Indholdsfortegnelse for Oct-2018 i Shooting Gazette

After a long, harsh winter, wet spring and baking summer, which few in fieldsports will forget in a hurry, it will be interesting to see what effect the weather has had on those early pheasant days in October and how the partridges kick on now they’ve got to know their patch a little better. Whatever your choice of quarry, we hope you have a fantastic time. Do let us know how you’re getting on. Now to business. With game meat consumption on the agenda more than ever before, we thought it was time we got to know the British Game Alliance a little better. John Walker headed to Lees Court Estate in Kent to meet with its managing director, Tom Adams. I’m sure you’ll agree that Tom’s candid answers to…

Cordings of Piccadilly’s annual Win a Peg competition will once again see two lucky guns enjoy a day at the Ripley Castle shoot on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. The 300-bird day, set to be held on December 5, is suitable for both the novice and the experienced game shot alike. The day will end with a sumptuous luncheon at the Boar’s Head in nearby Ripley. Cartridges and guns will be provided. To enter the competition, visit cordings.co.uk/WINAPEG2018. You will need to sign up to the newsletter before entering.…

THE AUTHOR of the Letter of the Month will receive a pair of Wexford boots from Dubarry of Ireland (RRP £325). The knee-length, side-zip boots – designed for both men and women – are handcrafted from waterproof Dry Fast-Dry Soft™ breathable leathers. The high quality of the boot is reinforced throughout with an insulated GORE-TEX® lining that wicks moisture away from the foot, ensuring the wearer remains dry and comfortable all day. Dubarry’s new, hard-wearing, durable outsole gives maximum grip whatever the ground conditions.…

SERVES FOUR PEOPLE Ingredients • 1 litre chicken stock • 30g palm sugar • 50g lemongrass • 20g chilli • 50g ginger, chopped • 50g galangal, chopped • 20ml fish sauce • 50ml soy sauce • 2 leeks • 3 carrots • 1 tin of bamboo • 30g spring onions • 4 pheasant breasts • 1 packet pre-cooked ramen noodles • 50g coriander, chopped Method Bring chicken stock to the boil with the sugar. Season with soy and fish sauce, then bring back to the boil and simmer for two hours. While the stock simmers, set the oven to 160°C/Gas Mark 2.5 and julienne the leeks, carrots and bamboo; chop spring onions. Set aside. Season pheasant breasts, place on a baking tray and roast for around 20 minutes. Saving the…

Dear Uncle Giles, One of our Guns has started bringing his 10-year-old nephew on shoot days. To say the odious little twerp is unpopular among the other Guns is an understatement. How do we accommodate his behaviour without risking our own day’s enjoyment? BSC, by email Uncle Giles writes: There can be no thornier issue than the discomfort created by the attendance, at any event, of a disagreeable guest — whether friend or family — accompanying an old and valued associate. You don’t mention whether the uncle in question is of the same opinion concerning his nephew as the rest of the Guns? It may be the case that he can see the awfulness that has been bred in the bosom of his family and is seeking to mitigate the…

TRAVEL Lillycombe is on the coast road between Porlock and Lynmouth on the northern fringes of Exmoor. From the M5 follow the A39 or A358/ A39 from Bridgwater or Taunton which lead directly to the estate in around 40 miles. Bristol or Exeter airports or Tiverton Parkway are very handy, or you can helicopter in. STAY Now in-hand on the estate, Culbone Stables Inn is most convenient (culbonestablesinn.co.uk), the Rising Sun on the Lynmouth harbourside is spectacular with great food and drink (risingsunlynmouth.co.uk) or the Royal Oak in Winsford (royaloakexmoor.co.uk) if shooting southern Exmoor shoots as well. CATERING The estate uses the Culbone Stables as its shoot lodge, meeting point and for lunches. Regular menus are good, shoot lunches are excellent, with locally sourced fish, fowl and meats well prepared…

