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Perazzi Cup 2026 at Dornsberg
The Perazzi Cup at Dornsberg is one of those competitions that needs little introduction. Places are highly sought after, the event attracts shooters from across Europe and beyond, and registration can sell out within hours.
With that reputation comes a certain level of expectation. Dornsberg itself is arguably one of the finest and most beautiful shooting grounds in Europe, with terrain that offers enormous possibilities for creative Sporting targets.
Unfortunately, for us, the 2026 Perazzi Cup did not quite live up to those expectations.
Targets That Didn’t Make the Most of Dornsberg
The biggest disappointment was the target setting.
Dornsberg offers an exceptional combination of elevation, valleys, woodland, open areas, and natural features. It is a shooting ground where course designers have almost endless possibilities available to them.
This time, however, we felt that much of that potential remained unused.
There seemed to be little balance between some of the layouts, and several target presentations were extremely demanding without necessarily being enjoyable to shoot. Difficult targets are absolutely part of Sporting, and a major competition should test even experienced shooters, but difficulty alone does not automatically make a good course.
For us, the best Sporting targets are those that make you think, require good technique and punish mistakes, while still leaving you wanting to shoot them again. That balance was missing too often during this year’s competition.
Some targets were also particularly difficult to see. In certain cases this came down to the colour of the clay against the background, while in others the presentation itself made acquiring the target unnecessarily difficult.
These may sound like relatively small details, but at this level they make a significant difference to the overall shooting experience.
Good Conditions Throughout the Weekend
Weather was fortunately not an issue. Saturday remained overcast for much of the day, but conditions were otherwise good, and there was little from the weather itself to negatively influence the weekend.
That made the visibility issues on certain targets more noticeable, as these were primarily related to target choice and presentation rather than particularly difficult weather conditions.
A Competition, Rather Than an Event
Perhaps our biggest point of feedback does not concern the targets at all.
The Perazzi Cup has built a considerable reputation. Shooters travel long distances to attend, places disappear extremely quickly when registration opens, and there is always significant anticipation surrounding the competition.
With that in mind, we would like to see more effort put into making the weekend feel like the major event its reputation suggests it should be.
This year, it felt more like another competition being held at Dornsberg than one of the venue’s headline events.
That became particularly noticeable after experiencing the Krieghoff Trophy at the same venue earlier this year. The Krieghoff Trophy demonstrated what can be achieved at Dornsberg when the shooting itself is combined with the small details surrounding the competition to create a complete event.
This is not about expecting something extravagant. It is about giving shooters who have travelled from different countries something that reflects the reputation of the Perazzi Cup and the demand surrounding it.
Dornsberg has the venue, the scenery, the facilities, and the international following to do exactly that.
An Exceptional Venue Remains
None of this changes our opinion of Dornsberg itself.
It remains one of our favourite shooting grounds in Europe, and its natural terrain provides possibilities that very few venues can match. The facilities and surroundings are a major reason shooters continue to return.
That is also why expectations are so high whenever a major competition is held here.
Final Thoughts
We always try to judge competitions fairly, and criticism should be taken for what it is, feedback from shooters who travelled to participate and wanted the event to succeed.
The 2026 Perazzi Cup was certainly not a bad competition, but considering the reputation of the event, the speed at which it sells out, the international field it attracts, and what Dornsberg is capable of providing, we believe there is room for considerably more.
We have seen what Dornsberg can deliver when everything comes together, and that is precisely why we know the potential is there.
We hope the feedback is taken in the spirit in which it is intended, and we look forward to returning to Dornsberg again.