Further to Digs post and the "English experience" I've rustled up a few snaps from various driven shoots nearby showing things from the beaters and pickers-up point of view, something you might not see in magazines.
First a party of Guns with their host for the day. The lady with the Springer did a bit of beating and picking up .. quite a usual thing.
Around the corner from The Hall is the beaters cabin, complete with tea pot, coffee perc. and log fire. At lunchtime there is hot beef casserole, fruit pies and puddings, glasses of Scotch and port, all provided by our host.
The Headkeeper running through the days program with the beaters..
All ages enjoy a day out in the beating line; payment is by age and experience and the number of dogs you bring along ... this lass will get £15.
Roy and Simon discuss last nights football results; Liverpool and Aston Villa are the most supported teams locally. It looks as if the 'Pool caught a packet.
A couple of Guns walking up to the first drive (really high birds!) The chap on the left won a rowing gold in the Beijing Olympics ... you meet all sorts on a shoot.
A picker-ups view of the Guns
Pickers up Mark and Kirsty with Lab "Shadow" and ESS "Georgie"
"Georgie" brings in a cripple.
The beating team coming down from one of the drives. This was a bitter cold day with freezing mist ... just about shootable.
The Guns take a glass of something warming after the third drive; sloe gin is a favourite.
Organising the picking up team for the next drive ... (aka Adolf points the way to Moscow)
Loading the birds from the first drive on to the game cart.
Days end in the beaters cabin; mopping up the fruit cake.
At the end of the season the 'keeeper puts on a day for the beaters and pickers up, shooting and a magnificent dinner all free of charge. This is lunch on the hoof on Keepers day on a well known estate.
We got a few!!!
Anyone fancy it?
Eug
