Clay pigeon shooters on target to boost charities
FUND-RAISERS took aim to add to the £100,000 they have previously raised for various local charities during an annual shoot.
Every year more than 100 people take part in the Red House charity clay pigeon shoot in aid of selected good causes.
And this year’s shoot was well-backed as organisers headed to Cheddleton’s Basford shooting ground for the seasonal event, which takes place between Christmas and New Year.
As always participants headed back to the Red House pub in Caverswall for a charity raffle and auction – and a prize-giving for the best and worst shooters.
Organisers estimate that the shoot has raised almost £100,000 for local charities in the past two decades.
Jess Allen-robinson has been taking part in the shoot for 15 years and is a member of the Red House Charity Shoot committee.
The 40-year-old, who lives in Werrington, said: “The whole event is centred around the Red House pub which is where the event got its name.
“It is a community pub and we do it to raise money for local charities. People who want to take part buy tickets and all of the proceeds go to various charities. We usually raise about £4,000 every year.
“Normally the money is donated to local organisations, but this year we have gone a bit further afield and some of the money is going to St Luke’s Hospice, in London, a charity close to pub landlord Josh Durkin’s heart.”
Other causes which will benefit from this year’s shoot include the Churnet Valley First Responders, the Douglas Macmillan Hospice, the Lee Rigby Foundation and Marrow House care home.
Jess added: “The shoot is a really family-friendly event and we always put it on during the lull between Christmas and New Year so more people can come. Everybody gets involved in it, even if they don’t take part in the shooting they will come back to the Red House for drinks afterwards. It really brings the whole community together.”
Fellow committee member and keen clay pigeon shooter Lynn Rogers helped to organise the event.
Lynn, aged 38, of Rough Close, said: “The shoot has become a Christmas tradition. We usually see the same familiar faces turn up, but this year we have had some new people come and take part. We have had some children and ladies come along who have never picked up a gun before.”
Lynn added: “There are about six of us on the committee and we are all keen shooters. We go on shoots together as a group so it is nice for us to be able to enjoy our hobby while raising money for charity at the same time.”
This year’s shoot raised around £2,500 – with £500 going to each of the five charities.