Nominated by Lucinda Southern, Audrey Watson, Amy Bratt, Becky Wilkinson, Helen Worthington, Sherry Hayer, Kath Yates, Heather Clarke & Caroline Beresford
Lucinda: I would like to nominate Louise Alford for the Star of Shooting Award. Through her passion for shooting she has founded the Yorkshire Fillies Group http://www.yorkshirefillies.co.uk/
This group not only caters for experienced shots but also for the complete novice and makes them feel very welcome, whilst keeping the prices affordable. The group continues to grow and expands to cover other areas due to increased demand. Louise goes above and beyond the normal shooting group. When I approached her to ask if we could combine a clay shooting and gundog day for ladies (as I myself own Gundog Girls group), she was keen to give it a go. This event attracted many ladies who work a dog but have never shot before and ladies who are experienced shooters but never worked a dog before. The huge success of this event has got many more ladies now hooked on fieldsports and is encouraging us to put on more joint events.
Not only is Louise committed to her shooting but she also runs her own ladies shooting clothing business. This provides stylish yet practical fashions for ladies wanting to step out in the field or at the clay grounds. Always approachable and on hand to offer advice, without Louise’s dedication a lot of ladies would never have considered picking up a shotgun let alone embarked on a new hobby.
Audrey: Louise founded the Yorkshire Fillies shooting group two years ago and tirelessly organises a series of ladies clay days – sporting and SIM days – enabling like-minded ladies to get together for a fun day of shooting and eating at a very reasonable cost. She has expanded the events into Derbyshire, Cheshire and Lancashire and always has a lovely sense of humour and sunny disposition. She also has time to make fabulous shooting clothing! She really is the reason I do so much clay shooting now and thoroughly enjoy my sport as a result. She would be a worthy winner.
Amy: I would like to nominate Louise for her endless enthusiasm and generosity when it comes to Ladies Shooting. Louise is selfless and doesn’t realise how much joy and fun she brings to her days. Louise works non-stop alongside other family commitments, work, business etc. organising days for Ladies Shooting. She’s always there with a welcoming smile, greeting ladies who have never shot before, out and into the sport. Quite often Louise doesn’t even shoot herself at her days as she’s making sure that all of her ‘fillies’ are having a good time. Her Yorkshire Fillies days are now in several counties so we have Derbyshire, Cheshire and Lancashire Fillies too. Her days are fun-packed, filled with great minded ladies, with proper supportive coaches and good grounds. You can always rely on a Yorkshire Filly day for a day packed full of shooting, laughs and bacon butties! They are my constant go-to event and I’ve never had a bad day shooting with Louise and her fillies. Louise would be totally overwhelmed to receive this award as she doesn’t realise what a difference she makes to ladies wanting to have some fun with their guns in a safe and relaxed atmosphere and I’ve made some real good friends for life through her. I am honoured and privileged to call Louise a fellow filly!
Becky: Louise has done so much for ladies shooting, with her Yorkshire Fillies days plus now expanding into Derbyshire and now Lancashire. You always have a great day on a Fillies day.
Louise is such a great supporter for ladies shooting, encouraging new shooters to the experienced not just organising clay days but sim days and game days. Encouraging Ladies this sport is not just for the men.
Helen: She’s a fantastic advocate of ladies shooting and works tirelessly to set up the Fillies days all over different counties to enable beginners, intermediate and advanced shooters to come together for a great days out. Thank you Louise!
Sherry: Louise has certainly kicked it up at notch for ladies shooting by doing her bit by bringing it to the forefront of what is predominantly a mans sport and done it well and so deserving of this award and recognition.
Her passion and kindness makes one of Louise’s days thoroughly enjoyable. She goes out of her way to make sure everybody is having a fabulous time and she never fails.
Not only has Louise got a full-time job and is a mom but she finds time to raise money for ‘WORKS ‘ a charity that provides
occupational training and life skills for people with learning disabilities!
Kath: I first met Louise at one of her Cheshire Fillies events twelve months ago when I was just starting clay shooting. She works really hard at her events, the format is good and she makes everyone very, very welcome. Nothing is too much trouble for Louise.
Heather: For her contribution, enthusiasm and dedication to ladies shooting throughout Yorkshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire & Lancashire Fillies ladies shooting events.
Caroline: Louise is such a well organised person.She offers a quality experience and is encouraging ladies to take up shooting in a positive way. I have friends who shoot with her organisation regularly and they all agree that Louise represents ladies shooting in a way that makes all ladies want to give it a go.
