Report by WOCS Ambassador Kevin Bloemendaal
Blog reading time aprox. 8 min.
Laurine’s Birthday GP 2025 – 200 Bird Compak in Sains-lès-Marquion
Laurine’s Birthday GP 2025 – 200 Bird Compak in Sains-lès-Marquion
On April 12–13, 2025, Clay Shooting France hosted the Laurine’s Birthday Grand Prix, a 200 bird Compak competition at their beautifully maintained shooting ground in Sains-lès-Marquion. A total of 225 shooters from multiple countries made the trip to compete, and all four WOCS ambassadors were there to take part in the weekend and enjoy the atmosphere.
Course Setup & Conditions
The course design was nothing short of world-class, highly technical and demanding. The competition featured eight layouts in total:
Six layouts with all one single and two double pairs
Two layouts with one single and two sim pairs
This structure made for a challenging two days of shooting. The weather added another layer of difficulty, shifting throughout the weekend. On Saturday, conditions went from calm to heavy wind in the afternoon, while Sunday was overcast and remained windy, impacting how targets flew and keeping shooters on their toes.
Pool Shoot Fun on the Side
For anyone looking to fill their downtime or simply have a bit of fun, there was a Pool Shoot available throughout the weekend. Shooters could test their skills on seven extreme simultaneous pairs, designed to be fast, unforgiving, and entertaining. It was a great way to challenge yourself in between rounds and try to set a high score.
A Special Tribute & Celebration
Saturday also carried a deeper emotional moment. A tribute was held in honor of Arnaud Avellino, a well-known figure in the shooting community who sadly passed away just weeks before the competition. At 13:00, shooters and Arnaud’s family gathered at the layout that had been renamed “Arnaud Avellino – Browning” in his memory. A minute of silence was held in his honor, a respectful and moving gesture by Clay Shooting France and Browning.
Later that evening, shooters gathered for a more festive occasion, Laurine’s birthday party. Hosted locally after the first day of competition, it was a relaxed and social way to end the day, complete with food, drinks, and music.
During the evening, a special announcement was made:
Laurine will officially take over ownership of the shooting ground starting October 2025. As the daughter of the current owners, the venue will remain in the family, now passing to the next generation. It was a fitting moment for such an announcement, celebrated in the company of shooters from across Europe.
Venue & Atmosphere
The Sains-lès-Marquion ground continues to impress. Everything is well looked after, from the layout presentation to the overall cleanliness and upkeep of the venue. Good food was available during the day, and the hospitality from the staff was as warm and helpful as ever. It’s a place that consistently feels welcoming and is well run.
Final Thoughts
A proper weekend of shooting, with everything in place, good targets, a well-run event, and a strong turnout. Clay Shooting France is a world-class venue and delivered once again!
We highly recommend visiting the ground, whether it’s just for a day of shooting or to enter one of their upcoming competitions.
Our WOCS ambassadors had a great time at this special event, stay tuned for more international event reviews coming soon.
