Innehållsförteckning för November 2019 från Shooting Gazette

Praise for the Kennel Club I read T. Thompson’s letter in the October issue regarding health-testing of labradors with great interest. It was very interesting and highlighted the increasing importance of only breeding from dogs that meet the Kennel Club’s criteria. The whole business surrounding canine health testing can be very daunting, especially to the occasional breeder or a potential puppy-purchaser with only a fleeting knowledge of the subject. I have received an email from the Kennel Club advertising its involvement with the CombiBreed DNA health-test packages available for 13 pedigree breeds. Most importantly for gundog owners is the single cheek-swab test for labradors that covers the five inherited conditions the club feels are most important. The CombiBreed test is not only amazingly simple to complete but is also relatively…

Inasmuch as any of us have time to read newspapers in the shooting year, if read, these organs of their owners’ and paymasters’ aspirations demonstrate what we might expect of them. Left-leaning red tops spew bile about the politics of the right, demonstrate a woeful ignorance of matters rural and food production, while suggesting how Brexit will be akin in its effect on mankind to the asteroid that took out the dinosaurs. Right-veering publications, once champions of the countryside, use many column inches decrying the Marxist doctrines of the comrades while suggesting how Brexit will release us from the unelected, unaudited, unaccountable federal monster that is the EU. It was a previous prime minister who, when asked what he feared most, responded with the immortal reply, ‘events, dear boy, events’.…

You must be thrilled about the BGA trade deal that will see 250,000 game birds from the UK exported to Hong Kong and Manacu? Absolutely thrilled, it’s a real achievement that goes to show how hard we have been working as the official marketing board for game. The trade deal shows that there is a demand for assured products while also perfectly showcasing the worldwide/ international need for an assurance scheme to ensure traceability and the provision of assured products. As a former chef, what was it like conducting the demonstrations at the front of the BGA stand at the Game Fair? I loved being back in the whites again - the thing that I loved the most was engaging people in our new product development, which was a huge…

Dear Uncle Giles, What are your views on people who celebrate — and by that I mean whoop, cheer or holla — when they have shot a particularly difficult bird? AJPW, by email Uncle Giles writes When a chap has pulled off a truly superb result he — or perhaps she — is, I think, entitled to a spot of celebration. When shooting with friends and a certified archangel folds up as per the plate glass window and begins its long descent towards the sward below, some sort of recognition of the event may, I feel, be appropriate. However British we may be and however stiff our upper lips, when we have pulled off a truly blinding shot it is only fair to the bird and to the keeper who…

Wildfowlers dream of dire weather and miserable winds. The worse the conditions, the more predictable birds can become. They jink down gutters and hang downwind of a sandbank or the crumbling wreckage of a sea wall when the wind is high. Measure this against clear, mild days when the land is washy with freshwater and every pool and scrape is a magnet for ducks. Pickings are slim in the sunshine, so wildfowlers wait for the barometer to fall and the storm clouds to gather. “I knocked down two wigeon before we saw the first pintail coming; three drakes in a single flight.” Almost all of my shooting takes place in the uplands; I winkle out grouse and woodcock through the rushy heather hills of home. But coming from Galloway, I…

When the question “What have the Romans ever done for us?” is asked, every Monty Python fan will know that the answer is “Sanitation, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system and public health”. But they also brought the pheasant to Britain. Probably. Almost certainly. Like the rabbit. The Romans did like their food, after all. Whatever the truth of their introduction into the UK, we do know that they originally came from Asia and that they have been here for around 2,000 years. Nonnative species generally receive a bad press, and often rightly so: grey squirrels, mink, signal crayfish, Japanese knotweed – there is not a lot to be said for these. But Britain, in my opinion, would be a poorer place without rabbits, little owls,…

We have all heard the old adage about waiting ages for a bus then three come along at the same time. Well that is almost what happened to me with the rare Alexander Henry unorthodox two-position match rifle. There were only 24 such rifles ever built and I had only ever seen one in an illustration. Then, out of the blue last year, one appeared at my house, brought by a collector friend of mine, and then earlier this year another one appeared in a Holts auction. In the second half of the 19th century, Alexander Henry of Edinburgh was the pre-eminent rifle-maker in the world, selling rifles to all of British and European royalty, the maharajahs, the aristocracy and sportsmen the world over. When he died in 1894 the…

