Six members of Thistle Ladies Shooting Club were among nine candidates who have passed the Scottish Clay Target Association (SCTA) Safety Officer and Corporate Instructors course.
Held over two days (17th and 18th May) and hosted by Aberdeen Shooting School, based at Trump Scotland’s Menie Estate, Aberdeenshire, the course gives the candidates the relevant training to go out with clients, providing input on their shooting and guidance with fault analysis and rectification with the Safety Officer course included as part of the certification.
This qualification means that Aberdeen Shooting School’s Thistle Ladies is one of the first clubs to have their own qualified female instructors, who are hoping their new founded ability to pass on guidance to their fellow shooters will help to encourage more ladies to take up the sport.
Currently the rate of female Clay Shooting membership is growing rapidly throughout the UK, with numerous groups springing up.
The Thistle Ladies Club meet monthly on a Sunday and tuition and guidance is provided by Frank Henderson, owner of Aberdeen Shooting School, a subsidiary of Henderson Country Sports, based at 6 Castle Street, in Turriff town centre, along with David Burgess, both licenced instructors of the SCTA.
The Shooting School, which launched in October 2018, provides sporting enthusiasts with a unique, on site, Simulated Game and Clay Pigeon Shooting School at the 1500-acre Trump Estate at Balmedie.
These new sporting facilities offer a wide range of packages, competitions and tuition suitable for all, even those completely new to the sport as well as the country sports aficionado.
Frank Henderson, owner of Henderson Country Sports, who, along with wife Carol, has steadily grown his sporting business from a small outlet in Turriff towards achieving his dream of establishing a top ranking, shooting facility in the north east commented, “We are absolutely delighted to have had the opportunity to host this course on behalf of the SCTA.
“We are thoroughly proud of our ladies who have moved from being regular attendees of the club to now being in a position to pass on their training, combined with their enthusiasm for the sport, and we are hoping this is just the first of many exciting opportunities we can bring to the area.”
Frank, along with expert associate, David Burgess, aspires to develop a world class shoot school, catering for all capabilities, including nurturing new, young talent towards Olympic discipline, while providing an opportunity of instilling the excitement and challenge of clay shooting for anyone from the age of 12 upwards.
In June, world renowned, Italian gun manufacturer, Zoli are holding a 3-day road show event starting on the 14 that the School, including hosting a ladies’ only day and lunch on Sunday the 16th.
The establishment of the Shooting School is part of a five-year plan which has included a rebrand, extension of their retail shop, based in Castle Street, Turriff to keep up with the increasing demand for sporting leisure pursuits, and further encouraged by initiatives, such as Sir Ian Woods’s, Opportunity North East, supporting the promotion of the region to attract Scottish, UK and international visitors to the region.
Previously a shooting lodge, the beautifully kept, country estate is the perfect backdrop for those looking to participate in the new facility. Corporate packages, hospitality and accommodation are a key part of the shooting experience and is an ideal complement for the exclusive 5-star MacLeod House & Lodge at Trump International Golf Links, Scotland.
Eric Trump, son of President Donald Trump and a very keen shot, flew into Scotland, accompanied by a group of fellow sporting enthusiasts last Friday and had the opportunity to enjoy some shooting at the School for the first time, personally overseen by Frank.
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