The great and the good of shooting
- Felicity Marshall
- July 29, 2023
- 10:03 pm
BASC presented a series of awards to 13 individuals who have gone above and beyond for the present and future of shooting during an event at The Game Fair today, 29 July.
The award recipients were honoured at a special event at The Game Fair. Together, they have racked up 300 years of service between them.
Their achievements include, introducing thousands of newcomers to shooting, promoting best practice, giving up weeks of their own time to give something back and being an exemplar for others to follow.
And the winner is...
The winners of this year’s awards were as follows:
Honorary Life Membership: Paul Alabaster
Prince Philip Distinguished Service Award (pictured above): BASC Wiltshire Social Committee
Tim Sedgwick Trophy: Brian Johnson
Ian Richardson Trophy: Chris Carter
Payne Gallwey Long Service Award: Hilary Lang
Hilary has provided continuous service as treasurer and secretary for the Raddington shoot in West Somerset for more than 35 years. She provides liaison and engagement with the landowners thus ensuring appropriate access and shooting rights are maintained. In addition, with few exceptions Hilary has led the beating line every day for the shoot over the past 35 years. Her tireless dedication is exemplary.
Payne Gallwey Long Service Award: Peter Lang
Payne Gallwey Long Service Award: Steve Calton
Steve Calton has been an integral part of the Fenland Wildfowlers Association’s development for more than half of the Club’s life. Steve joined the FWA and (then WAGBI) in 1976. He has been treasurer for 36 years, membership secretary for 20 years and a trustee for more than ten years. Steve also did a 16-year stint as vice chair, has managed our inland wash land holdings for the last 26 years and edits the club’s newsletter.
Payne Gallwey Long Service Award: Michael Pettitt
Michael has volunteered his coaching services to BASC for more than 30 years. His calm nature and humour make him a joy to work with. He has been a BASC coach at game fairs, young shots events and women’s days and works tirelessly at our Scout jamboree events. Michael is passionate about shooting and is keen to pass on his knowledge to as many as possible as a very active volunteer.
Payne Gallwey Long Service Award: Stuart Cameron
Stuart is the sole remaining founder member of the Bird in Hand Gun Club and played a significant role in the running of the club since its inception in 1989. Stuart quickly became captain, treasurer and secretary / administrator and has retained these roles ever since. He has sustained the ethos of a friendly grass roots club with an emphasis on informal safe clay target shooting. Stuart attends nearly every shoot and without his input and efforts over the past 33 years, the club simply would not exist.
Special Presentation Award: Tom Friar
Tom has continuously promoted the work of BASC in his everyday life as a shotgun coach in shooting grounds all over the country. He was recognised for outstanding work last year, by being awarded Shotgun Coach of the Year. Tom is an advocate for our sport and we are incredibly thankful for his continued service.
Special Presentation Award: Stuart Wentworth and Jane Fieldhouse
Stuart has volunteered for BASC for ten years, attending over 50 scurries across England. Stuart’s partner Jane Fieldhouse equally deserves recognition for her care of BASC teams on the ground during scurry events.
Stuart has been a regular volunteer at Crufts over the years, covering a range of jobs from trophy steward to judge’s steward. During the course of an extremely busy day at Crufts he maintains his calm manner is is always particularly helpful to first-time entrants. Stuart and Jane’s work in promoting gundogs and BASC in their professional and friendly manner is worthy of every accolade.
Special Presentation Award: Josephine Smith
Josephine has wholeheartedly pushed herself into the industry and qualified as an instructor in the last 12 months. She is passionate about inclusivity and showing that shooting sports are for everyone. Working at Coniston in North Yorkshire, and with the Dynamic Ladies Shooting Club, Josephine gives women a safe place to get into shooting and conservation. She also runs her own business seven days a week. Her passion and commitment into making shooting for all is fantastic.
BASC Ladies Shooting Award: Tania Coxon
Since setting up The Country Girls UK two years ago, Tania has encouraged thousands of women into fieldsports. Her determination to create a community and make country sports as inclusive as possible, is truly admirable. Her passion, drive and total commitment have made her an inspiration to many, and she has made significant contributions to promoting and support women in shooting.
Stanley Duncan Conservation Trophy
The Stanley Duncan Conservation Trophy was presented to Owen Williams on Tuesday 25 July on the BASC stand at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show 2023. The trophy aims to highlight the contribution of an individual or group to wildlife conservation.
Hailing from rural Ceredigion in mid-Wales and an artist by trade, Owen is fascinated by Eurasian Woodcock and their biology. It was this that led him to train to ring wintering woodcock at sites near Llanilar, Ceredigion. Owen realised that there were significant gaps in the knowledge of woodcock biology among both the scientific and shooting communities.
Owen formed the Woodcock Network in 2007 (which later became a registered charity in 2010), a network of trained ringers with the objective of increasing the number of woodcock ringed in the UK to provide more data to the BTO and the GWCT about this species.
Over the past 15 years, Owen has ringed over 2,500 woodcock to date. He has also contributed to woodcock research extensively, having co-authored several scientific papers with the GWCT Wetlands Department.
More on BASC honours and awards
For many years BASC has ensured that the hard work of passionate people who strive to make a difference, is duly acknowledged through its annual honours and awards.
Whether the recipient has been a vocal advocate for BASC, or faithfully served the association and the wider shooting community for a number of years, BASC aims to recognise and reward those who go the extra mile for the good of our sport. Read more about our awards here.