The transition from muzzle-loader to breech-loader was rapid in the 1860s. In the space of a few years the age old system of loading from the muzzle disappeared rapidly. For example at Boss & Co. in the year 1859, 75 muzzle-loaders were built and 15 breech-loaders, but only one year later in 1860 the situation was reversed with 36 muzzle-loaders and 74 breech-loaders built. However, although the changeover was rapid, the transition to breech-loading was not straightforward; a great many paths and blind alleys were followed by gunmakers until the centrefire achieved dominance in the mid-1860s. One of these divergences was the needle-fire system. The needle-fire gun was developed by a Prussian, Johann Nikolaus von Dreyse, who had previously worked for Pauly in Paris. In the von Dreyse needle-fire, patented…

We don’t usually shoot our flightponds until the end of the season. The little pools are tucked away on the hill, and are never very popular with early-season birds. I like to be sure of finding wigeon and pintail, and the visitors become much more reliable after Christmas. After a bizarrely dry summer in Galloway, it has been encouraging to see our local mallard and teal enjoying every sign of productive success. The river below our house has been littered with large fleets of ducklings all summer, and there is a similar picture closer to the Solway shore. I hold back on the hill ponds, but some places nearer the coast can have great sport much earlier on with mallard and teal. “Snipe came scything into the pond. It was…

One of the highlights of the Game Fair has always been the gundog events, and 2018 was no different. Ragley Hall made the perfect venue for a variety of gundog competitions which took place over the weekend. The whole feel of Gundog Row was hugely improved, offering a plethora of information and training products. The popular demonstrations drew in huge crowds over the three days and the British weather played its part with contrasting days of long hot sunny spells and persistent rain with high winds. With scorching temperatures on the first day, the Game Fair team did a great job to ensure the gundog events ran smoothly and placed plenty of water troughs, hoses and water stations around the estate to keep the dogs cool and hydrated.…

The Home International was packed with high-quality dogs and top handlers for 2018. There is no doubt the high winds and rain during the competition gave the teams a testing time as they vied for the prestigious trophy. England rose to the challenge and the gallery enjoyed a tremendous team performance. The team stormed to victory with 928 points and England captain Dave Latham was delighted. “It was an awesome achievement and a real team effort, especially on such a difficult course with virtually no scent at times,” he said. England team competitor Annette Clark was overcome with emotion when she received the overall Top Dog award. “My dog was the last to run so the pressure was on. My teammates had all done a fabulous job so I just…

1 (and winner of the Lincolnshire Area Shield and the GlebesprayTankard for the highest-placed Lincolnshire Area Member) Andy Slingsby with lab.d. Arkglas Taylor 2 (and winner of the Ansoncha Shield for the runner-up) Godfrey Lowe with lab.d Hansongreen Light of Jogolo 3 Chris Johnson with lab.b.Tilderross Byron 4 Chris Johnson with lab.d. Kendeci Severn CoM (and winner of the Riaghyll Black Shadow Shield for the youngest dog in the awards) Bel Grundy with lab.d. Flossmill Eliott CoM Sarah Coomber-Smith with lab.d. Abbotsleigh Fusilier CoM B. Barker with lab .b. Emmanygan Sena of Barweston…

I had an interesting conversation with Robert Milner from Memphis, Tennessee, recently. We have been corresponding since Bill Meldrum introduced us after HM the Queen’s Four Nations field trial a few years ago. Robert came over for the Game Fair, which gave us an opportunity to catch up. I have never been to an American field trial, so can only go on what I hear from others, but Robert said he was concerned that UK field trials are in danger of going the same way as American field trials. He said he was very worried about the threat that shooting is facing here and that there is a distinct lack of gamekeepers taking part in our field trials. One of his big concerns is that retriever field trials are all…

Just after the start of the drive, four teenage fallow bucks shovelled most of the pheasants out of the wood in a single flush. The laddish lads then charged the pegs, paused, split into four individuals and each picked a gap. The Thin Tweed Line held its nerve and the deer thundered through. At the end of the drive, the beaters clambered despondently out of the empty wood, dislodging a lone cock pheasant which climbed rapidly to the left of peg No. 10. Watched by the entire assembled company, he gave it both barrels. The bird set its wings and glided on. As pheasants often do. “Was I perhaps just my dog’s personal assistant?” Did I hear a giggle over the radio? Was it the pheasant? The dog thought the…

