After an incredible year of innovative events, impressive customer service and exciting targets, the votes have finally been counted and we can exclusively reveal the winners of the Nation’s Favourite Shooting Ground for 2017.
The number of votes cast this year were massive, a reflection of the great work being put in at grounds in every corner of the country. And the fact that we still don’t have a two-time winner of this prestigious award goes to show that different grounds are tweaking and changing things each year to better themselves. The high volume of returns was also helped by Ed Lyons, who is donating a free consultation and a set of Oakley Radarlocks to a prize draw worth over £500 for everyone who cast their vote. The winner will be contacted soon and the process of improving your vision for shooting can begin.
As we have new categories this year – focusing on Trap, Skeet and Sporting grounds, as well as the Best Breakfast Award – we will be announcing the top three grounds and the top two in each region. So without further ado, we are pleased to unveil the Nation’s Favourite Shooting Grounds.
Nation’s Favourite Shooting Ground
Having gone through big changes the past few years, the West Sussex ground finished Runner Up in the main competition in consecutive competitions, but in 2016, Southdown finally broke through to win the top award.
The ground has rebranded to also become a shooting school, and has dabbled in different initiatives, such as the Talent Search supported by Zoli, and some brand new competitions.
Southdown was so successful this year, that it features across several other awards categories, showing the ground’s versatility and high-quality customer service.
What you said: “Southdown offers some of the best variety in Sporting clays along with very good sportsman shooting.”
Runner Up – Auchterhouse Country Sports
This popular Scottish destination has been a perennial threat for the top award for several years, but hasn’t quite managed to break through. Despite this, Auchterhouse garnered a huge volume of votes and is clearly a long-time favourite of shooters north of the border, as well as being the choice of several people from around the UK.
Run by the Christie family, with expert tuition from the likes of Commonwealth medallist Drew Christie available, the ground is a permanent attraction for fans of any clay shooting discipline. But you can also take part in quad biking, archery, falconry and other gun and games.
What you said: “Emma Christie and the staff are really friendly and there is always a good mixture of stands.”
Third Overall – South West Shooting School
The bottom-left-hand corner of the country is always a hotly contested region. And if a ground comes out on top of the South West, it often stands a good shout at winning the whole competition – much like Southern Counties, Barbury Shooting School and North Devon in previous competitions.
This year, the South West Shooting School emerged as the region’s victor and wasn’t far off the top spot – and if you’ve visited the ground in Devon, you’ll understand why. The beauty of the region is on full display across the rolling terrain. There are good hard-standing paths traversing the ground, and the friendly customer interaction from the staff is second to none.
What you said: “I voted South West Shooting purely for the quality of targets and their variation.”
Regional voting
North
Winner – Auchterhouse
Runner Up – North Ayrshire Shooting Ground
North East
Winner – Hazel Bank Shooting Ground
Runner Up – Bywell Shooting Ground
North West
Winner – Coniston Shooting Ground
Runner Up – Banbridge Gun Club, Clough Head Gun Club
West
Winner – Fauxdegla Shooting Ground
Runner Up – Dragon Clay, Mid Wales Shooting Centre
West Midlands
Winner – Doveridge Clay Sports
Runner Up – Cosford Shooting Ground, Garlands Shooting Ground
East Midlands
Winner – Sporting Targets
Runner Up – Grimsthorpe Estate Shooting Ground
South East
Winner – Southdown Gun Club
Runner Up – Greenfields Shooting Grounds
East
Winner – High Lodge
Runner Up – Eriswell Lodge
South West
Winner – South West Shooting School
Runner Up – North Devon Shooting Ground
Nation’s Favourite Specialist Grounds
Sporting
Winner – Southdown
Runner Up – Auchterhouse
Third Overall – South West Shooting School
Trap
Winner – Southdown
Runner Up – Auchterhouse
Third Overall – North Ayrshire
Skeet
Winner – Auchterhouse
Runner Up – Southdown
Third Overall – Doveridge
Best Breakfast Award
Winner – Southdown
Runner Up – Auchterhouse
Third Overall – Sporting Targets
For a full breakdown of the results, comments and views that you shared with us about each shooting ground, pick up your copy of Clay Shooting January, in shops this week.
Is it fair to say that only the readers of your magazine voted, if this is true then you can’t say it’s the Nations favourite ground,
I didn’t know anything about the vote and I wouldn’t of voted for Southdown, even though I live in Sussex.
I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who missed out on voting!
Just out of curiosity, I will be asking the shooters I see regularly, if they got to vote, just to see how many say yes or no.
As I didn’t get to cast my vote, My vote goes to Dartford Clay Shooting Ground.
The facilities are excellent, the targets are varied and well thought out, they cater for so many disciplines and even put on a evening floodlit shoot.
The staff are excellent and very helpful, I can’t fault this ground at all.
I can’t say the same about Southdown, even to the point that one of the Sussex team selectors saying “after shooting the Sussex A/R Championship there, he wouldn’t have it there again” the Skeet layout is atrocious and rundown, probably mainly because they focus on sporting disciplines.
So Southdown wouldn’t get the Skeet shooters vote for Nations Favourite Ground!!
How on earth can Hodnet be missed out. It is the best Shooting ground in the UK BY FAR
As a Northerner who shoots Trap I have never heard of Southdown let alone voted for it. Maybe Politics raised its unsavory head. Who knows.