It's a beautiful late January morning we're here at Woolsey Park estates in
Staffordshire. Today I'm beating. So, I'm giving Steve a hand he has his pheasant
shoot here which normally on the other side of the line shooting pheasants but
today is a syndicate day, he's asked me along to give him a hand. Steve, what's going on today? It is the last syndicate
day of the season we've pretty much late on we've come up
here on the back of these clear fells one team of beaters gone that way the
other team for bringing it around this way and hopefully we'll meet in the
middle we're doing probably five drives today we will do this drive which we
we call Lions Leap and then we're going to go and do Round Hill. Then it depends
numbers on the on the doors but we'll probably go and do The Gate then
and do Shawn's Guard and finish off for Canada. We like to finish off with Canada.
Although everywhere is a bit sparse this time of the year it is a nice finish on.
You have been shooting the birds, you've done very well. Oh yes, very, very well.
How critical is it really to try and get as wide as you can and bring the area in and bring the birds over the guns?
Well, this time of the year it is because they're all getting a little bit wise and we've got plenty of beaters
today so it's we're right on the extremities of really my boundary to
push it in so he's a lot of walking for the guys today but we'll feed him well at
dinnertime and hopefully they'll appreciate it. I've got my little princess Bonnie out
today my little cocker spaniel here she normally sleeps in front of the fire
occasionally lies on the bed so but you know it's pretty exciting she
it's all very new to her, she isn't sure what to do.
Spaniels just seem to know that they had to run around
in front of your flush bird so she hasn't gone anywhere yeah actually so
today it's all good it's all good she's probably scared she may be carried away by one of those big Labradors.
It's a beautiful day in and I'm really pleased the syndicate they've managed to get
this day because it was snowing hard and raining hard last night
it was an awful night, brightened up beautifully.
So that was drive one that was Illipe I want to Steve signature drives what a lovely
walk about 9:30 last night it was tipping down with snow and
rain I wasn't entirely sure what to wear but it's turned out bright it's a
little bit cold and a little bit of wind in the air. But, a nice brisk walk in the
countryside always warm things out now on a day like today you got a dress
practically normally on I'm shooting I wear tweed or something that keeps me
warm when I'm stood still but obviously we're walking quite long distances over
undulating ground today so I've chosen the Deerhunter Mouflon Light suit layed
up underneath it with a couple of base layers with something lightweight
breathable and waterproof so functional technical clothing but as you can see it
is a fantastic day shooting isn't just about the shooting a wise man once said
and the army of people that it takes to put this event on for the day it's
nothing short of breathtaking the beaters that come and drive the birds towards
the guns the army of Pickers up that user dogs to collect all of the
fallen game obviously the guns themselves who have paid for the
privilege of being here and shooting these birds it's a really impressive
well-oiled machine and Steve should be very proud of himself but that's having
one drive there's five more to go and plenty of work to do so first catch up
with the guys.
It's all a great way to finish an incredible day that sounded from where
we were pretty epic it was absolutely outstanding you're
hopefully I'll see it on the camera but there were some birds there I tell you
now you'll get anywhere in the country and they'll not be as good as that they
were absolutely fantastic they saved the best of last night flew we did where's
the Canada this is one of Steve's signature drives so it's known for
throwing some pretty high Partridge and some pretty smoky pheasants yeah it's a
really different experience being that side of the line because normally you're
here it's all very exciting as you can see the birds coming and then you
straight into it but it's actually just as exciting for me coming from the back
hearing the birds go and then hearing the shots in front
it's almost feels I'm more excited that the guns are shooting it's great when
all comes together isn't it it's fantastic it's a real good experience
I'm glad you've enjoyed it. It's not your first time beating, this was the way we cut our teeth when we were this big.
This how I use to earn my pocket money or but you know the past few years I have beaten they probably
once or twice a season but you know I've really enjoyed it today now obviously
the weather makes a difference but windy now but it's been a beautiful bright
sunny day a little bit cold but it seems you get walking up the hills here that
then you can see warm up and you've got a lot of rolling topography behind the
scenes that we have we go a long way back but you've got a fair army of
beaters well I don't know how you could do it with any any less than this really
because otherwise you have huge gaps appearing in the line that's right we do
cover a lot of ground we cover a lot of ground and I've probably got more of a
bigger beating team than most places around here really but like you say we need
them yeah and without him you can't produce well I think it's just made the
day a lot easier for everybody because we could just hold that line
move together as well and we're not running between patches here and getting
in little holes and stuff and I think it's real my dog Bonnie she's had a
brilliant day and she's been a good girl and when you have a spaniel who always
slightly nervous is gonna run into a drive and flush all the birds at once
and you get a kind of telling off from the keeper but she's been very good I
just want to say thank you so much for a great day thanks to the beaters to make
me feel so welcome and and hopefully we can do it all again soon