Eighty eight game and wildlife management students from nine colleges in England and Wales will get together to determine who is the best shot at the first gamekeeping student clay shoot challenge to be organised by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC).
BASC will host the shoot at Doveridge Clay Shooting Ground, Derbyshire, on Tuesday 16th March 2010.
Stephen Toft, BASC’s game and gamekeeping officer, said: "BASC is committed to the future of gamekeeping and this event will provide a great opportunity for gamekeeping students to get together and break a few clays. A number of current and former gamekeepers will be on hand during the day to talk to the students about their future careers and experiences. I have no doubt this will be an enjoyable day."
Steve Bignal, from Coleg Gwent in Gwent, said: “This initiative from BASC is great for the promotion of gamekeeping courses and the chance for the colleges to get together. ‘Keepering is a solitary job and a lot of students don’t have a great deal of experience in the social aspects of the industry, so I feel this event is not only good for the students’ morale but will help to teach them networking skills that can only benefit them in years to come."
Matthew Norris-Hill, head of game, wildlife and countryside management at Sparsholt College in Hampshire said: “This is a great opportunity for students from across the country to get together for some sport and enjoyment and good on BASC for taking the initiative to make it happen. May the best team win.”
The colleges taking part in the event along with Coleg Gwent and Sparsholt College are Newton Rigg College, Cumbria; Myerscough College, Lancashire; Easton College, Norfolk; Moreton Morrell College, Warwickshire; Shuttleworth College, Bedfordshire; Plumpton College, East Sussex and Lackham College, Wiltshire.
The event is sponsored by Janssen Animal Health and the BASC Gamekeepers Advisory Committee. Trophies for the top team and individual guns have been sponsored by the producers of animal health tonic Verm-X, with other prizes for the top three individual high guns provided by Bushwear and the Sportsman Gun Centre, Exeter.
ENDS
Notes to editors –If you wish to send a reporter and / or a photographer please contact the BASC press office on 01244 573052. The event will start at 10am and prizes will be awarded at 3pm.
Prizes for the top three guns include three pairs of boots worth a total of more than £400 donated by Bushwear – one pair of Meindl Dovre Extreme GTX boots worth £214.99, one pair of Tretorn Akita wellingtons worth £114.99 and one pair of Tretorn Retriever wellingtons worth £84.99 – and a pair of Bushnell Infinity binoculars worth £300 donated by the Sportsman Gun Centre in Exeter.
For more information please call the BASC press office on 01244 573031