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Get inspired with our young guns & beaters!







Scarlet and Gracie playing stuck in the mud!

The Prince of Wales recently gave a speech to world business leaders highlighting that the educational system is struggling to develop young people' s life skills. Without these skills can they cope in the real world? The heir to the throne highlighted that self esteem, self confidence and eye contact are essential elements to have for young people to manage themselves outside of education.

This made me think of the wonderful youngsters I have met during the shooting season and how their experience is helping them develop as individuals. Their dedication, enthusiasm and the roles they play on a shoot day gives them an opportunity to develop these essential skills. It's great to see we are encouraging and supporting  the younger generation with their love of shooting, dogs and conservation. And in return their energetic presence and positive attitude to the sport can make a real difference on a shoot day. Reflecting back on the season there is no doubt these youngsters possess the essential life skills. By recognising and encouraging their interests we are helping to build a bright and successful future for one of winter's most popular country sports. Here's a snap shot of our shining stars.... 

 

  

 

Brothers Sam and Oliver Mursell have always been keen on shooting. Following in their Dad's and Grandad's footsteps the young guns have been beating throughout the season and can't wait for beater's day. Both agree they need more practice to improve their shooting and they firmly believe that perseverance, determination and having fun is the key to succeeding. Oliver is the heart of the beating line. He has various responsibilities on the shoot which helps him develop his self management skills. He is passionate about the sport and conservation and his focus is realistic. One day he would like to manage his own game shoot.

 



Sam's role is taking charge of the game cart which requires common sense and encourages responsibility. He is quietly confident and his radiant smile always lights up the field!

 

 



Talented musician Josh Hathaway has a genuine passion and enthusiasm for the sport. He has been beating and shooting since he was 10 years old. Josh learnt his shooting and conservation knowledge under the local shoot captain. The seventeen year old who is currently studying for his A levels enjoys the social and sporting aspects of the shoot day. His friendly and approachable manner is refreshing and he shows genuine interest in people and life. Josh is a natural communicator and it's clear he possesses those essential elements - confidence, self esteem and eye contact....all three are shining brightly.






12 year old Ella has set herself a goal that is challenging but achievable...The 12 year old junior handler loves taking part in gundog working tests and one day she would like to be part of a picking up team.

 

 Bramble enjoying her first season working the line. The young beaters love watching the spaniels on a shoot day.

 

 

 

    

Ella and Jessica's enthusiasm is like a breath of fresh air...They believe their beating experience has strengthened their team work, adaptable and confidence. They love being part of the beating line and watching the dogs work. Some of the drives can be challenging with thick woodland full of brambles so the girls use their imagination and pretend they are in Hunger Games!

 

Learning to shoot, working the beating line or helping with the pickers up provides opportunities for the youngsters to develop key transferable skills relating to many areas of life. Seeing these young people on the shoot demonstrates their enthusiasm, determination to have fun and enjoy a day in the countryside.

 

“Enthusiasm is the mother of effort, and without it nothing great was ever achieved.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

 

 

A successful first walked up!



Photo taken - www.purbeckpaws.co.uk

It has been a wonderful winter in all parts of Dorset  and a highly productive season for our gun dogs. So far for the beating and picking team it has been an enjoyable  and challenging season as most of the team are new to this domain. As I continue my  gun dog journey with Ivy I have realized that our training on a shoot day doesn’t always go according to plan. Fortunately on a small shoot like ours it is acceptable to be flexible when things don't go to plan and as a novice picker up it’s been a huge learning curve. Therefore I  try to make  a mental note on each shoot as to  what I can work on outside of shoot days. I’m a firm believer most faults come from the handler and I don’t want to put pressure on Ivy during a shoot as this can cause more problems so our training days are a perfect way to go back to the basics or work on a specific area.



 

 

One of the many key lessons I’ve learnt is to reinforce the straight line retrieves. In between shoots days I have been practising memory retrieves to build on Ivy taking straight lines through cover and over obstacles. This has increased her confidence and strengthened our trust in asking her to take the line when I give her the command.  

 

"Dogs have emotions and we need to learn how to read their body language more accurately to become better trainers." By Graham Cox (2014)

 

 



Several members of the team have spent the season working hard as beaters and pickers-up. Today they had a unique opportunity to join the guns and take part in a walked up...



 



 

Break time...there is nothing like a refreshing cuppa!

 



One particular aspect of Ivy’s training which I constantly work on is her steadiness to shot. I realize she is new to the field and being a young dog she tends to get excited in the first drive. As I become more confident at reading Ivy's body language and understand her intentions I can (hopefully) prevent her running in.



Margo

Sam enjoying the day with his dog Margo...Her first season picking up and transforming into a remarkable peg dog.








Murphy

 

Back in the summer Murphy had his first puppy class at Purbeck Gundog club. The Patterdale cross Spaniel was certainly the odd one out with all the usual accepted gundog breeds being present. Mark found it  very daunting and more than once he questioned whether he was doing the right thing. Would Murphy ever make it as a working dog? Today was Murphy's 6th successful shoot. He has been accepted by all and has become the flagship of the team. Mark is delighted with his progress and having him by his side in the walked up is a truly rewarding experience. Mark realizes there is plenty to work on but he is so proud of this little dog who he rescued from the Devon floods last year. The walked up is a special occasion for the pair....especially as they are both celebrating their birthday today!

 

 

The heart of the beating team, Dodger and Archie enjoyed quartering the ground today and being part of the walked up.

 

 




Jason and Sam...enjoying their first shooting experience.

You can almost hear the pheasant's knees knocking when these two top guns turn up!