Special Puppy 1 Jean Hoskings with lab.b Bellspaddle Whiffle 2 Marianna Morris-Worral with lab.b. Castletioram Red Maggie of Glenmarian 3 Rob Cresswell with lab.d. Redbeards starking Hardy of Hadfelda 4 Dominic Butcher with lab.d Berewyk Tim Novice 1 (and winner of the Kellhatch Trophy for best Essex entry) Keith Foster with lab.d Overthwarts Bilton 2 (and winner of the Elmbrook Cup for best opposite sex to novice winner) John Cameron with lab.b Loushaw Maria 3 (and winner of the Rising Star Cup for highest place novice handler in novice class) Jane Sawyer with lab.d Hitowngreen Falcon 4 Frank Walker with lab.d Partridge Sunset CoM Keith Foster with lab.d Chilliwack Twister Veteran 1 Amanda Sherriff with lab.d. Chisbrook Jigger 2 Brian Chesser with lab.b Gunnerheath Amethyst 3 Mark Schiller with lab.b.…

Bravo John Clements Having read John Clements’ article on speaking up for shooting, I cannot agree more with the sentiment. In the past, I have had many such debates with colleagues, usually when putting guns in my office before heading out to travel to shoots later in the day. I can attest to the well-intentioned pacifists’ vision of nature, as depicted by Springwatch. My usual defence was to ask if they ate meat and then, if they did, give them a rundown on industrial meat production. In my professional role I have visited many abattoirs and can assure you that even the most sympathetically run operations are dour places. This often left them floundering and trying to shift their portion of blame as consumers. Fortunately, I now work for myself…

The Glorious Twelfth arrived, one day late due to the contrivance of the Gregorian calendar, to be greeted not only by the bleating of the antis – who, true to form, used every scintilla of ‘research’ to feed the mass media with stories of mismanagement of our grouse moors and the malfeasant practices of their owners and keepers – but a fair smattering of owners, keepers and sporting agents bemoaning the fact that Lagopus lagopus scotica was more absent than present. Spare a thought for the red grouse and those who love it or whose livelihoods depend upon it, because that plump little bird, normally first in the firing line, is missing from the heather. From early July, upland moorland keepers were reporting that the Beast from the East had…

The Holts charity clay shoot and auction, held at the Royal Sandringham Estate over the summer, by gracious permission of HM The Queen, raised funds of £35,000 for the GWCT and the local Church of St. Peter, Wolferton appeal. Thirty-three teams shot five simulated drives with a strong showing from the British gun trade. A three-course lunch, courtesy of The Shotgun Chef, and an auction followed the shooting, with entertainment provided by local opera singer Jack Ollett.…

Decoying pigeons on the golden stubbles of late summer can be a dream but if there are too many fields it becomes a nightmare, the birds simply diverting to another field if disturbed. However, my pal A.C., the one-legged pigeon fanatic, and I had a good feeling following reconnaissance of two wheat stubbles a mile away from a Hertfordshire town, an area that has produced special days in the past. A.C. had looked at the fields at midday and although this is early to see pigeons out feeding, he was encouraged to see 200 birds on the field. There were also 100 on the larger field on the other side of the road, where he fancied the flightline passing the corner of a wood on the eastern boundary. We decided…

Aneurin Bevan once said: “I read the newspapers avidly. It is my one form of continuous fiction.” I often feel the same way when reading articles about game shooting in the mainstream media, especially online where all and sundry vent their spleens about the ills of our sport in the comments section. Terms like “gun-toting toffs” and “blood-thirsty killers” are commonplace in what should be an open forum, but it can soon turn into a cesspit where even quite reasonable questions from neutrals about game shooting are lost because of those who cannot abide letting someone else have the last word. You could break your fingers trying to reason with some of our opponents, who purport to know plenty but actually know very little, but it is often a pointless…

