The Clays Shooting club, situated in Sains-lès-Marquion in the Hauts-de-France region, is widely acclaimed as "the best Ball-trap club in the North" of France. Operating as a comprehensive shooting center, it caters equally to a broad audience, ranging from first-time shooters seeking initiation to highly experienced national and international competitors participating in regular regional and high-stakes tournaments.
The club benefits significantly from its strategic location, offering superior accessibility that defines its regional prominence. It is positioned just a short drive from key urban areas: approximately 25 minutes from Cambrai and within 30 to 40 minutes of major cities like Arras, Douai, and Valenciennes. This convenient proximity ensures it is an easily reached destination for enthusiasts across Northern France.
The single most defining feature of Clays Shooting is its exceptional scale and equipment capacity. The complex extends over a vast 9 hectares of secure and fully modernized grounds. This enormous capacity ensures unparalleled target flight variability and the capability to host multiple large events simultaneously, meeting the demands of high-volume training and competition.
The range of disciplines offered is comprehensive, covering both rigid, standardized formats and dynamic, field-based challenges. This versatility makes it an all-in-one destination for competitive and recreational shooters alike.
Discipline Range Overview
Sporting Disciplines: Parcours de Chasse (Sporting Clays), English Sporting, and Compak Sporting.
Trench & Skeet: DTL (Down The Line), Fosse Universelle (Universal Trench), and Skeet.
Simulation: Running Boar (Sanglier Courant) and Simulated Driven Hunt (Simulation Battue).
Clays Shooting maintains dedicated layouts for the traditional, standardized disciplines crucial for technical skill development and formal competition. These layouts include two Fosse Universelle trenches, one DTL layout, and a dedicated Skeet layout. These facilities are fundamental for shooters practicing Olympic or established international rules.
Furthermore, the club's extensive terrain and mechanical capacity are utilized for field-based shooting disciplines. It features 14 Compak Sporting layouts, as well as dedicated zones for Parcours de Chasse (Sporting Clays) and English Sporting. The high machine count allows for complex, realistic, and highly variable flight trajectories, which are essential for competitive field shooters.
Beyond core disciplines, the club offers unique hunting simulations, such as the Running Boar and Simulated Driven Hunt, appealing to hunting enthusiasts. Importantly, for newcomers, the club facilitates easy entry into the sport by providing all necessary equipment, including the shotgun, helmet, and glasses. Safety is paramount, with highly qualified instructors administering mandatory safety briefings.
Training and instruction at Clays Shooting are structured to foster growth at every level. The club offers initiation courses for absolute novices. To ensure quality and safety, personalized instruction maintains a strict maximum ratio of 4 people per instructor. The club's reputation is supported by its history of organizing high-caliber events that have attracted celebrated athletes, including former World Compak Shooting Champions.
The competitive calendar is robust, featuring numerous tournaments throughout the year. These competitions are recognized for their substantial rewards, including significant prizes such as cash awards, firearms, and even vehicles. For commercial clients, the club provides tailored corporate event and team-building packages, which can include shooting initiation, organized breakfast or lunch, and meeting facilities.
The on-site infrastructure is designed for comfort and full service. It includes a brasserie-style restaurant that is open for lunch service every day from Monday to Sunday and an on-site Armory (Armurerie) where shooters can legally purchase new or used firearms and equipment.
In summary, Clays Shooting is a premier, high-capacity French shooting center, distinguished by its 9-hectare scale, comprehensive discipline offering (from Skeet and DTL to 14 Compak layouts), and excellent logistical accessibility. While exact per-target pricing is not publicly listed, custom quotes are available for services, including personalized instruction and corporate packages.
Practical Information Summary
Address: Clays Shooting Le Dievre, 62860 Sains-lès-Marquion, France.
Typical Operating Hours (Non-Stop): Thursday–Friday (10:00 AM – 7:30 PM); Saturday–Sunday (9:30 AM – 7:00 PM).
On-Site Catering: Restaurant open for lunch service (midday) daily, Monday to Sunday.
