Shooting pheasants and game birds was originally the sport of the aristocracy, not to mention essential for the the survival of many a poor country family that risked jail as poachers of the landowner’s game.
Victorian Clay Shooting
In the 1860’s, glass balls filled with feathers were introduced and a throwing mechanism was invented that worked rather like an animal trap. Why the feathers? When the ball was blasted from the sky, the Victorian gentry thought the flying feathers gave the same effect as a hit in a real game shoot. At the end of the nineteenth century, a true ‘clay target’ replaced the expensive glass balls leading to a new sport and a following of enthusiasts from all walks of life that would elevate clay shooting to a sport in its own right.
Anxious to improve their ‘real’ shooting skill, the aristocracy also used clays for practice before going onto the estates to shoot the live birds. The simulation of bird flight transferred to a clay target was the first discipline in the sport and from early 1900s “Sporting Clays” was considered as the première shooting pass-time and in 1927 there was enough interest throughout the country to hold a British Open Championship.
Modern day
Moving to the modern day, clay target shooting is one of the UK & Ireland’s fastest growing sports and one that is taken from novice right through to Olympic standards. More people than ever before take part in casual clay shooting for a fun day out with family and friends and many business organisations use the sport for corporate events such as team building and staff incentives.
Age is no barrier to enjoying the sport as you can start as young as nine years and there is no upper age limit. No green wellies or tweed jackets required, just bring enthusiasm and a willingness to have a go. You can select your nearest venue right here on our website and enter into the world of clay pigeon shooting – you’ll be addicted.