We started on partridge clays coming over the top of some oaks, moving the trap to take account of all the angles, before moving to the high tower for some higher birds. We had no problem shooting the partridge clays and some tight patterns with ¼ and ½ chokes. The gun offered first-class handling with no vices and was most effective. The grip is comfortable, the gun moves without too much effort and is pleasant to shoot. We tried 32gram cartridges from a manufacturer with a reputation for enthusiastic but effective cartridges (thumpy). The felt recoil was fine with no discomfort and some magnificent breaks. The high tower produced the same results, with some wide, high clays being disintegrated effectively. And lastly back to earth and the grouse, where we…

The decline in average farmland values over the past three years is well documented but there are now signs that values for most regions and land types are settling, with only minor price adjustments. Savills’ Farmland Value Survey shows that average values across Britain are relatively stable, falling just 0.6% over the past six months, the exception being Wales, with falls of just over 2%. There is a widening disparity between pure commercial productive ground and holdings with higher amenity value. Regional variations illustrate the diversity of the market. For example, in the eastern regions and West Midlands average arable values over the past six months recorded falls of around 2%. In contrast, average values in the South West of England increased by 3.2%, highlighting the strength of the amenity…

Take a beautiful part of Ragley Estate situated by the lake, add a dedicated team of judges, helpers and European competitors and you have the perfect recipe for the Euro Challenge. B-panel judge Lisa Harris enjoyed being part of the three-breed international team event. “This year, all the breeds had the chance to pick the same retrieve which showcased the differences in their style of work and demonstrated how sometimes a retrieve for one breed can appear easier than for another,” she said. The Euro Challenge judges did everything they could to make sure the breeds showed what they were capable of. Lisa added: “My highlight was the curlycoated retriever Stagfield Gamekeeper’s Atticus, handled by Jennifer Hirschfield from Germany. We were hugely impressed with this dog and it is exceptionally…

The Kennel Club’s Champion Stake for Pointers and Setters – held over two days with an unlimited number of competitors – is the most prestigious event in the field trial calendar. This year, it attracted competitors from across the UK and Ireland, with a total of 44 pointers and setters – 14 pointers, 13 English setters, 14 Irish setters and three Gordon setters – qualifying. On the day, 36 dogs took to the field, including Irish setter bitch Erinvale Meadow, Brian Morris’s Puppy Derby winner. The 2018 championship was tinged with sadness following the death of Northern Ireland pointer man Alan Neill, killed in a road traffic accident at the beginning of July. Two years ago, Alan qualified eight pointers for the championship – a remarkable feat – and last…

Club: URC (Hants & SW Area) Event: Intermediate and veteran working test Venue: Ashmore Judges: Gillian Yates, Peter Leyden, Rupert Brewer and Henri Fletcher Headkeeper: Geoff Spencer Sponsor: Skinner’s The picturesque village of Ashmore provided the perfect location for our tests. Twenty labrador retrievers and two golden retrievers completed six challenging tests by kind permission of the Sturge family. The competitors enjoyed a first-class day which was organised by Jane Manley and Jackie Davis. The dappled shade of Ashmore woodland was ideal for avoiding the scorching summer heat and the dogs showed spectacular energy throughout the day. Rupert Brewer enjoyed assessing the dogs on a single blind retrieve, commenting: “The cover provided a good challenge. The retrieve was only 30 yards with no shot but it was through some very…

Q I have a set training period in a day and then let the dog have a good run around in a large field. I am finding it more difficult to get the dog concentrating on the training as he wants to run around and hunt instead. Any thoughts? A I am not sure of the dog’s age or breed but there is no distinction between “training” and “free time”. In fact, the word training should be banned as it suggests that there is a set time, followed by time when the dog can do what it wants. It is all one big game to get the dog engaged with you and what you are doing. Why would your dog choose a set of fairly repetitive commands in favour of sniffing around,…

