A local shooting school has won the coveted ‘Best Shooting Ground 2010’ at the 15th IPC Shooting Industry Awards.
Barbury Shooting School’s entry was shortlisted with Brook Bank Shooting Ground, Somerset, Auchterhouse Shooting Ground, Tayside and West London Shooting School.
Robin Scott, editor of Sporting Gun Magazine said: “The quality of entries in this category was both remarkable and impressive – and the eventual winner had a fight on its hands to carry off the award. All the shortlisted grounds came close to taking it. What swung it in the end was the wonderful, friendly, atmosphere that exists at this increasingly popular destination where, as one judge put it: ‘Every trip there is a pure pleasure.’”
Huw Stephens and his mother Mary acquired the Shooting School, set in a beautiful part of the Wiltshire Downs near Marlborough, in 2007. Since then they have managed to build up the membership and their corporate business by 40 per cent each year.
The school provides a range of services to an ever increasing spectrum of groups, and has organised charity days; team-building events; corporate entertainment days and even hen parties for an enthusiastic clientele.
Huw, 26, who is one of the youngest Shooting Ground managing directors in the UK, said: “We are thrilled to have made such a positive impact on the judging panel. We have such a wide range of clients here: from first timers who want to learn the etiquette and safety elements for a day’s shooting to guests who want to improve their skills and friends, family and businesses who simply want a great day out in beautiful countryside. We thank them all especially our regular members for all their encouragement and support since we’ve been here. Part of our success is undoubtedly down to the care, attention to detail and service we try to provide at all times.”
