Innholdsfortegnelse for 15-Jun-2016 i Shooting Times & Country

I AM GLAD that Tom Payne rates simulated clay days as good practice for the real thing (see p.17). Of course being the closest you can get to the genuine article they don’t come cheaply, but if a group of Guns clubs together they are definitely good value and great fun. A couple of weeks back I was fortunate to be a guest on a simulated day on Matthew Pickford’s Stoke Drove shoot in Wiltshire. The action takes place on the actual drives of the partridge shoot which Matthew runs in the season and the chalk downland offers the perfect topography. Hidden behind the ridges the hand trappers fire volleys of clays at different angles and combinations. They time the pauses in the action between flushes to perfection, creating excited…

23 JUNE GWCT SIMULATED GAME DAY The Allerton Project, Loddington, Leicestershire Tel 07976 207113 23 JUNE COUNTRYSIDE RACE DAY Newmarket Racecourse, Newmarket, Suffolk Tel 0207 840 9298 23-26 JUNE THE ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh Tel 0131 335 6200 25 -26 JUNE THE IRISH GAME FAIR Shanes Castle, Co. Antrim 028 (from ROI 048) 44615416 17 JULY BASC LADIES DAY: INTRODUCTION TO SHOOTING Firle Place, Lewes, East Sussex Tel 07775 940522 5 AUGUST HOLT’S AUCTIONEERS ANNUAL CLAY DAY Sandringham estate, Norfolk Tel 01485 542822…

You opened Benedicts in Norwich last year. How challenging is it to run a city restaurant? Moving from the country to an inner-city restaurant was a shock to the system, but finding new suppliers and the variety of our customers has made for an interesting and exciting 10 months. Luckily, Norwich is a fine small city with amazing countryside on its doorstep. You have competed on the BBC’s Great British Menu several times. What have you learned from that experience and will you ever take part again? I am fortunate enough to have been involved with the show for more than five years, and I have been able to grow personally and professionally over this time. After winning two courses and serving those at the prestigious banquet, it is safe…

This is a picture of our litter of working cockers, who were reunited at their first birthday party last weekend (right). We had two bitches, four dogs (plus mum), and they are pictured here with my stepfather (and chief breeder) Peter Whittingham, awaiting some roasted beef! Clara Louis, by email IN ASSOCIATION WITH FUR FEATHER & FIN: FOR ALL YOUR SHOOTING TIMES The winner of this week’s Letter of the Week will receive an Anti-Corrosive Gun Sleeve, exclusively available from Fur Feather & Fin. For more information, visit www.furfeatherandfin.com or tel 01243 811844.…

“We shot the vixen on her way to the earth. She had seven grouse chicks in her jaws” Our constant battle with the local fox population continues unabated. We have regular checks over the estate for any new litters of cubs, or adults who have moved in from neighbouring ground, which can be 10 times worse if the area has no gamekeepers. We check the terrain for earths with the terriers, which can bolt any foxes or cubs we might come across. Our terriers are absolutely invaluable when we are carrying out this type of work and, without them, our gamebirds, waders and any ground-nesting birds would come increasingly under threat. They are a vital tool in our fight to save our waders in this world of conservation. If we…

Condition is the most important aspect when you are buying a second-hand gun; more important than make, age or type. It is worth bearing in mind that some guns may have had a century or more of use and suffered economy repairs at a time when their value was only as a working tool. Small peening marks made with a hammer showing around the fences and the top edges of the action bar flats indicate old attempts to “tighten” an action. Similarly, hammer marks around the hook and the bite in the rear lump will be due to a bodged and essentially temporary repair intended in the short-term to take the play out of a worn action. As a guide, barrels should be clean inside and out and tight on…

It’s not often that I wish the League Against Cruel Sports well with one of its campaigns, but its recent efforts to highlight illegal dog fighting has my wholehearted support. Dog fighting has nothing in its favour, with thoroughly unpleasant people breeding equally unpleasant dogs. I have also heard suspicions voiced that stolen gundogs are used by dog fighters to warm up their fighting dogs, a deeply disturbing thought. I’ve never understood the attraction of the bull terrier-type breeds. A Staffie may have a raffish appeal in its ugliness, and I’m sure that many do have sound temperaments, but there’s a lot that don’t. Many people seem to forget that bull terriers were originally kept for bull-baiting, hence the name, so aggressive dogs were not only favoured, but selectively bred.…

This year’s annual nettle-eating contest will be taking place once again at the Bottle Inn at Bridport in Dorset on Saturday, 18 June. The hour-long competition has been held for the past 26 years, having started after two farmers had an argument about which of them could grow the biggest stinging nettles on their land. These days, organisers provide the raw materials of 2ft lengths of nettle stalks, which are grown locally and collected the day before. The winner is the contestant who has stripped and eaten the leaves from the greatest number of stalks. Simple, but not easy, of course, given that the leaves sting and can cause the tongue to swell and blacken. Forty people took part last year, judged by a team of eight judges and a…

