English skeet for youngsters

On a day at Bisley, Graham Brown of the Purbeck Shooting School has two young guns among his clients. Paul Quagliana witnesses the importance of good tuition

- Paul Quagliana

On a blustery day in December, Graham Brown of the Purbeck Shooting School visited Bisley National Clayshooting Centre with some of his clients to shoot 100 English skeet. Among them were 12-year-old Alex Marsh and 10-year-old Kyle Hammal. Neither had been shooting for long; Alex had had just 15 lessons previously with Graham. But what they apparently lacked in experience was clearly eclipsed by the good tuition they had received and the natural abilities that they possessed, as we would see during the day.

The wind was ripping across the ground as squad members began their first round and the clays were unpredictable, some flying straight, others dipping suddenly just as a shot was fired. Trying conditions for experienced shooters but how would the youngsters fare? With his 20-bore Lanber loaded with Hull Cartridge ProTwentycartridges, Kyle was unruffled by the weather. He had one memorable pair where the second clay dived treacherously at the last moment but he smashed it. The concentration on his face was clear to see and it paid off as he worked his way methodically around the layout.

Alex was also in fine form. His father is a gamekeeper who worked with Graham when he first started shooting school. With a beaters’ day invite landing on his lap, Alex had sought tuition from Graham. He enjoys all disciplines and wants to shoot for fun and competitively. After starting with 24g loads for his first lessons he moved up to 28g and uses Hull Cartridge ProPiston for skeet and Gamebore White Gold for everything else.