The Annual Inter-Livery Clay Pigeon Shooting Competition
This was another wonderfully supported day, despite the rain, with around 76 Livery Companies participating and providing some 430 shooting guns!
The Master Charles Miller, Fourth Warden Adam Bennett, Past Master John Nokes and Court Assistant Paul Taberer represented the Livery Company.
The annual Inter Livery Charity Clay Shoot is one of the highlights of the City of London charity events.
Since its revival in 1993, it has been a hugely successful fundraiser for charities nominated by teams involved in the day.
The venue was once again the beautiful shooting grounds of Holland & Holland in Northwood, North London. The grounds boast 10 shooting stands, each with its own identity and challenge plus an onslaught of 80 clays from the high tower known as the Flush. We got busy after a fine breakfast in a room packed with fellow‘ gunners’ all scheming on the day ahead.
Our Livery smoking hats once again drew much attention and interest … if only our shooting skills could have done the same!
The lunch was deliciously catered by Mark Grove and his team at Cook & Butler and we cracked
It was a rather damp but very pleasant and wellorganized event; though sadly no real chance to
along at a goodly pace. Our guests were admirably introduced by Liveryman Fran Morrison and our enjoy a cigar for fear of it dampening out. Principal Guest, Tim Wonnacott gave a generous and very Though humorous not in the reply prizes to which we were I responded respectable initially for part by time drenching novice shooters poor Tim, and in it a was glass a of great water occasion- he was to very rub shoulders kind about with( sorry many Tim other!). I liverymen was pleased. to show off the newly found Livery Grant of Arms and Lunch Letters was a Patent fine spread which of have several been dishes missing in a for large many years marquee- our housing Clerk tenaciously all 430 guns sought and several them more out, and. the Fifty new percent Immediate of monies Past raised Master were, Chris awarded Allen, as and prizes his IPM to the, Mark winning Gower-Smith teams’ nominated have funded charities a beautiful. The representation remainder goes and to they charities are now chosen resplendent by members in frames of carved the organising with tobacco volunteers leaves, including( or close to a contribution); Sandra also of located a £ 1,000 a to huge the banner Lord Mayor not seen’ s charity since. 1985 and Angus Menzies, Clerk to the Master Mariners and never shy of a challenge saw to it that it was Assistant displayed Paul on Taberer the Quarterdeck.
Whilst all this was going on, apparently biblicalstyle downpours were being had all over London- oblivious to all that drama we ended our lunch and trooped back to the quarterdeck where Coffee, Cigars, and Cognac awaited us( I did mention that our Livery enjoyed dining on the High C’ s..) and which seemed to hit the mark – Liveryman Jemma Freeman had kindly provided the torpedo cigars and had had them placed in souvenir tubes with our Crest emblazoned on it. Several of us also sported a limited edition Livery Smoking hat- originally conceived as a sort of shooting hat, it serves its purpose so well as a“ team” hat, that of the twenty ordered, but one remained by the close of the day! Thank you to the Master Mariners for allowing us the use of the venue, to Tim for being a perfect Principal Guest, and for everyone attending and giving my year such a special start.
The Master
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