AN INTRODUCTION TO DRIVEN GROUSE SHOOTING

This film will give you a good grounding in what you can expect if you are lucky enough to be on a driven grouse day. There is very little to compare in the world of gameshooting. It also gives you a chance to see one of the finest game shots there is in action. When you shoot at Simon Ward’s level there is added pressure on you to perform. I worked with Simon in 2019 and he is utterly professional and very good company. Although it is cut and edited quite quickly you can see how he goes about his business. Methodical, unhurried, and technically perfect. Watching the very best in action can be a highly educational experience not lost on me when I shot 100 sporting behind Olympic Gold Medallist Richard Faulds a few years ago (also an exceptional game shot). Some people learn very visually and if you can dissect what elements game shots such as these are very good at, and try to incorporate these themes into your own shooting you will be well on your way. With Simon it is his fluidity, decision making and calmness under pressure. With Richard what struck me was his timing - from shot to shot it never wavered (clays of course), it was an extraordinary thing to see. Both are technically perfect it almost goes without saying.

Feel free to ignore the brief talk of '“smashing records” - everyone wants to be good at their job, and I appreciate his new boss was there on the day, but it is this kind of heavy target driven commercialism that has contributed to driven grouse shooting fall from grace. We need sustainable business models in game shooting.