A warm and sunny Bank Holiday Sunday morning provided a wonderful setting for this annual Provincial event at the Manchester Clay Shooting Club, Worsley.
This year’s Provincial event saw the introduction of a new classification system as proposed by Mike Casey at the 2024 AGM and agreed by all members. The aim is to re-allocate trophies to ensure regular attendees can win a trophy based on their ability by being placed into a class depending on their average score during the previous 12 months. Members are informed of their class at the first shoot of the year, with new members being classed by current score. Ladies can take the ladies’ prize or class prize.
Members arrived at the event with Chris Tittley, Mike Cowsley and Mike Casey in charge of conducting the registration, which included the different classification scorecards. In addition, the majority of entrants took advantage of a bacon sandwich and a drink.
A couple of regular shooters were unfortunately absent due to injuries: chairman Ian Heyes with a double broken ankle and Andy McClements with a badly swollen foot.
Prior to commencement of the event, shoot supervisor Lawrence Alston gave a brief to all competitors detailing the trap setups that were to be used by all competitors.
The time arrived at 11:00 and the competition commenced with eight stands in commission with a total of 50 birds (clays) to be shot.
At 13:15, all 20 entrants had finished and it was then over to the scorers to collate the competitors’ data. From the collated scores, it was apparent that the rabbit stand had not scored well for the majority of entrants. It is to be noted that rabbits are the most complained about targets and are commonly missed targets on any shooting ground.
Lawrence Alston announced all the winners, commencing with Chris Ramsdale who won the class C (novice). Winners received the appropriate cup and a certificate of achievement. The top score of the day was a fantastic score of 41 achieved by guest, Daniel Swarbrick. The winners at the 2025 Provincial are:
High gun winner: David Smith of Country Pursuits Lodge No 6615 with a score of 38. Veteran winner: Derek Carr of Country Pursuits Lodge with a score of 34.Winner class aa (expert): Richard Dennison of Country Pursuits Lodge with a score of 30. Winner class A (proficient): Colin Preston of Country Pursuits Lodge with a score of 25. Winner class B (beginner): Martin Stokes of Tuscan Oak and Lamberthead Lodge No 6387 with a score of 31. Winner class C (novice): Chris Ramsdale (guest Mason) with a score of 30. Daniel Swarbrick (guest winner) with a score of 41.
Following the presentation, a raffle took place with the raffle proceeds and other monies raised at this event totalling an amount of £225.00 for Masonic and non-Masonic charities.
The 2025 Provincial Shoot was concluded by Mike Casey who thanked everyone for their attendance, their donation of raffle prizes and for members’ help in organising this 2025 Provincial Shoot event.
If there is anyone that would be interested in clay pigeon shooting in the Province of West Lancashire, details can be provided by contacting the secretary Chris Tittley by email chris.tittley@gmail.com
Beginners are more than welcome to attend one of the ‘Have A Go Stands’ events.
Report and pictures by Chris Tittley.