NEWS

“Saturday was the main beater’s shoot day at Newton Rigg. The students have been working alternate Saturdays since arriving in September organising and running shoots on the campus farm for mainly external clients and industry representatives . The season has gone particularly well with some very professionally run days. The student’s “thank you” from Game/Countryside staff and Principal Wes Johnson is the opportunity of a day’s shooting for themselves, a tradition on most driven shoots.

The students were divided into 2 teams of 9 with one team doing the beating whilst the other waited for pheasants and partridge to be driven over them. The teams then swapped roles. Richard Gargett, Sam Riley and Adam Jay supervised the standing guns whilst Malcolm Riding organised the beating teams. The day was very, very windy meaning the birds flew very fast and high, tricky shooting for even the most experienced guns. Total bag for the day was 22 head although 211 shots were fired to achieve this. Not a good average but then the birds were exceptionally difficult. Although good shots were made by several students, it is worth mentioning Sam Cole and Connor Thody  who pulled off spectacular shots on Ashcroft and Arboretum drives. Richard, Sam, Adam and Malcolm would like to congratulate all the students on their exceptional observance of safety, well done.

Images below (attached) are of some of the students having their pheasant stew for lunch and the end of day Team Photo.”