The Annual Inter-Livery Clay Pigeon Shooting Competition
Another wonderfully supported day in chilly but dry conditions with a challenging wind saw around 81 Livery Companies participating and providing some 450 shooting guns!
Past Master John Nokes captained the side and we were fortunate to have a‘ secret weapon’ in Alexander Nokes( John’ s son) join the team, with the other 2 guns being Court Assistants Colin Ritchie and Paul Taberer. It did not take us long to see that Alexander used to shoot at a highly competitive level.
The annual Inter Livery Charity Clay Shoot is without doubt 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 welcome breakfast in a room packed with fellow gunners all scheming on the day ahead.
The lunch was deliciously catered by Mark Grove and his team at Cook & Butler and we cracked along at a goodly pace. Our guests were admirably introduced by Liveryman Fran Morrison and our Principal Guest, Tim Wonnacott gave a generous and very humorous reply to which I responded initially by drenching poor Tim in a glass of water- he was very kind about it( sorry Tim!). I was very pleased to show off the newly found Livery Grant of Arms and Letters Patent which have been missing for many years- our Clerk tenaciously sought them out, and the new Immediate Past Master, Chris Allen, and his IPM, Mark Gower-Smith have funded a beautiful representation and they are now resplendent in frames carved with tobacco leaves( or close to); Sandra also located a huge banner not seen since 1985 and Angus
The Menzies
Tobacco, Clerk
Pipe to Makers the Master shot relatively
Mariners well
and never shy
( of fortunately a challenge we saw all had to it a that practice it was shoot displayed before on the the event to Quarterdeck shake off the. cobwebs) with a particularly good score at Whilst the Flush all this
, destroying was going
70 on of, the apparently
80 clays fired
biblicalstyle downpours were being had all over London
over us.
The barrels were piping hot after that flurry!
Though- oblivious not to in all the that prizes drama, we were ended respectable our lunch this year coming and trooped 36th out back of to the the field quarterdeck of around 110 where teams Coffee and, it was Cigars yet, again and Cognac a great occasion awaited us to( rub I did shoulders mention with that so many our Livery other enjoyed liverymen dining. on the High C’ s..) and which seemed to hit the mark – Liveryman Jemma Lunch was a fine spread of several dishes in a large Freeman had kindly provided the torpedo cigars marquee housing all 450 guns and several more- we and had had them placed in souvenir tubes with our did not stay long as had The Master’ s Reception to head Crest emblazoned on it. Several of us also sported towards- what a day! a limited edition Livery Smoking hat- originally Fifty conceived percent as of a monies sort of shooting raised were hat awarded, it serves as its prizes to purpose the winning so well teams as a’“ nominated team” hat, that charities of the. The twenty remainder ordered, but goes one to remained charities chosen by the by close members of the day of the! organising Thank you volunteers to the Master, including Mariners a contribution for allowing of us a the £ use 1000 of to the the venue Lord, Mayor to Tim’ s for charity being. a perfect Principal
Guest, and for everyone attending and giving my year such a special start.
Fourth Warden Paul Taberer
The Master
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