A team of student gamekeepers from Hartpury College in Gloucestershire saw off competition from 22 other teams from 11 colleges to win the BASC annual Gamekeeping College Clay Shoot. Second place went to a team from Newton Rigg in Cumbria.
Hartpury’s winning team took home the Gamekeeping College Challenge Shield in the event organised by BASC and sponsored by Honda.
Pictured with the Gamekeeping College Challenge Shield: – (l-r) George Wilson, Matt Davies, Jack Lilwall and George Poultney from Hartpury College.
Teams were entered from colleges across the country. Each team shot at 320 targets, with individuals facing 80 clays over a layout of ten different stands at Park Farm Shooting Ground near Worcester.
The day’s high gun, with the best individual score over the day, was Jack Lilwall from Hartpury College. More than 100 people took part.
BASC’s head of game and deer management, Glynn Evans said: ”This was a fantastic day and a great opportunity for student gamekeepers to come together from across the country to meet and compete over a challenging clay-shooting course. BASC was pleased to host the competition and to see so many people attend.”
BASC councillor and gamekeeper Ian Grindy said: “The students are great ambassadors for the future of gamekeeping in the UK. It is good to see the sector has strength in depth for the future with so many colleges offering training and opportunities for young people to enter the profession.
“Gamekeepers in today’s world make a significant contribution to the health and well-being of the countryside. Their work involves creating and maintaining habitats which benefit a wide range of species.”
The event was also supported by Swarowski Optik, Bushwear, Biolink and Arthur Carter Fieldsports.
ENDS
For more information call the BASC press office on 01244 573052 or email press@0ld.basc.org.uk