As the 2013 Clay Shooting season starts to unroll, we’ve chosen some shooters we will be keeping an eye on over the season to see how they progress.

One of our tips for 2013 is Taylor Hedgecock, who you may remember we featured last year – but is still banging in massive scores at registered shoots and is due to take home more trophies this season.

I caught up with Taylor to find out his goals and aims for the 2013 season.

ShootClay : Taylor – thanks for taking time to talk to ShootClay – how has the off-season been for you – we’ve seen some good class wins going in?

TH : I’ve really enjoyed it, my average has definitely gone up over the last few months. It’s great to be able to see how I’m improving though I know I can do better!

SC : What was your most memorable achievement in the 2012 season?

TH : I think for me it was retaining the British Sporting colts title, although the World Sporting came a close second.

SC : Looking forward, what are your goals or aims for the 2013 season?

TH : I’m hoping to retain as many of my titles as I can, for some of them it’s my last year in colts as I will be 16 next year.  I am also going to give the England selection shoots a go, I’d like to make the England junior team while still a colt, although I know the competition is quite steep, so I’ll just do my best!

SC : Is there a specific area of your shooting that you will be focusing on during the season, what have you and your coach been working on during the winter break?

TH : I really enjoy my sporting so will focus on this though.  I do a little of the other disciplines but that’s mostly for fun.  Over the winter I’ve been practicing technique with Philip Thorrold at his academy in Diss. It is definitely helping me to get my averages up and build up my concentration levels, I will be training with him most weeks now throughout the season.   You can find Philips technique on his DVD The Answer..

SC :  What’s your equipment setup going to be for the 2013 season?

TH : I’ll be using Eley Hawk cartridges, mostly Superbs , this is my third year being sponsored by them which I’m really grateful for.

I will be shooting my Caesar Guerini Maxum Impact Sporter which I was lucky enough to be sponsored with by Anglo Italian Arms back in October,  I’ve been shooting really well with it so I’m hoping for some good results this season.

SC : Which shoot  would you most like to win in 2013?

TH : I look forward to all of them and treat them all as just another shoot although I think I would most like a hat trick with the British Sporting as it’s my last year as a colt.

SC : Final question – if you could build you dream squad to shoot a major competition with – who would you shoot with?

TH : There are some fantastic shots in this country and I look up to many of them tho I think my dream squad would be
  • Philip Thorrold
  • George Digweed
  • Ed Solomon
  • Paul Simpson
  • Richard Faulds

SC : Thanks for chatting to us again Taylor, we’ll be cheering you on in 2013 and taking a keen interest in those results – good luck!