The Kennel Club was deeply saddened to receive the news that Alan Rountree, a director on the Kennel Club Board, died peacefully at home on July 27. Alan served the Kennel Club with great distinction for many years, having been elected as a member in 1990. He served on the General Committee/Board for 17 years since his election in 2001. He was on the Field Trials Committee for 14 years from 1998 to 2012, and was its chairman from 2000 to 2012. He served eight years on the Field Trial Council and also spent time on the Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee. In recent years, he led the search for freehold property for the Kennel Club to provide facilities for working dog activities, leading to the acquisition of the Emblehope…

Grulla Armas has created a pair of bespoke 20 bore guns based on its London model for the Belvoir Castle Estate in Leicestershire. “These shotguns are the perfect balance between a basic shotgun and a top-of-the-range model,” said Phil Burtt, estate director and shoot captain. “Belvoir Castle has an exceptional relationship with the family that run Grulla Armas. Her Grace, the Duchess of Rutland visited the factory in Eibar, northern Spain, and while there, she helped to develop our model. We took the shotgun to the Game Fair and received some fantastic feedback.”…

I read with interest John Clements’ article The Danger of Silence in the August issue. Most game shooters have found themselves in the situation John speaks of, myself included: being confronted by a person who does not agree with the harvesting of game birds nor understand the conservation benefits this brings. The easy option, of course, is to smile and turn away, but doing this only serves to entrench that person’s opinion that we shooters only go out to kill game and enjoy ourselves. My reply to them is always the same: yes, I do enjoy shooting but I point out I eat everything I shoot and try to explain all the good shooting does for the conservation of our countryside. If they are not convinced, I ask if they…

Who introduced you to game shooting? My sporting life began in my early teens, when I would spend every spare moment with my friend on his farm, taking to the fields and woods, where we would shoot rabbits, pigeons and crows, and walk-up the occasional pheasant in the season. It was shooting at its most basic but it taught me fieldcraft, and from there I developed a love of the countryside and a passion for game shooting. What’s your favourite quarry and where will we find you during the season? I have shot most of the UK game species, and have had memorable sport. I have also been fortunate enough to shoot wild boar in Germany, which is an unforgettable experience. However, knowing that I will be joining my friends…

We would shoot high pheasants at Warter Priory in East Yorkshire. First up would be my great grandfather, Rab Butler, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer in the 1960s. I never got to meet him but if I had got the chance it would have had to be out in the field. I understand he was a cracking shot. Moving to Leicestershire three years ago and becoming a regular visitor to Welford Road would see ex-Tigers player Tom Croft in my shooting line. Our mutual passion for rugby and shooting would make him great company for a day in the field. My father, Chris Butler, has taught, encouraged and inspired me since I picked up a gun 20 years ago. Also known to give a running commentary throughout every drive.…

BANGROVE BOYS SHOOT CLAYS TO BEAT CANCER Pictured is the team of guns who enjoyed an excellent simulated game day at Bangrove Farm, Teddington, Gloucestershire, in aid of Prostate Cancer Research UK, writes event organiser Christopher Hill. A substantial sum was raised by the participants, who enjoyed an excellent day’s simulated game shooting, coupled with first-class hospitality, glorious views and beautiful weather on this excellent West Country shoot owned by Mr W. (Bill) Hitchman. QUALITY FAMILY TIME… Start them young, so the saying goes, and that’s certainly the case in the Blundell household. Shooting Gazette scribe Adrian Blundell sent us this image of his two-year-old grandson, Elliott Kay, enjoying the motoring page of the August issue. “Not commented on grandfather’s grouse articles yet, though!” said Adrian. Pictured are the guns…

The age-old question of what to buy for someone who has everything may be answered in many ways, but for anyone with a scintilla of affection for the countryside then the ultimate acquisition is a shooting estate with quality provenance. By economic necessity, most people rent their shooting, but there is always the frustrating compromise that while you can walk away when the lease expires, you are never quite in control or able to influence matters by personal touch and people who have succeeded in big businesses have done so by personal influence, so renting may be fine, but ownership is better. During 2016, several notable sporting estates with established shooting reputation came to market, but for Rupert Martin, entrepreneur, racing driver and shooting aficionado, it was Lillycombe on Exmoor…