A couple of weeks ago I was on a train about to pull away from Newcastle on its way down to London. As the guard checked his watch one last time and prepared to bring his whistle to his lips, there was an almighty commotion on the platform. From nowhere, three passengers — a man and two women — charged towards the doors. The thickness of the glass and the rumble of the train’s engine meant I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but it was clear from their excitable body language and the man punting his large suitcase into the air that they really, really weren’t happy about missing the train by a picosecond. Thankfully, common sense and compassion prevailed; they were let on and they thanked the guard…

For the first time there were four of us doing the test, including Diane Wade, former GB and England sporting team member; Chris Douneen, former GB trap shooter; and Paul Gendall, a great all-round shot with both shotgun and rifle. We decided to go straight to one of the new partridge stands that have been set for the season at the shooting school. They come off the recently raised banks at the school and resemble the birds that you might see coming off the North Wessex Downs. I could wax lyrical, but in short the handling was amazing. The traps on this sequence are radio-controlled and we took the opportunity to shoot at what seemed ridiculous distances, but the handling and target breaks were phenomenal. I was pleased I had…

MEN’S LCM5 INSULATED FIELD JACKET BY LE CHAMEAU £579 lechameau.com I was impressed by the quality and functionality of this jacket straight away. The more I explored its features, the clearer it became that it would offer a good return to anyone willing to shell out a not inconsiderable amount to buy one. The large, super-loader pockets take time to get used to when fully extended but the angle and width will take crucial seconds off your reloading time. The freedom of movement afforded by the jacket’s action back, plus the position of the sleeves, is immediately noticeable and despite its layering you won’t notice any extra stress across your shoulders when walking between pegs. AXFORD WATERPROOF BREEKS BY ALAN PAINE £149.95 alanpaine.co.uk Alan Paine knows…

Q I have an 11-week-old labrador and I want to start training as soon as possible. Can you direct me as to the first steps as I don’t want to start off on the wrong foot. A Well firstly, let’s not call it training as that is some way off. You are in the preparation stage, you have a very young puppy and it’s all about the game. Having fun, building in loads of experiences and exploring the world. Yes, you have to introduce some boundaries and manners around people and the home, but it should be about socialisation and concentrating on that. Load those experiences around everything you can think of and introduce them enthusiastically. The list is huge and that will occupy you – everything visual from beards…

Back in the summer I found ‘paper gold’ – about 30 vintage Shooting Times magazines ranging from 1956 to 1969. It was amazing to read about gundog championships, wonderful reports on field trials, and of course what sort of shooting brakes were on offer. My favourite is a 1966 Mercedes universal estate from £2,575. Back in the ‘good old days’ they seemed to be having similar problems to us. In 1967 P.R.A. Moxon wrote: “Too many people are competing in retriever trials with dogs which are just not sufficiently experienced or of the quality demanded. “As a result, in countless instances more worthy dogs are barred from competition because stakes have been filled (almost every stake is heavily oversubscribed) and many of the nominations taken up by substandard dogs.” Ha!…

Sir Thomas The name Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton might not be familiar to you but this most modest of men has had a huge impact on our daily lives. The abolitionist, social reformer and founder of what would eventually become the RSPCA was also a keen game Shot, and his sporting life makes for interesting reading, as John Clements explains. Christmas gifts OK, OK, it’s only November but I hope you will forgive us as we do have to start thinking about Christmas here at Shooting Gazette. At least start thinking about thinking about it. We have dedicated four pages of this issue to fieldsports-themed gift ideas, from the sensible and practical to the fun functional. If you’re starting early we hope our guide proves useful.…

A little like the Brexit debate, the machinations of Wild Justice and the League against Cruel Sports (LACS) rumble along endlessly, attacking shooting and legal predator control using guerrilla-style tactics. It is only a matter of time before they move these tactics to conventional, parliamentary full-frontal warfare. They have already started with their massive attack on the rearing of game birds. No doubt they will also make the most of the growing pressure within the EU to ban lead shot and bullets, with Waitrose not selling game shot with lead from 2020. In contrast, I suspect most of your readers will conclude that the shooting press is mostly reporting Wild Justice and LACS activities and possible countermeasures on a piecemeal basis. Worse still, there is too much preaching to the…

Recognise the importance of the Internet: As founder of GunsOnPegs, I can see how the Internet has revolutionised the shooting community. Gone are the days when game shooting relied upon printed adverts, trade shows and bricks-and-mortar stores. Social media has dramatically changed our messaging strategy and represents enormous opportunity as well as great potential pitfalls. Our world was slower to adjust than others and is now catching up. Always be on the front foot: Self-regulation and co-ordinated messaging are vital to defend our community from an increasingly concerted and sophisticated attack from those who are politically motivated. Shooting responded well to the general licence issue and we must work to bring shooting groups together. Promote game meat consumption: We are in the food industry providing wonderful, high-protein, lean meat. Everyone…

