes Sportives de Chasse), alongside the organizational insignias of CTSASA (The Clay Target Shooting Association of South Africa) and the host Valley Gun Club Western Cape.
Festival Integration: While the standalone Sporting Championship spanned two days, it was a centerpiece within a larger festival consisting of 5 competitions across 9 days, featuring 800 total targets. This umbrella event featured the SA Champs, the Sporting Grand Prix, and the definitive finals of the Beretta Fitasc Africa Cups.
Premium Technical Support: The promotional materials indicate substantial technical backing from Promatic, the world-leading automated clay target launcher specialist, ensuring high-performance target presentations across the layout.

1. Specific Program & Daily Schedule

The timeline for the primary Sporting Championship was structured as follows within the broader 9-day framework:

27 Feb (Wednesday): Official Practice Day | Sighting lines and training grids open to all arriving international and domestic squads.
28 Feb (Thursday): Africa Champs Sporting – Day One | Initial qualification flights consisting of the first 100 competition targets.
1 Mar (Friday): Africa Champs Sporting – Day Two | Concluding qualification flights consisting of the final 100 competition targets. Any deadlocks for continental podium positions are resolved via sudden-death international tie-breaking shoot-offs (barrages).

2. Venue Profile & Geographic Setting

Host Club: The Valley Gun Club of South Africa Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa

Terrain & Facility: Nestled beneath the Simonsberg Mountain in the lush vineyards of the Paarl Valley, Valley Gun Club stands as one of the oldest and most prestigious clay target facilities in South Africa. The complex spans 40 hectares of Fynbos-rich natural vegetation, offering exceptional ambient light vectors and challenging natural backgrounds for high-performance target tracking.

3. Travel, Accommodation & Surrounding Logistics

The host facility provides efficient transit distances to several world-renowned Western Cape locations:

Paarl: Located 15 minutes from the shooting grounds.
Stellenbosch: Located 30 minutes from the facility.
Franschhoek: Located 30 minutes from the facility.
Durbanville: Located 30 minutes from the facility.
Cape Town Waterfront: Located 40 minutes from the club gates.

Official Travel Agency Coordinator:

Agency: That's Africa Travel & Incentives
Contact Person: Nicole Wagner
Telephone: (+27) 21 4152000
Fax Line: (+27) 21 4210229
Mobile Support: (+27) 72 1182285
Skype Handle: nixcape
Direct Email: nicole@thatsafrica.com

4. Organizing Committee Contact Information

For event registries, ammunition pre-orders, and weapon customs documentation, the following administrative channels were utilized:

Primary Facility Landline: (+27) 21 9792520
Official Administrative Email: valleygunclub@paarlonline.co.za

Shooting Ground

Valley Gun Club

Paarl, South Africa

Valley Gun Club (historically known as Paarl Gun Club) is indisputably the premier clay target shooting facility in Africa, located in the picturesque Simonsberg Mountains within the Paarl Valley, Western Cape. Established in 1956, this expansive 40-hectare estate caters to everyone, from elite global athletes and passionate amateurs to families and corporate teams. Its absolute standout feature is the unique mountainous terrain and lush vineyard landscape, which creates highly challenging wind and optical conditions that perfectly simulate the unpredictability of wild hunting.

The club boasts a rich competitive pedigree, serving as a prestigious venue for major international events, including the 2010 DTL Trap World Championships and FITASC Africa Cups. On a local level, it hosts monthly "Club 100" competitions across all standard disciplines, alongside provincial and national trials. Thanks to its world-class infrastructure and challenging environmental factors, it has become a renowned proving ground where champions are forged and world-class scores are achieved.

To accommodate both high-volume international tournaments and daily recreational shooting without compromising strict safety zones, the 40-hectare grounds are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. The core sporting infrastructure includes:

10 ATA & DTL Trap ranges.
4 Compak Sporting and 4 traditional Sporting ranges.
2 Skeet ranges.
1 Universal Trench, 1 Olympic Trap, and an exclusive ZZ Range for advanced technical shooting.
An on-site Gun Shop and Armoury for convenient ammunition sales and secure firearm storage.

Beyond pure competition, Valley Gun Club excels in its training and development programs. The club offers comprehensive coaching tailored to all skill levels, ensuring a safe introduction for complete beginners and marginal gains for seasoned professionals. Dedicated coaching sessions with experienced professionals (such as C. Potgieter) are available starting at R400 per hour, allowing shooters to progressively scale their skills from predictable trap flights to complex sporting trajectories.

The venue also operates as a premium country club, heavily promoting its "turnkey" corporate and recreational packages with the motto that clay shooting is "better than a golf day". This makes it an ideal destination for team building, bachelor parties, and family gatherings. The exceptional hospitality and service amenities include:

A modern, fully air-conditioned clubhouse ideal for banquets, networking, and relaxation.
A fully licensed bar for post-shoot socializing.
Two covered, traditional braai (BBQ) areas and an authentic wood-fired pizza oven.
Commercial kitchen facilities managed alongside catering partners to handle events of various sizes.

Ultimately, Valley Gun Club provides an unparalleled "all-in-one" experience. Beginners enjoy a welcoming and safe environment, athletes benefit from top-tier automated traps and varied disciplines, and corporate groups receive exclusive networking opportunities. The seamless combination of exceptional hospitality, rigorous safety standards, and elite sporting facilities firmly cements its status as the ultimate destination for clay target shooting in South Africa.

Operating Hours:

Tue – Sat: 08:00 – 17:00
Sun – Mon: CLOSED
(Note: The club is open on most public holidays, except Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day.)

R312 Suid-Agter-Paarl Rd, Paarl Farms, Paarl, 7650, Afrique du Sud

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Website

www.valleygunclub.co.za