AWESOME FOURSOME
A composite shoot across four of Angus’s finest sporting estates
My friend Andy was clearly on a mission as the auction hotted up, the flames fanned by auctioneer David Legatt who clearly knew the bidders and which buttons to press. But that’s usually the way with Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) events. Whether it’s the flagship dinner at Edinburgh’s Prestonfield House or one of the many local events, they’re sold out early, attracting generous donations to their auctions and equally generous bids.
We were at the Tayside and Fife Dinner, my seat secured thanks to a late invite from the new chairman Mike Clarke. We’d seen everything go under the hammer, from sacks of spuds to hedgerow gin and grouse-shooting; but Andy was intent on securing Lot 10, a 100-bird day with drives on Lednathie, Pearsie, Kinnordy and Glenogil.
When the hammer finally fell at almost double the estimate, he was still delighted. ‘They’re all special places to shoot,’ he said. ‘One of the other guns, George Taylor, wants to share the day ...come along and see why.’ I didn’t need asking twice and joined them at the Pearsie shooting lodge for breakfast a few weeks later.
Our day began on Lednathie. With the ground frozen iron hard, I was pleased that the old bridge over the ice-rimmed River Prosen stood the test as we made over to Prosen Bank.
As the first birds began to appear, it occurred to me that this was no easy first drive. All four keepers were out to prove they could test a team that knew its business. Head keeper John Smith wanted to set a high bar.
With the low winter sun now bringing colour to the surrounding hills, we were still in shade, so no excuses for anyone. All t he guns enjoyed sport as the beating line moved across the bank, and Andy’s face had
a smile that was to be a permanent fixture throughout the day.
A celebratory refreshment break was decided on before we moved across the march to Pearsie, where the head keeper would show us what he could do. Guns and keepers were relaxed, happy that the good weather and lengthening January days wouldn’t curtail proceedings.
There was no hiding place for poor performers as we again stood with our backs to the River Prosen. Again, the high numbers on our left had first sight of birds pushed on by beaters on the high bank. The action eventually came to us at the low pegs and here the plaudits went to Deirdre Stewart, standing in at the last minute for Howard Gillon. She and the guns at one and two were left to face those high-curling birds missed or left unsaluted. As he gathered up the ‘empties’, an amused Simon Laird told me he was enjoying himself immensely, shooting as a guest where he leases the shooting.
For elevenses proper we headed up to Kinnordy, where Deirdre is the factor, working for CKD Galbraith. In the beaters’ hut, rather more comfortable than I’m used to at some other shoots, the breakfast rolls were a distant memory, so venison sausages and soup were welcome.
Deidre then led the way to Culhawk. An innocent-looking slope faced us and as a picker-up placed the low numbers at our end of the line I guessed that there was more to this than met the eye – especially looking at where he took up station.
Two teams of beaters were in action here, marshalled by head keeper Barry Gourlay. George Taylor was at the opposite end of the line at eight – not a position that always enjoys high numbers of birds, apparently, but on this occasion the early partridge and pheasant graced our co-host. All this we watched from the distance, but when the beaters came from our right, our pheasants showed they were also on a mission to climb high, curling as we went.
I thought that Simon Laird’s brother Mark at three was presented with challenging birds until I saw them climbing tantalisingly over Andy and Alisdair Colyton at one and two.
For lunch it was back to Pearsie Lodge. There was time to linger a little over the delicious steak pie but we were due out on Glenogil a few miles away.
The drive to Glenogil gave us time to speculate on our destination. The answer was Tullo. ‘One of our most challenging drives,’ according to head keeper Danny Lawson, ‘and still full of birds despite it being late in the season.’ From the look on Simon and Mark Laird’s faces, I knew they expected something special, and they weren’t disappointed. Launched from the top of a steep face by unseen beaters, the birds were a real test for a group of guns who’d been shooting hard all season.
Moving along the line past a still-laughing Andy Husband, I joined Alisdair Colyton, battling a flow of birds in ones and twos at extreme range for his 20b. ‘Too good for me, most of those’ was his only comment as he gathered a large pile of empty cases.
We went off to the comfort of Glenogil Shoot Lodge, with piles of cakes to keep the happy team entertained. As we waited for the final bag-count, everyone thanked Deirdre who, with help from Kevin Bandeen from Pearsie, had pulled the day together.
So, we’d been out on four of the best estates that the area has to offer, all of them boasting a loyal following that usually sees those days available sold fast by word of mouth.
Anyone could see the team of guns was delighted, but I really want to put in a plug for the other teams who’d enjoyed the day. All of them – the keepers, beaters, pickers-up etc plus Sylvia Harper, the housekeeper at Kinnordy – had given their time for free, and had donated their tips to the GWCT too. They were also proud of being part of a great auction lot.
The GCWT will obviously be grateful for the great generosity. But why is it done?
In Simon Laird’s case it was respect for the GWCT’s advice ‘that helps run our shooting to best advantage, supported by clear evidence and presented with no political bias’, while Barclay Dougall told me, tongue in cheek, that ‘it sounded like a fun day. I knew which team of local guns would be in pole position to bid – and I also know they have far too much disposable income! Donating the drive at Lednathie was a good way to lessen them of their disposables and to help a good cause at the same time.’ Let’s hope for more the same next season.