The Gentleman Magazine Issue 15 | June 2019 | Page 62

Countryside Escapes: West Sussex Sporting Destinations
Image Credit: Ben Wright
West Sussex is ideally placed in the South of England – with
East Sussex to the east, Hampshire to the west and Surrey to
the north, its easy to fill your weekend with tranquil walks,
glorious estates and historic castles. The Sussex South Downs
– which became Britain’s newest National Park in 2011 –
provides fantastic opportunities for walking, mountain-biking,
horse-riding and other outdoor pursuits. The South Downs
Way, which runs for over 100 miles from Winchester to
Eastbourne is the perfect countryside escape. Additionally, if
you’re into water sports, Chichester Harbour offers some of the
best sailing on the South Coast with breathtaking views and
the fresh English Channel air.
Among tranquil walks, stunning scenery and quaint towns,
West Sussex is also a sporting destination in the most luxurious
form. From Polo and horse racing to motorsport and clay
pigeon shooting, there is something for everyone. Keep reading
to hear our top picks of the best sporting experiences in West
Sussex, accompanied by the best eatery’s and places to rest your
head.
Hownhall Shooting School
Hownhall Shooting School is in Henley, near Eastbourne, West
Sussex. A wonderfully relaxed shoot with free tea and coffee
and its well renowned homemade flapjacks. Hownhall is a very
relaxed English sporting/game shooting orientated, practice
facility. Its layout lends itself to new and seasoned shooters of
all levels, building confidence for the novice and pushing the
boundaries of the established.
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Its constant attention to safety and etiquette makes Hownhall
the perfect venue to establish and maintain traditional
shooting standards. An ideal corporate location, for that city
escape or team event, with wonderful catering options and bolt
on entertainment.
When venturing into a new sport, the unknown can be quite
nerve-racking and that is why they have designed the popular
‘have-a-go’ packages, aimed at the novice participant. The starter
packages provide the beginner with a complete introduction to
the sport, supplying all equipment, including the use of a gun
and all safety requirements. This package serves as the perfect
taster session to best experience the different facets of Shotgun
shooting. ‘Have-a-Go’ sessions start at £65.00+VAT and one-
to-one lessons for the established shot start from £115.00+VAT,
catering for all levels and abilities. Hownhall Shooting School
is available to book by visiting www.hownhallshooting.com
The Cowdray Park Polo Club Experience
There is nowhere more welcoming or beautiful to learn polo
that at The Academy at Cowdray Park Polo Club. There is no
need to have riding experience before embarking on your
first polo lesson and lessons are offered to children and adults
alike all year round. Polo is the most exhilarating sport and
the Academy offers the perfect transition from beginner to full
blown player. The Cowdray Park Polo Club, based at Madam’s
Farm, is run by Guy Verdon, a polo player with a career
spanning 30 years, has coached all over the world.
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