Shoot out raises £6,500 for charity

More than 100 people turned out to the school in Wroughton for the event, where 29 teams of four competed in an 80-bird sporting clay shoot and a 100-bird flush.

Throughout the day visitors taking part managed to raise £6,500 towards the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Mark Truckle from Westlea decided to organise the event in aid of the charity after seeing the work the crews do first hand from working with Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The 40-year-old said: “In my job in the fire service, I work with the Wiltshire Air Ambulance and what they do is just amazing.

“I just thought it was important that we try and help by setting up an event to raise some money.”

Mike Cox, Lee Cobb , Simon Chiu and Neil Smedley

By the end of the day the individual scores were added together into team scores, and the trophy finally went to the Four Counties team, from the Four Counties Clay Target Club near Newbury owned by Brian Claridge.

As well as the shoot itself, there was also a raffle and a silent auction, with prizes including bottles of port, whiskey and brandy, a gas barbecue, a dinner for two with wine at ASK and a 45-minute flight over Wiltshire.

Mark said: “It went really, really well, and everyone really enjoyed themselves. The only let down was the weather, when we had showers that would go away and then come back every now and then. It was a really positive day. All the staff worked so hard as well and a big thank you goes out to them. I was there at 7am and they were there at 7am and they just worked really hard.”

Derek Willis, and instructor at the Barbury Shooting School who also helped to organise the event said: “It was a really good day, but we were a bit disappointed that there was no representative from Wiltshire Air Ambulance there.

“I was told that they also have a calendar of events and it wasn’t put on there, even though we had let them know in good time.”

For more information about the Barbury Shooting School, visit www.barburyshootingschool.com.