Writer wins top NGO award

Sporting Gun’s young keeper writer Jack Depledge has won this year’s National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) Frank Jenkins Memorial Trophy.

NGO chairman Liam Bell presented Jack with the award, named after former keeper Frank Jenkins (see story, right) which goes to the best full or part-time gamekeeping student or apprentice of the academic year, at the Midland Game Fair last month.

Jack, who completed his full-time studies this summer on the Extended Diploma Game and Countryside Management course at Newton Rigg College, Cumbria, now works as a trainee keeper in

Scotland’s Angus Glens.

Jack Depledge said: “I am overjoyed to have won the 2017 NGO Frank Jenkins Memorial Trophy. The award will stand me in huge good stead on my career path.

I am not from a keepering family, I started beating at about five years old when my Dad joined a small syndicate in North Yorkshire. It led to me becoming a regular beater on a commercial shoot, and helping them at weekends. I love the grouse moors in Scotland where I’m working as a trainee keeper, and hope to be a headkeeper one day, fingers crossed.”

Liam Bell, added: “It is wonderfully reassuring to see that new entrants to our profession are of such a high calibre. It is quite clear that Jack is a special talent, with a great love and aptitude for the job.”