On manoeuvres

Nick Ridley hails the foot soldiers of the beating line, who go into battle with military precision to make every drive a success

- Nick Ridley

I started beating on shoots during my late teens and have probably covered hundreds of miles battling through ankle-tugging bramble and trudged across energy-sapping mud and plough, not to mention waging war with countless laurels and rhododendrons. I have been beating on small informal farm shoots and on large commercial shoots. I take great pleasure from being part of a well-organised team. And team is the all-important word.

I have often likened a beating line to a military operation. Those who go wide to prevent birds from leaking out from the drive are known as the ‘flanks’, a well-known military manoeuvre. The main body of the line pushes forward in what should be an arrow-straight line; the ‘skirmishers’ (the stops) have been sent well forward to the flushing points to stop birds running through, the overall plan devised and executed by the gamekeeper, or ‘the general’