With the longest day approaching fast, even southern England has the potential to experience 14 or more hours of sunshine in a single day. However, the longest days in the British Isles are to be found in the Shetland Islands. In mid-June, the sun rises not long after 4:30am, and doesn’t set until after 11:30pm. The Shetlands are around 60º north, whereas the Arctic Circle is at 66º, so there is never continual sunlight. However, in mid-summer the sun only dips below the horizon for a mere five hours. There is no real darkness even during these five hours, but just twilight, earning the Shetlands the name “islands of the simmer dim”. If the sky is clear, it is light enough to read outside through the entire night. The long…

“The legislation is needless, will not make the public safer, and would be unwieldy and expensive” The Scottish Government has finally confirmed that the new airgun licensing fee will be £72 for new applications. Visitor permits will be £20, while there will be a £5 charge for existing shotgun and firearm certificate holders. Shooting organisations, which opposed the introduction of the new legislation, have once again voiced concerns. “While we welcome the nominal fee for existing certificate holders, which BASC was instrumental in securing, we still have grave concerns regarding the implementation of a licensing scheme that will impact thousands of people,” said BASC Scotland director Colin Shedden. Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, commented: “Since the Scottish Government announced plans two years ago to license the estimated…

BASC Council changes Peter Glenser has been elected as chairman of BASC after the resignation of chairman Alan Jarrett. Mr Glenser’s term will run only until 18 June, when new council elections will be held at BASC’s AGM in Chester. BASC stated: “Following the resignation of Alan Jarrett as Chairman of BASC, the Council unanimously elected Peter Glenser. Peter is often described in the shooting press as the ‘UK’s leading firearms barrister. He is a keen Shot and has served on Council since 2009” The announcement of Mr Glenser’s appointment follows the suspension of three members of staff. The suspensions include two of BASC’s senior management team. One of those has since resigned. BASC issued a separate statement on the matter: “Certain internal employment issues are currently being investigated at…

TheEnvironmentalAudit Committee of the House of Commonshaswarnedthatsome ofthemostproductiveagricultural land in the UK could become unhealthyandunprofitablewithin justonegeneration. A new report by the committee says that soil erosion and lossof carbonarethegreatestfactorsof concern,astheywillseriouslyharm the environment and pose a threat to food production. It also stresses that the importance of soil quality, which it says is not often widely considered,shouldreceivejustas much attention as air, water and biodiversityconcerns. The report says: “Soil is crucial to society. Neglecting soil health couldhavedireconsequences for food security, climate change, andpublichealth.”Itrecommends that DEFRA should begin making annual reports on the state of contaminatedlandinEngland and Wales, and says that the department’sGoodAgricultural andEnvironmentalCondition standardsarenotsufficientto support the Government’s goal for all soils to be managed sustainably by2030.…

The Scottish Government is under the delusion that the new airgun law, applying only to the Scottish quarter of the UK, will somehow improve public safety and reduce crime in Scotland. I think it is a power measure to secure a little bit more “control” for the SNP and raise more money for the Scottish coffers. Fifty years ago when I was 14, my air rifle could penetrate a newly cut log to a depth of ¼in (6.35mm). It could certainly be dangerous in the wrong hands, but I was starting to get trusted as a young adult preparing for life. I believe the shotgun licence covered the ownership of the air rifle, too, 50 years ago. A friend’s young cousin, aged eight, made a much more powerful instrument that…

Buzzard dispersal BIRDS Q In common with many other areas of the country, we have seen a rapid build-up in numbers of buzzards in recent years. Whereas 10 years ago there might have been a single pair, there are now several. How big is a buzzard’s territory, and how far do the young disperse? A Adult buzzards in Britain are remarkably sedentary. In winter their main diet is invertebrates (predominately earthworms) and they have a digestive system that is adapted to surviving on such a poor diet. In areas where there is prolonged snow cover in winter, they are forced to migrate because of a shortage of food. Thus Scandinavian buzzards are highly migratory, moving south into Europe, but for most British buzzards there is little reason to migrate…

“If ever there was a case of ‘we’ll do this because we can’, the Scottish airgun legislation is it” Scotland — beautiful country, marvellous fieldsports, wonderful people... horrible politics. Not that the Scots have a monopoly on horrible politics. We have our own share south of the border. But in Scotland the Government seems so much more, well, bossy. For example, I drove up to see my son in Edinburgh recently. As I passed over the border at Carter Bar, the speed cameras started to appear, loads of ’em. Why are there so many, on open roads in such a rural area? Of course, once you get on to a motorway in Scotland, you get all those overhead signboards bearing really useful messages such as “don’t drive tired”, or “check…

“The farming payment crisis has placed immense stress on rural businesses throughout Scotland but the apology and update from the Cabinet Secretary is a welcome step in the Scottish Government getting a grip on this matter.” Douglas McAdam, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, welcomes the recent Parliamentary statement from the Scottish Government on the farming subsidy crisis. 10,000 BASC’s smartphone app has been downloaded more than 10,000 times since its launch last year. The organisation welcomed the news and described the app as “a one-stop shop” for anyone wanting to find out information about shooting.…