TRAVEL Cornwall is remote but there are road, rail and air links. Road is straightforward: the A390 will get you to within 15 minutes of Caerhays Castle. St. Austell station is probably closest, six miles as the crow flies, and Newquay Airport is a 45-minute drive. Ideally, put two or three shooting days together. Local shoots include: Carnanton, Pawton Manor, Pentillie, Boconnoc and Clovelly. STAY If you want a traditional luxury hotel try The Nare (narehotel.co.uk) at nearby Veryan-in-Roseland. It boasts 35 bedrooms and suites, two restaurants and spa, gym and hot tub, and is accustomed to dealing with teams of guns. The Vean (caerhays.co.uk/thevean), a beautifully restored Georgian house in the Porthluney valley, is within walking distance and has been refurbished by Lizzy and Charles Williams with guns in…

As youngsters on the shooting field, many of us will have been caught out by the experienced old-timer who says, “Feel the weight of that” as he hands over a shot bird. It is, of course, a ploy on his part to get the tyro to carry it rather than to have to do so himself but it’s often a valuable exercise to compare the weight and condition of shot birds. Typically, what weight should an average pheasant or partridge be and can they ever be too heavy to provide a high sporting bird? You might suspect that a lighter one ought to be able to fly better, but perhaps not if its lightness is due to under-nourishment. Correct, or conversely, incorrect feeding can affect game birds; how they mature…

Engineering: 10/10 Very well engineered and presented. Great trigger pulls, effective ejectors. The complete package. Looks and finishing: 9/10 The scroll engraving is well presented, the wood is exceptional but would benefit from some additional finishing. The standard measurements are very good for an off-the-shelf gun. Handling: 8/10 If you are looking for a gun that will do everything in the game-shooting field this could be the one for you. A great all-rounder. Reliability and customer service: 10/10 Beretta guns rarely have a problem. If something doesn’t work it’s usually minor and can be fixed quickly. The back-up through the UK distributor is excellent and any gunsmith of standing can fix these without difficulty. Value: 9/10 With an RRP of just over £4,000 it sits below the EELL at £6,400.…

A brilliant time at Byrecleugh All the action from the 2018 Pointer and Setter Champion Stake “A huge success for the gundog community…” Wendy Bardsley reflects on gundog events at this year’s Game Fair “The word ‘training’ should be banned…” Mike Barnes explains how to keep your dog focused “We work joyfully together to gather birds…” Gatherer on the unbreakable bond between man and dog PLUS Action from tests in Lincolnshire, Hampshire, Essex and many more……

Club: URC (Border Counties and Cotswold Area) Event: Novice working test Venue: Miserden Park Judges: Francesca Prentice, Jennie Dimmock and Howard Parker Gamekeeper: Martin Weeden Shepherd: John Mixture Sponsor: Skinner’s Our novice test was held by kind permission of Major Wills. There were 35 competitors and we held five tests. The first test was a marked retrieve down a track, through a gateway on to a grass mound. Before retrieving the mark, a blind retrieve should have been picked which was situated on the right just after the gateway. The mark proved too much of a distraction for some dogs. Test two was a double marked retrieve – the first retrieve being thrown to the left landing behind a horse jump, the second to the right landing on the brow…

Woofs is a new range of veterinary-approved dog treats made from wild cod fished from the North Atlantic. Caught by Norwegian trawlermen, the fish are turned into treats with many health benefits at Woofs’ manufacturing plant in Cornwall. Woofs is one of only a few UK pet-food companies to hold the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certificate, which means that all the fish that goes into the manufacture of the treats is from fully traceable and sustainable sources and that the Woofs’ fishery has been independently assessed on its specific impacts on wild fish populations and surrounding ecosystems. Woofs’ founders, Stewart Irvine and David Judd, have been campaigners for the preservation of the oceans and environment for many years. “That is why we will never compromise on using anything other than…