Thank you to all those that shot this years event
All prize and awards will be published on BASC's website click here
The results below, do not automatically imply an award is due.
Classes of shooter are:
AA - Gamekeeper
A - BASC Member
B - None BASC Member
Displays of outstanding shooting took centre stage at this year’s Best In The Field Clay Shoot at Sporting Targets over the weekend.
A near perfect score saw Dave Ferriman take the High Gun title at the 2024 Best In The Field Clay Shoot this weekend, 13-14 July. Sponsored by Manor & Co, Dave shot 99/100 around the course set by former FITASC world champion Ed Solomons.
With targets set to replicate live quarry shooting, the course made the most of Sporting Targets‘ topography, including shooting from a pigeon hide, kneeling in a creek, and, new for this year, driven fox.
Dave was full of praise for the event, saying: “I enjoyed the variety, it was good fun. We went round as a team and there was a range of targets [to shoot at]. Get a team of your friends together for next year.”
The women’s competition, sponsored by Edwards Eyewear, saw back-to-back Best In The Field wins for Becky Clifton (pictured above), who matched her 2023 winning score of 88/100 this time around.
Chelsea is king in team competition The team competition went to team Equipe de Robbie, who shot a combined score of 371/400 to take home their prizes courtesy of BASC and Tanners Wines.
Winning team member Chelsea King said: “The targets were really good, with a mixture of easy and tougher ones towards the end. It was really great to try the more challenging stands, like the standing and kneeling which replicates being out in the field. Give it a go next year and definitely book in, it’s so much fun and realistic to game shooting.”
Co-member of the Equipe de Robbie team, Scott Shuckford, added: “It’s very different to other clay shoots. It’s realistic to what you would be doing out in the field when you’re shooting geese or pigeons sitting in a hide. If you like shooting clays in a game scenario this is as close as you can get.”
Triumph for Dickens
A superb score of 90/100 rewarded Harry Dickens with a win in the young shots category, which was kindly supported by Tyson Cooper.
Harry said: “I enjoyed the variety; you’re not just standing – you’re sitting and kneeling. There was a slightly harder set of targets this year, with some bigger stuff out there. I’d recommend for anyone to come with a group of friends and enjoy it next year.”
Completing this year’s set of winners were Dominic Green, who came in top of the gamekeeper category, kindly supported by Promatic, and Rob and Sam Reynolds, who took home the award for best parent and child, sponsored by Quiller Publishing and Sporting Targets.
Speaking after the event, Ed Solomons said: “The second BASC Best in Field Clay Shoot at Sporting Targets was a great success.
It’s grown substantially from the first year’s entries and we were again fortunate with the weather. Everyone seemed to have a fantastic time thanks to the team at BASC and Sporting Targets themselves.”
“This was a great opportunity for shooters to engage with BASC about what they do, meet some likeminded people in a fun setting and allow us to introduce a cross-section of shooters to a light-hearted competition setting who may not otherwise be exposed to competitive clay shooting. I’m already looking forward to next year.”
Terry Behan, BASC regional director for the east of England said: “Huge thanks to Sporting Targets for having us this weekend, to our sponsors for their ongoing support and to Ed Solomons for his expertise and time in setting another challenging but superbly enjoyable course for this year’s competitors.
“It’s great to see the event being so well-attended and thoroughly enjoyed. We’ve witnessed some outstanding shooting across the weekend, and events like this give us the chance to interact with BASC members and answer their questions in a fun, competitive setting.”
Final scores
The final scores were:
High Gun (sponsored by Manor & Co)- 99/100 won by Dave Ferriman
Women-only (sponsored by Edwards Eyewear)- 88/100 won by Becky Clifton
Young shots (sponsored by Tyson Cooper)- 90/100 won by Harry Dickens
Gamekeeper (sponsored by Promatic)- 89/100 won by Dominic Green
Parent and child (sponsored by Quiller Publishing and Sporting Targets)- 165/200 won by Rob and Sam Reynolds
Team (sponsored by BASC and Tanners Wines)- 371/400 won by team Equipe De Robbie
BASC’s Best In The Field Clay Shoot is a competition with a difference, with targets set to replicate live quarry shooting.
Pre booking is essential for this competition, please call 01234 708893 to reserve your place.
BASC’s Best In The Field Clay Shoot is back!
Following the huge success of the the Best In The Field Clay Shoot 2023, the event is back for 2024… but bigger and better! The event is taking place on the 13th and 14th of July here at Sporting Targets, Riseley in Bedfordshire.
Once again, the course will be set by FITASC world champion and shooting coach, Ed Solomons and will follow a game shooting layout, replicating live quarry. This will include pigeon, rabbit, duck, grouse and pheasant, with each stand mimicking the real activity, whether it is in a grouse butt, seated in a pigeon hide or kneeling in a creek.
There will also be freshly prepared tasters of pheasant, partridge, pigeon and venison available to enjoy during the event!
With some fantastic prizes on offer across various categories, the event is suitable for all and one certainly not to miss. Categories include; High Gun, Young Shot, Women’s, Gamekeeper, Parent/ Carer and Child, and Team (up to six people).
Entry fee is £55 for BASC members and £65 for non-members. Included in the cost is: 100 sporting clays competition, plus 20 clays on BASC’s sustainable ammunition pool shoot. You will be able to re-enter the Pool shoot at an extra cost on the day.
When booking by phone please have the following information ready. Pre booking is essentail call: 01234 708893
- The day you would like to shoot
- The ideal time on that day to start
- Your BASC number
- If you are entering as a team, your chosen team name (please note top 4 scores to count for awards)
- If you are entering as parent and child your chosen team name
- Confirmation if you are game keeper
Please note that all shooters must complete an entry form and pay in full by 1st July 2024.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ENTRANTS
By entering the BASC Best In The Field Clay Shoot, you hereby accept the following terms and conditions related to the competition:
General terms and conditions
1. The organiser of the shoot is: The British Association of Shooting and Conservation (BASC), Marford Mill, Rossett, LL12 0HL.
2. The shoot is hosted by, and entries are to be made to: Sporting Targets, Knotting Lane, Riseley, Bedfordshire. MK44 1BX.
3. There is no cash alternative for any prizes. Prizes are provided direct to the winner from the sponsor and cannot be substituted.
4. Winners will receive their prize(‘s) within 30 days unless stated otherwise by the sponsor in writing, following completion of the competition. The exception to this is the prize gifted by Isuzu (tickets will arrive electronically a week before the event).
5. BASC & Sporting Targets reserve the right to publicise the names and pictures of the winners and runners-up in each section of the competition.
6. Personal data will be handled in accordance with BASC’s Privacy Policy, a copy of which is available on our website. (Link here: https://basc.org.uk/basc-privacy-policy/)
Specific competition rules
1. The Best In The Field Clay Shoot is open to both BASC Members and non BASC Members.
2. Each category is subject to specific entry requirement as below:
a). High Gun Category: open to all competitors, regardless of age or gender.
b). Women’s Category: open to women of any age.
c). Parent and child category: child can be any age.
d). Young shot category: open to those aged 21 and under.
e). Gamekeeper category: entrants must be professionally employed as a gamekeeper (full or part-time) at the time of the competition or have retired from the profession after a minimum of 5 years. Proof of employment is to be provided by the entrants and will be verified by BASC / Sporting Targets on the day of the competition.
f). All competitors entering any category in this competition must hold a valid shotgun certificate, or if under the age of 21, be accompanied by a valid shotgun certificate holder. This will be verified by BASC / Sporting Targets on the day of the competition.