Twenty-one teams of four shooters assembled at Holland & Holland’s Shooting Ground last Wednesday in support of the Charitable Trust’s efforts to raise funds for its bursary scheme. The shoot, which had been organised by Liveryman Bill Winget (pictured below) and which had been many months in the planning, was the finale to the fundraising appeal launched by the Master, John Jackman, at the beginning of the year.
Holland & Holland very generously donated the Shooting Grounds for the day and Steve Denny, the Director of Operations, and his team had everything in place for the shoot and the hog roast lunch that followed.
By the end of lunch the scores had been counted and the Chairman of the Trustees, Past Master Colin Sharman, announced the winners. Overall winners, with a grand total of 370, were Jeremy Young (captain), Michael Goliner, Jack Smallman and Stuart Howe (pictured below with the Chairman of the Trustees). The team from West London Shooting School, comprising Roddy Richmond-Watson (captain), Alan Rose, Mark Heath and Diane Wade came second with 368, and the team from Purdeys, comprising James Horne, Tom Cosby, Owen Hastings and Laurie Bayliss, came third with a score of 362.
David Brunt of Holts then whipped up the audience and started to auction the catalogue of lots that had been generously donated. The star lot, offering the highest bidder the opportunity to entertain up to 12 people at home with a dinner cooked by Albert Roux and served by Lord Sharman, went for £6,000. The final lot offered the highest bidder the rare opportunity to fire Holland & Holland’s Spanish naval cannon ‘La Destruiadora’, which last saw action in the Peninsular War and which has become a permanent feature at the shooting grounds. The privilege fell, rather appropriately, to the Master who lit the fuse and then bid a hasty retreat before a loud report, tongues of flame and billowing smoke filled the air.
The auction alone raised £27,000 and after the proceeds of the day had been added up the total raised for the Trust amounted to a staggering £63,000.
A big ‘Thank you’ to all those who participated, those who donated auction prizes, and those who worked behind the scenes to help make the day such success.
(Pictures reproduced by kind permission of Paul Fievez)