58 WWW.THEFIELD.CO.UK
hasbeena goodorbadoneforthegrouse
he safeguards.Young,whoischairman of
theKennelClubFieldTrialscommitteeand
hosts gundogfield trialson theshoots he
administers, gives hispointers, Shoot and
Sniper,a runhere,whichallowsDarragh’s
settersthechanceofa well-earnedbreak.
Idropbackfromwatchingtheactionand
chat with Willie Cole, a formerinstructor
andmanageroftheWestLondonShooting
School. He hasbeeninvolvedwith shoot-
ingformorethan 40 yearsandaftera stint
as the lateHenryFord’s butlermoved on
todevelopa top-classdrivenshootatAsh-
combe in Wiltshire for Guy Ritchie and
histhenwife, Madonna.Thisbroughthim
intocontactwithcelebritiesbutColeisthe
model of discretion and reveals little apart
fromhisobservationthat publicfiguresin
theStatesarelessreluctanttoadmita love
offieldsportsthantheirBritishcounterparts.
Andthat Madonnatook toshootinglikea
ducktowater,buthavingdemonstratedshe
could shootstraightasanymanpromptly
gavethesportup.Colecontinuestoteach
peoplefromallovertheworldhowtoshoot
straightandisa greatadvocate of the late
PercyStanbury’smethods.
The day draws to a natural conclu-
sion aftera widesweepof theafternoon
beatbringsusbacktotheparkedvehicles.
Working the homeward tack downwind
ismuchharderforthedogsastheymust
turnbackconstantlyintothewindtofeel
for the scent of game. No one disputes
Darragh’s verdict at the end of the day
that“thegrousehavebeenjumpy;it’sa bit
autumnalnow;if youcameinAugustthese
birdswouldholda lotsteadier”.However,the
Americanvisitorshaveenjoyedthemselves
hugely.“It’sbeenchallengingshooting,”says
Stifel.“Manyofthebirdsflushedatthemax-
imumextentofwhata 20-borecando,but
I’vemadea fewshotsI’mproudofanda few
I wouldliketohavebackagain.Thisheather
ishardworktowalkthroughbutyoufeela
realsenseofachievementattheendofit.
There’snoplacethatI’ve shot in the States
that’squitelikeit.”
Contact WL Sporting at: http://www.wlsporting.com
Above:ColvinMathesonandWizzyatthemoor’s
boundar y.Below:planningthenext sweep – time
for ‘the horns of the buffalo’?