My dream team would shoot grouse at Weardale in early October, when the grouse are at their most challenging. I’ve been lucky enough to shoot there and it’s incredible. We always stay at the Lord Crewe Arms Hotel which is unbelievably nice – it’s a real treat to stay there. First on my list is Shooting Gazette columnist Adam Calvert, he’s the most brilliant instructor and has really helped me get my eye-in for the grouse this year. He’s also great fun! Next up is Edward Darbishire, a fantastic host and a great guy. The dream day is always about more than the shooting and Ed would ensure every element ran to perfection. Following Ed is John Scott, a great friend but a pretty useless shot — possibly because he’s…

John Farquharson (1831-1893) was an interesting character. He came from humble origins, yet his prowess as a rifle shot brought him national acclaim, winning many of the major national competitions. He was a gamekeeper and worked for Lord Rosebery of Dalmeny Park, Edinburgh, who encouraged his rifle shooting. When he won first prize at the Edinburgh & Midlothian Rifle Competition in 1862, he adopted for the first time the ‘Farquharson position’, more commonly known as the back position. On 19 June, 1862 The Scotsman commented: “Considerable amusement was created by the method of shooting adopted by Mr Farquharson.” Farquharson features to a large extent in the history of Alexander Henry due to the acrimonious patent dispute between himself and Henry over Farquharson’s 1872 patent for a falling-block rifle. Henry and…

Engineering: 9/10 This is a well engineered gun put together with the manufacturing capability of modern CNC machines and the finishing eye of the skilled gunmaker. Aesthetically, the rounded action is very pleasing on the eye. Looks and finishing: 10/10 Truly exceptional in this department, the gun had everyone drooling over it. The execution of the hand engraving is to the highest standards. The wood to metal fit first class and the overall presentation incredible in this price bracket. Handling: 10/10 This gun has been balanced perfectly and handles exceptionally well, to the extent that it would compete with best guns costing a king’s ransom and more. Customer service: 9/10 Chapuis has been around for some time and under the influence of Stephane at Stephen and Son is making inroads…

Novice  1 Paul Edmunds with lab Kynigos Midnight Magic 2 Kim Dutton with lab.b.Ashwynd Lemon Spirit 3 Victoria Stanleywith lab.d. Craigmaddie Nevin 4 Steve Burns with lab.b. Eiderbay Fasnet at Jollybrow (owned by S.J. & C. P. Burns) CoM Jackie Owen with lab.b. Kensteen Tomorrow’s Dream of Marianglas CoM H Llyr Roberts with lab.b.Arrupe Janet Open  1 Victoria Stanleywith lab.d. Minstead Maigret 2 Victoria Stanleywith lab.b. FTCh Patanavac Brough 3 Wendy Manning with lab.b. Dallagil Bluebel with Overmarsh CoMVickyWaterfield with lab.d. Brenjon Harry CoM Kim Dutton with lab.b. ShadyAcres Teardrop…

About 18 months ago I wrote a letter to Shooting Gazette suggesting estates should offer affordable and less formal 50-bird boundary days in order to encourage newcomers into shooting. It won Letter of the Month. When thanking the magazine for my Dubarry boots I asked if I could write a column about picking-up. (Ed. The rest, as they say, is history). “I asked if the Chequered Flag was a pub. He explained it was a satnav symbol.” Now, putting my dog lead where my mouth was, I’m shooting on three 50-bird days booked blind on the recommendation of a local gunsmith. To spice things up, I’m planning to take Cecil because he is the most reliably biddable cocker I’ve ever met. However, he is becoming a bit wilful now he’s…

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 with bellows for ease of entry – designed for both men and women – are handcrafted from waterproof DryFast–DrySoft breathable leather. 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.…

Katsu pheasant breast SERVES FOUR PEOPLE Ingredients • 500g pheasant breast • 100g tempura flour • 500g panko breadcrumbs • 200ml sparkling water • 2g salt • 2g pepper Method Strip the breasts into 2cm long strips and set aside and season. Lay all strips in the water and in four steps dip the strips in the tempura flour, water again then panko. Preheat oil to 170°C and fry for 5-8 minutes until golden brown. Serve with sticky jasmine rice and Katsu sauce.…

