National Ladies' Shooting Day 2015

I've grown up around guns (that sounds a bit weird for those not from a rural background) but until September had never really given much thought to shooting. My brother got me to shoot his shotgun a few years ago- the recoil was huge and he didn't supply ear defenders. Safe to say that it wasn't really the best experience.

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Then in September I shot some clays with a nice little 20-bore and some ear defenders, and I realised that I actually really, really like shooting. The complete concentration required means that you can't- and don't- think about anything else but the target and your trigger finger. Its like mindfulness for the country set.

Over the winter I shot a little with the university club and had an amazing shoot with my friend Tash on her estate in Norfolk. At home I bought a gun and shot clays and er, anything else that could be classed as vermin (sorry bunnies. And squirrels).

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Beth Randles (shooting exec member and the sort of girl you don't want to be around if you're a pheasant, or a partridge, or a pigeon, or a clay) is doing her 20-week Ciren work placement with The Shotgun and Chelsea Bun Club and organised over 20 events across the country for National Ladies' Shooting Day. She herself was hosting the event at Prescott Shooting Ground in Gloucestershire, and I booked in to attend.

The Chelsea Bun Club organises events all year, and they are open to women of all shooting abilities to shoot and eat cake (no, really). There were around 25 women shooting at Prescott, and 21 were beginners of some shape or form (some had never held a shotgun, others had game experience but no clay, or had shot a while ago).

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First: the cake. We ate it during the prize- giving at the end of the day, and it was lovely. I made sweet potato brownies and Beth had made the most delicious meringues and gluten- free cakes. There was also a beautiful looking Victoria sponge and some cucumber sandwiches. Oh and tea. Lots of tea- what could be better?

When we arrived we were split into three groups- two beginners and one advanced- assigned an instructor and set off. The day was organised with four stands, we would be shooting eight clays on the first three and six clays on the last. Every shot was carefully watched by an instructor, which meant that it was a good opportunity for everyone to improve their shooting as well as have fun.

It was a really hot day which meant that being in a big group and waiting around wasn't that much of a problem- it was great for catching some sun- and everyone had been given a Prescott Shooting baseball cap, which kept some of the light away.

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As well as performance prizes on the day (a cartridge bag from Fur, Feather and Fin for the best advanced shot and an Alan Paine lambswool scarf for the best beginner) there were a heap of other amazing prizes to be won in a draw that all guns had been entered into- including a £1000 worth of clothes from Dubarry.

As our group was big we were the last to finish. The other beginners group were leaving as we got to the last stand and one of the ladies told us that the high score in their group was 15. I'm not THAT competitive, but I was holding the scorecards and realised that while there were a few of us who could equal that score, only one person could beat it- that was me and I'd need to hit six out of six.

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I'm not that great under pressure (you should have seen me playing cricket) but when it came to my round (I was last to go) I was pretty determined to win. It was a nice stand with the clay going away, not too high, and nice and orange against the trees.

Reader, I hit six.

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Every participant was given a tote bag with information about the sponsors, and from BASC and the Countryside Alliance.

Today shooting is with £2 billion to the UK economy and game is a sustainable, ecologically friendly meat. Supporting and encouraging the sport is incredibly important, and events like NLSD ensure that more and more people become interested in shooting. Because the more people who get involved the better the chances are that the sport can survive without hassle from the usual suspects.

I won't start on the SNP's latest statements on Scottish land reform- that's another post.

So in conclusion I'd like to thank the Bun Club and all their sponsors for putting on a fantastic day and Bath Randles for hosting at Prescott. Its a lovely ground with stands that mimic actual game drives rather than just being clays hurled in the air.

I would encourage you all to have a go next year- it was great fun and a lovely excuse to spend the day outside in the sunshine, shooting and eating cake.