YOUNGSTERS wishing to pursue a career in countryside sports, like Olympic gold medallist Peter Wilson, can be inspired by a shooting course the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) is running.
The annual Young Shooters Course offers children, aged between 12 and 15 years old, a taste for shooting in October half-term with fun-filled activities, including clay shooting under the guidance of expert professionals.
The emphasis of the one-day course is to introduce the next generation to the joys and thrills of the countryside, and it could inspire them to go and take the sport up professionally.
As a 14-year-old, Wilson first tested his clay shooting skills on a GWCT Young Shooters Course and, since then, he’s had an illustrious career in shooting.
He set a double trap world record in 2012, shooting 198 out of 200 in Tuscon, Arizona, before clinching gold at London Olympics.
And now, Wilson has announced he’s coming out of retirement to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics - in a new discipline.
Roger Draycott, head of advisory at GWCT, who will be running the course, said: “As well as offering insight on many of our fascinating game species, the day also highlights some of the practical conservation techniques used in the modern countryside. We also include some challenging fieldcraft activities and many of the skills they learn during the day will stay with them for the rest of their lives.”
“It may also be the start of something special. I know the course inspired Peter Wilson to start a fledgling career in the sport and now he’s an Olympic champion. That could be you.”
“As ever, we are enormously grateful to the Norman Clarke fund, which has provided funding for this series of courses for youngsters.”
The day at the Allerton Project in Loddington - one of GWCT’s research farms - takes place on Saturday, October 21 and will comprise; training in the safe use and maintenance of shotguns, shooting clays under the guidance of a professional shooting coach (shotguns and safety equipment provided), as well as learning about sportsmanship and identifying quarry species, predation control in game and wildlife conservation and how best to conserve game and farmland wildlife.
Students attending do not need any specialist equipment but must come prepared with outdoor clothing and sturdy footwear.
The cost for the course, which runs from 10am to 4pm, is £50, including lunch.
To book your place, contact Lynda Ferguson on 01425 651013 or complete the entry form online here.
Notes to editors
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust – providing research-led conservation for a thriving countryside. The GWCT is an independent wildlife conservation charity which has carried out scientific research into Britain’s game and wildlife since the 1930s. We advise farmers and landowners on improving wildlife habitats. We employ 22 post-doctoral scientists and 50 other research staff with expertise in areas such as birds, insects, mammals, farming, fish and statistics. We undertake our own research as well as projects funded by contract and grant-aid from Government and private bodies. The Trust is also responsible for a number of Government Biodiversity Action Plan species and is lead partner for grey partridge and joint lead partner for brown hare and black grouse.
For information, contact:
Eleanor Williams
Telephone: 07592 025476
Email: press@gwct.org.uk