AN inaugural sporting auction and raffle in Cheshire helped raise £7,500 to support BASC’s Youngshots project.
Hot on the heels of a successful dinner at the iconic Inn at Whitewell, the event at the Swan Inn, Tarporley, further boosted funds for the scheme which introduces youngsters between the ages of eight and 21 to safe and responsible shooting.
A raffle raised almost £1,000, although the evening’s highlight was an auction featuring driven pheasant days, wildfowling, deer stalking, chopper flights and a week’s shooting in Namibia.
Organiser Duncan Thomas, BASC’s acting northern regional director, said: “The support we received for our first such event in Cheshire was amazing. It proves the shooting community understands the importance of helping young people into shooting.
“It’s so impressive to see shooting pulling together. The support we received was again commendable, especially from our sponsors, many of whom have already pledged support for next year’s event.”
More than 80 guests sat down to the sporting dinner, before the auction was kicked off by speeches from BASC Youngshots Ambassadors Ollie Livesey, 16, and Alex Milroy, 13.
The Youngshots Ambassador scheme, piloted in the north of England, has now given more than 30 youngsters responsibility for social events, conservation projects, ‘take a mate shooting’ and other key duties.
For the last two years, BASC’s northern region has introduced more than 800 youngsters to a variety of shooting specialisms, including air rifles, wildfowling, deer stalking, clay and game shooting.
The event received backing from Cheshire Gun Room, Edgar Brothers, Bodfuan Shoot, Woodcock and Snipe, Checkley Wood Shoot, Lairds Sporting Directory, The Sutton Gamekeeper and Mickley Hall.