The 2013 FITASC Compak Sporting Grand Prix of France was a premier international clay target shooting competition staged from March 30th to March 31st, 2013. Serving as an early-season highlight on the European clay target calendar, this high-profile tournament gathered elite domestic and international marksmen to compete over a grueling 200-target championship course. The event was held at the highly regarded facilities of Arras Ball-Trap in Marœuil, France.

Event Highlights & Visual Analysis

Based on the official competition flyer, the tournament identity paired international sanctioning with major industrial partnerships:

Sanctioning Architecture: The event was held under the formal auspices of FITASC (Fédération Internationale de Tir aux Armes Sportives de Chasse), whose official globe-and-shotgun insignias anchor both the upper corners and lower right section of the poster. The lower left features the crest of the FFBT (Fédération Française de Ball-Trap), the domestic governing body overseeing the host installations.
On-Field Action Motif: The center background showcases a photograph of a fully operational, multi-stand outdoor Compak layout. A line of competitive marksmen are pictured inside safety cages tracking targets, complete with individual spent-shell disposal bins at each stand.
Technical Framework: The text explicitly notes that the 200 targets (200 plateaux) were distributed across 8 distinct stand installations (sur 8 installations), ensuring a diverse array of target trajectories and speed variations.
Premium Commercial Partners: The poster displays prominent corporate sponsorship blocks from world-leading shooting brands: Beretta (firearms), Gamebore and FOB (premium ammunition), and MEC System (automated trap machinery).

1. Full Event Program & Schedule

The operational timeline allocated a dedicated, intensive pre-event training block before transitioning into the weekend qualification matches:

March 28th (Thursday) — Official Training Day 1: Warm-up lines and practice layout fields open to all registered competitors from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm (10h-20h).
March 29th (Friday) — Official Training Day 2: Practice fields and equipment compliance checks open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm (10h-20h).
March 30th (Saturday) — Grand Prix Day One: Competition flights open across the 8 specialized layouts.
March 31st (Sunday) — Grand Prix Day Two: Final qualification rotations. Any deadlocks for podium positions are resolved via sudden-death international tie-breaking shoot-offs (barrages).
March 31st (Sunday) — Closing Ceremony: Official prize awarding ceremony staged Sunday afternoon at the clubhouse pavilion to crown the individual, category, and team winners.

2. Registration Fees & Categories

Championship entry fees (Inscriptions) were tiered by age and category classifications:

160 € — Standard entry fee for Senior, Veteran, Super-Veteran, and Ladies (Senior - Vétéran - Super Vétéran - Dames) categories.
96 € — Discounted entry fee allocated for the Juniors category.

3. Venue Details & Logistical Location

All operations, layout setups, and official administrative offices were hosted by the regional shooting authority:

Host Venue: Arras Ball-Trap Route de Neuville, 62161 Marœuil, France

4. Organizing Committee Contact Information

The executive management desk responsible for registry validation, international firearm customs documentation, and local logistics maintained the following communication channels:

Primary Facility Landline: +33 (0)3 21 22 68 43 (Note: The promotional flyer confirms 43 at the footer, while administrative registers list 473)
Official Operational Email: arrasballtrap@nordnet.fr
Official Social Media Hub: Facebook Page: Arras ball-trap

Shooting Ground

Arras Ball-Trap

Marœuil, France

Arras Ball-Trap is an elite, premium-class clay target shooting complex nestled in the scenic commune of Marœuil, within the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. Holding the prestigious "Club labellisé EFBT" (Federal Shooting School) accreditation, the venue strictly conforms to the rigorous quality, safety, and training standards of the French Clay Target Shooting Federation (FFBT). Spanning across approximately 7 hectares of beautifully integrated terrain, this expansive facility caters to a diverse audience—from absolute novices taking their very first shots to seasoned hunters and world-class sport shooters preparing for international competitions.

The complex is internationally recognized for its extensive and highly versatile sporting layout, which is designed to support a wide range of clay shooting disciplines. Operating with top-tier automatic traps and voice-activated acoustic release systems, the range offers an unmatched practice environment. A standout technical feature of the facility is its unique 25-meter-high vertical shooting tower (Tour de 25 m), which allows the simulation of extremely challenging high-angle target presentations.

Core Shooting Installations:

6 Hunting Courses (Parcours de chasse)
9 Compak Sporting layouts
5 Down-The-Line (DTL) traps
4 Universal Traps (Fosse universelle)
2 Running Boar target ranges (Sanglier courant)
1 25-Meter Vertical Shooting Tower

Technical excellence at Arras Ball-Trap is driven by its strong partnerships with world-class shooting brands. The range utilizes premium Laporte automatic throwing machines to guarantee flight consistency, while acting as a licensed dealer for Beretta's premium product line. High-quality FOB ammunition is also available directly at the range, ensuring shooters have immediate access to elite equipment and technical support. The landscape itself dramatically enhances the training difficulty, as shooters must contend with Pas-de-Calais’s unpredictable winds, shifting natural light, and the contrasting visual backgrounds of open plains and dense woodland.

Structured training and education remain primary pillars of the club's philosophy, backed by its certified federal school which offers both individual and group coaching. Managed under the expert leadership of President Frédéric Pytel, the coaching staff employs modernized training regimens tailored to all skill levels. The efficacy of their methodology is proven by the success of the club's competitive team, Arras Team, which boasts junior European champion Matthieu Zeude and veteran master shooter Mickaël Croquelois among its celebrated ranks.

Arras Ball-Trap serves as a vibrant hub for competitive sports, regularly hosting major tournaments on the French calendar, such as the French National Compak Sporting Championship and the Zone 1 Universal Trap Pre-selections. Beyond high-level sports, the complex acts as an exceptional venue for corporate events, team-building sessions, and private banquets. Guests can relax at the cozy on-site Club House, enjoy drinks on the spacious viewing terrace, or browse the specialized gunsmith shop.

Ultimately, Arras Ball-Trap seamlessly blends elite athletic training with high-end leisure. It provides a welcoming yet competitive ecosystem where amateurs can learn safely from certified guides, while professional shooters are continuously challenged by world-class target presentations.

Route de Neuville (D55), 62161 Marœuil, France

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Website

Grand Prix of France - Compak Sporting - France (March 2013)

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