Good shot!

Being shooting season I thought I'd try my hand at it and head to Bisley Shooting Ground in Surrey to put my shooting skills (or lack of them) to the test.

The shooting ground (there is also one at Braidwood in Scotland) is set in 3000 acres of heath and woodland. Founded in 1865, originally on Wimbledon Common, the shoot, including the stunning Victorian clubhouse was moved to Bisley in 1895 and has remained there ever since.

I have only ever been shooting once before and that was with a friend who simply handed me a gun (Russian made, it had such a strong kick back I was scared I might rip my cheek off) and told me to aim at the clays.

Obviously this wasn’t really a lesson so unsurprisingly I hit…sod all. Would I fare any better under the guidance of one of an industry leading professional?

The day began at 9 (which meant a very early taxi ride form London) with bacon rolls, pastries and tea in the clubhouse. Sitting by the open fire enjoying a (ok so I had two!) bacon roll, I would have been quite happy to spend the day in there. However we were soon handed ear plugs, protective glasses and a cap, our kit for the day.

After a rather funny loo incident (yes I got locked in, it was all very Miranda, especially the excitement of being rescued from said loo by a chap) we headed out to begin our morning of shooting.

Before any actual shooting our instructor hand each of us a gun (we had been split into groups- luckily I was with the other novices so if I was awful it wouldn’t be too embarrassing) to make sure we could actually see over the barrel.

I had no idea that there was even the possibility of not being able to see over it. Already I was one up on my first shooting experience- clays watch out, there could be trouble!

It turned out that I couldn’t see over it, but a piece of rubber attached to the handle of the gun soon sorted that.

Remembering how much the kick back of a gun scarred me (I really did think it would rip my face of and or dislocate my shoulder) when our instructor handed it to me, loaded it and told me to take aim, I was really quite nervous. To the extent that I pressed the trigger so lightly when the first clay went up that I didn’t even manage to make it fire.

Second attempt, being spurred on by my instructor who was convinced I would have hit that clay if I had actually fired, I pulled the trigger. And to my sheer delight I saw the clay smash as I hit it! Several shots later I had managed to hit every clay - I was hoping that this was not just a case of beginners luck.

An hour or so later and I had decided that shooting was my new favourite thing. If I had been god awful at it I have no doubt I would have felt differently, but during the morning I had hit all of my clays bar one or two.

After stopping for elevenses, the hot sausages, tea and soup were very welcome on the rather chilly day, we took part in a flush.

Normally one clay is released, it flies up, or across, you hit it (or not), job done. A flush sees six or so clays being released from multiple locations at once. Up, across, it’s all a bit mad but lots of fun. Basically everyone just fires like crazy and tries to hit something. With the clays coming from all angles it is a lot more difficult, and I’m not just saying that because I didn’t manage to hit an awful lot, luckily we all agreed.

After lunch the day of shooting was over. And I think I can safely say I may have a new favourite hobby. My bank balance is in despair already.