The season is well under way, so what better time to extol the virtues of shooting to the public — but this month, forget about the conservation benefits, the financial contribution to the economy or putting food on the table. This month, let’s all tell more people about the benefits shooting has to our personal well-being and mental health. It’s all very well to talk about shooting in quantitative terms, such as the number of conservation days shoots put in each year, but how many of us talk about importance of shooting — in all its forms — as a social activity? With the increased focus by society as a whole on personal well-being, who can argue with something that gets us outside in the fresh air, away from our…

For your chance to win a bottle of Taittinger Champagne for Picture of the Month, send us a team photograph or a picture of something unusual from your shoot. Send high-resolution images or prints with captions to Shooting Gazette Gallery, Ti Media Ltd, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 7BF or email: martin.puddifer@ti-media.com. GREY PARTRIDGE AWARD FOR ADAM STEED Part-time gamekeeper Adam Steed from Red House Farm, Bacton in Norfolk, has scooped the GWCT’s 2019 East Anglian Grey Partridge award. The award recognises the improvements that have been made to native grey partridge populations in East Anglia by both farmers and landowners. “I’m absolutely thrilled as it’s a very coveted award,” said Adam. “When harvest comes and you start seeing these rare birds doing well and it’s a product…

I arrived early at the Buckland shoot in Somerset, just south of Taunton, to give me a chance to chat to owners Tom Aplin and his partner Emily Wells. Tom has been involved in running the shoot since he was 13 years old, having helped the original tenant on his father’s 600-acre farm that the shoot comprised in those days. He took over the reins at the tender age of 19, just 11 years ago, with Emily arriving in 2010. Tony Constance, the team captain, arrived first and confessed he might well have issued the wrong postcode to the team. Tom smilingly scolded him as he’d been several times before and should know where he was coming to. Tony laughed and confided in me they had all stayed over in…

The story goes that as the boat neared the dock in Antigua, the porter glanced at the label on the suitcase. He looked at the owner and asked “Are you descended from The Liberator?” The man nodded. The porter reached out his hand, shook the traveller’s hand and smiled. If you have not heard of Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, 1st Baronet of Belfield, it is likely he would not be too concerned. He was not one to court publicity or rest on his laurels; in fact, he said rather he would have good woodcock shooting than the glory of his achievements. A keen Shot If you can’t place him just yet, you will almost certainly have seen him – on the old £5 note. You may recall on the back…

One day recently I was pigeon shooting on a field in the middle of a wind farm. The giant propellers and regular ‘whoosh-whoosh’ sound as the blades cut through the air did not seem to disturb the pigeons but they had an effect on me, one I was not aware of until the end of the day. There were not as many pigeons on this stubble as had been expected from my reconnaissance the previous day. However, there were enough to keep me sharp for the opportunity of the odd bird that came along the hedge to my right or from behind to my left. “Every shot we take is, or should be, a total commitment, as laser-like concentration is focused on the bird.” The movement of the turbine blades…

Alexander Henry had lost his patent dispute case in 1877 but some five years earlier experienced every bit as much trauma when he was blatantly defrauded by an Edinburgh lawyer. Joseph Wormald was a well-established Edinburgh lawyer, with many influential clients in his books. In May 1873 he visited Henry and said he had bought a considerable amount of building land for development. He suggested that Henry invest £3,000 in the scheme with a guarantee of 5% interest. The property venture seemed rock solid and Henry bought in, receiving a bond and disposition from Wormald. Everything seemed entirely correct but as the months and the years went by, he received nothing from Wormald, even though he wrote to him repeatedly. Wormald constantly fobbed him off but it was obvious to…

Club: Utility Gundog Society Event: All Aged Spaniel Working Test Venue: Hill Farm, Hintlesham Judge: Andrew Robinson and Mark Watson Sponsors: Nossewej, Su-Bridge Pet Supplies and Dog & Field We held a charity test in Hintlesham with the kind permission of Kevin Doughty and the Bostock family, with all proceeds going to the East Anglian Air Ambulance. We probably couldn’t have picked a worse weekend for a spaniel test — the weather forecast was extremely hot, more than 30ºC. The judges were concerned, so we started early and did the first run in sugar beet before it got too hot, and then moved to the shade and the lake at Hill Farm for some water retrieves. With 31 dogs running it was going to be a long day, but the…

How to win For your chance to win either a Pintail Explorer smock (top) or a Seasons jacket (right), email high-res images to martin.puddifer@ti-media.com. Please put ‘Gundog Picture of the Month’ in the subject line. The winner will be chosen by the Shooting Gazette judging panel. Good luck! The prize will only be posted to winners with a fixed UK postal address.…