WATCH The final episode of Normal for Norfolk, which was originally shown on BBC2, is still available to see on BBC iPlayer. The series follows farmer Desmond MacCarthy as he attempts to keep his 17th-century manor home afloat. This episode sees Desmond put on a pheasant shoot. Shooting TimesEditor Joe Dimbleby was among the Guns, you may even catch a fleeting glimpse of him. EAT The warm weather is here and it’s the perfect time to get outside and fire up the barbecue. We recommend that you try a tasty and healthy barbecue saddle of venison. You can serve it on a bed of aubergines and tomatoes, with a dollop of crème fraiche. For the full recipe and all the ingredients, visit Shooting UK at http://po.st/BBQvenison. WRITE IN We hope…

The National Farmers’ Union has welcomed the news that the bluetongue vaccine will be available from mid-July and has told farmers to contact their vets as a matter of urgency to discuss whether to vaccinate their livestock. A Labrador saved the life of its drowning owner last month, by jumping into the river Wye near Hereford to piggyback him to safety. Pensioner Peter Alderson, 73, was moments away from losing consciousness before seven-year-old Wispa came to his rescue. Paralympic pistol shooter Roy Carter, who represented Great Britain on a number of occasions, has died after being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. Roy had earned a position in the Paralympics GB team in Rio 2016 after winning a bronze medal at the IPC Shooting World Cup in the US last…

FOR THE LARGER LADY Since I have been involved in shooting and country sports, I have noticed how difficult it is to get plus-size women’s country clothing. In fact if you are a size 20 and over you have to buy men’s clothing. Why is this? Do country clothing manufacturers think that the larger lady isn’t interested in country sports, or is it just that they can’t be bothered to cater for larger sizes? Why are they excluding the larger woman from their clothing ranges and forcing us to buy men’s clothing to get a decent fit? Come on, clothing manufacturers, start producing the larger sizes for women shooters. Katherine Griffiths, by email SCOTS AND AIRGUNS I have the misfortune to be a civilian who enjoys shooting as a sport…

“Hedgehogs are in severe decline, due to the explosion in the badger population” Every morning, around eight o’clock, the two yellow Labradors are fed beside the tack room. No story there, except that today the young dog disappeared into the garden, leaving his bowl of dry food untouched, only to appear a few minutes later with what appeared to be a small grass-covered football in his mouth that he delivered to hand. No football this, but a large, curled-up hedgehog, the spines plastered with lawn cuttings. The animal was so tightly curled that it was impossible to locate its head; it was simply a ball of prickles. How the dog had managed to carry it without being injured is a mystery and, I suppose, a reflection on his soft mouth.…

When I was asked to write about six shotguns of particular interest that I have tested for Shooting Times, I thought it sounded like a great idea and the sort of article that could be spiced with variety. I never mind what comes up for test, from the economically priced to the expensive, but the guns that tend to stick in my mind are those shotguns that are either different, of particular technical interest or a fine example of style and quality. Bearing that in mind, my personal list of interest consists of six quite different shotguns. AKKAR TRIPLE CROWN The Akkar Triple Crown is not a shotgun you would ever be likely to forget. Anything so big, bulky and with three barrels will always grab anyone’s attention, and on…

 SPANIEL OWNERSHIP CAN be both enormously satisfying and extremely frustrating. I’ve survived 33 years of it, but am always full of admiration for those who have managed longer. So when I met Barrie Hughes and heard that he had owned working springers for exactly 50 years, I wanted to learn more. I soon discovered that, though Barrie is completely devoted to his springers, he is a man of many parts; spaniels, and shooting, are just part of an exceptionally busy life. “The mink climbed a tree. I told the spaniels to sit, and they held it at bay while I got my shotgun” This is a gundog column so we will start with the spaniels. Barrie acquired his first shortly after the birth of his son, Michael, in 1966, his…

BILL HARRIMAN BASC’s head of firearms and global authority on guns MAT MANNING Airgunner and journalist from the West Country BRUCE POTTS Shooting Timesrifle reviewer and stalker DAVID TOMLINSON Highly regarded writer and ornithologist LIAM BELL Shropshire gamekeeper and keen wildfowler GRAHAM DOWNING Shooting consultant and sporting author PAUL RAWLINGS Gundog expert and A-panel spaniel judge CHRIS DE CANI Riverkeeper, with specialist knowledge of chalkstreams TONY BUCKWELL Veterinary surgeon with a special interest in gundogs TONY JACKSON A game Shot, keen stalker and former editor of Shooting Times TOM PAYNE Professional shooting instructor and avid pigeon shooter SIMON WHITEHEAD Author, professional ferreter and rabbit controller IAIN WATSON Keen stalker and senior CIC international trophy judge Contact the team Email: stanswers@timeinc.com By post: Shooting Times, Pinehurst 2, Farnborough…