Welcome to Country Pursuits Clay Pigeon Club

Country Pursuits has been the starting point for many shooters who now shoot clays on a regular basis. Clay pigeon shooting is a massively popular, if noisy, sport enjoyed by young and old, male and female alike. Indeed Madonna is one of its keenest followers, and rumour has it she's pretty good too! Country Pursuits is proud of the large number of members who represent Cambridgeshire in Intercounty and National Competitions.

Most beginners have a number of questions about shooting. We have aimed to answer the most popular questions here. Of course if you have a question that is not answered on these pages, then please do email info@countrypursuitscambridge.co.uk and we'll do our best to answer your query.

Is Shooting Legal in the UK?

Shotgun Ownership is perfectly legal in the UK if you hold a valid shotgun certificate. You can use somebody else's shotgun (if they have a valid certificate), but only if they accompany you.

Is Clay Shooting Safe?

Clay shooting is one of the safest sports in the UK. Very occassionally you may get debris from broken clays falling back towards you so shooting glasses to protect your eyes is compulsory. Wearing a hat (most people wear a baseball cap) is a good idea too, to protect your scalp. The debris can be quite sharp, but these precautions should prevent any injury. Ear defenders are also compulsory to prevent tinnitus or deafness resulting from the sound of the shotgun. Eye and ear protection is available from the clubhouse. You can collect a free business card sized safety checklist courtesy of Fultons Shooting School from Reception.

Do I Need My Own Gun?

Although you will need your own gun should you take the sport up seriously, Country Pursuits is normally happy to lend you a gun if you don’t own one, or are just visiting the area without having brought your own with you. If you will need a gun, do let the club know in advance, so we can arrange for a gun to be made available to you and for someone to accompany you around the ground. We reserve the right to refuse to provide people with a gun for obvious reasons!

Isn't Shooting for "Toffs" and Celebrities?

Absolutely not. One of the best things about clay shooting, is that you get to meet people from all walks of life. It is very rare for the ‘so what do you do for a living?’ conversation to even come up. In fact it might be months before you discover you have been shooting with a local farmer, a bank manager, builder, computer programmer, and a web designer. That said, it can be a handy place to find a good plumber!

Do Women Shoot?

They most certainly do and some are extremely good! CPSA registered and larger unregistered competitions generally have a ladies’ class.

Do I Need Special Clothing?

Country Pursuits is situated in an old orchard. The ground can get quite wet, so stout boots or wellies are a good idea if the weather has been wet. You will need some form of a hat to protect your head from falling bits of broken clay – most people wear a baseball cap or flat cap. The targets are set up so that you shouldn’t get hit by debris, but a strong gust of wind can ruin the best plans! Do not wear anything tight across your shoulders; you will need freedom of movement to raise the gun up. Try not to wear anything too bulky over your right shoulder (if you are right-handed, or your left if you are left handed) such as the folded back collar of a skiing jacket. Large flappy collars and scarves just get in the way. You could wear Norfolk tweed, but you’ll probably be the only one! If you have long hair tie it back so the wind doesn't blow it into your face.

When is the Best Day for a Beginner at Come to Country Pursuits?

There are two practice shoots (of 50 birds) on the first and third Sundays of every month, these are both English Sporting. The other fixtures are both competitions, which are unsuitable for complete novices. Once you have got your basic gun safety and principles of shooting sorted out there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't join in the fun. Do remember that whilst most shooters are more than happy to offer advice during a practice session, they will be less inclined to do so during a competition. In fact with CPSA registered competitions coaching is prohibited. When is the next practice session? Click here. To get back to this page afterwards click the back arrow in your browser.