Traditional partridge drive at Ripley Castle
I blame the sun for missing a few on this drive - or Ripley hospitality!
Ripley Castle hospitality is second to none!
Sorrel patiently waiting for the 3rd drive at Ripley Castle to start
Beautiful end to the evening at Ripley Castle
We were all staying at the Boars Head in Ripley the night before, so the Ladies who hadn’t met each other could catch up over a few glasses of wine and a fantastic meal before shooting together the next day.
The Boars Head is part of the Ripley Castle Estate and is well worth a visit even if you aren’t shooting on the estate. The staff couldn’t have been more helpful, the room was beautifully decorated and with a secure car park and gun safe, it’s an ideal hotel for shooting parties.
Over a relaxed full English breakfast we were briefed by the Shoot Captain, Frank Boddy, a charming man who knows how to organise a fantastic day, whether it be for novice or experienced shots. Spread over 70,000 acres, Ripley Castle Estate can offer a fantastic variety of drives, birds and topography depending on your type of budget and ability.
Once Frank had warned us of the fines we’d incur if we shot any of the guinea fowl, turkeys or white partridge and pheasant on the estate, we set off in good spirits hoping we’d all notice the difference between a turkey and a partridge!
Due to my lack of gun to partridge co-ordination, the first drive is almost not worth mentioning, however, the birds were fantastic! Whizzing down the hill, over my head and hedge behind me, to be picked up by the back gun. A glass of champagne and slow gin was provided after the first drive to calm the nerves and was much appreciated to cool us down as the sun beat down on our shooting jackets.
The second drive not only provided some brilliant birds, but also some great watching as the birds were driven out of three separate woods, over an undulating cover crop towards the guns below. Even at peg number 9, birds curled round off the top of the game cover, shooting over the top of me on the prevailing wind, with some of them finally coming down! The white partridges also made an appearance, but with the sun behind us you couldn't miss the dove-like birds passing through the guns, luckily remaining untouched!
The rest of the day was spent getting to know the ladies in between drives that ranged from streaming pheasants over towering firs and the fantastic last drive through game crops, marshland and woodland, leaving everyone with very large smiles on their face! Although we shot through lunch, we did stop for Frank’s famous bullshot, a concoction between soup and hot sherry, delicious whatever it included! Lunch also included homemade pies and a very extensive selection of fruit liqueurs to steady the nerves further for the afternoon drives.
Frank has organised a number of ladies day before for Ripley Castle, and it really showed. We were well looked after, but not patronised or molly coddled, if he saw you shoot a great bird he’d say so, and if you were struggling then there were some very competent local guys to stand with you to give you confidence.
After a terrific day, we were kindly handed a brace of oven ready birds and a smart game card of the day, then back to the Boars Head for a delicious 2 course meal and a replay of every bird shot.
Once again, I shot with a really welcoming group of ladies, with some who had never shot game before and others who were more experienced, but with many of the group not knowing each other, we were all in the same boat. Much of the appreciation must go to the hard working Game Keeper, beaters, picker uppers, and of course Frank who really showed us a fantastic day.
We have already booked a day for next year and always welcome new ladies of any ability, so please do get in touch if you would like to hear more about any of the future events we have planned for both this season and the next. louisebenson@gunsonpegs.com.
Just For Ladies Ripley Castle Shoot, North Yorkshire
By Emma Pegler
We arrived at the Boar's Head in dribs and drabs as were coming from all over the country - Dorset, Warwickshire, Derbyshire, London, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. The cosy sitting room with armchairs and open fire quickly filled up with ladies and gins and tonic. Emma, Tricia, Louise and Gill had met at the Just for Ladies event in Salamanca, Spain and Jane and Angela were joining us through responding to GunsOnPegs ladies mailing. We had at least one birthday and a first time game shooting experience and an eight team member, Sorrel, a black Labrador. Since it is a dog-friendly hotel, Sorrel joined in all the hospitality.
Frank Boddy from Ripley Castle Shoot popped in to welcome and brief us and then we took a leisurely dinner with a few more drinks in the Brasserie Restaurant. An early(ish) night was followed by the typical hearty shoot breakfast and after a few more laughs at the prospect of shooting not only pheasant and partridge but also white pheasants and partridges and the odd turkey, we set off in convoy. We were joined by Lady Ingilby of Ripley Castle and her friend to give us a healthy critical mass of Guns.
Five drives of partridge and pheasant on a fine first of November day saw me down to my shirt sleeves. It was so beautifully sunny and although not great for the birds, we exceeded our bag comfortably (without overages I might add.) The first drive was shot by some tense Guns as we found our stride. A missed shot was visible to all and we needed to loosen up. Since Frank likes to serve pink champers, against my best intentions of waiting for late morning, I recommended that we might want a small tipple. And of course Champagne is light - couldn't drink sloe gin that early! And didn't we shoot well after that.
The shoot lunch was close to supper as we elected to take it at the end of the day and that way we could enjoy it more and deepen friendships. The ladies stayed an extra night so no one was rushing off and we overlapped with the next shoot and made a bigger party. We were joined by chaps for the shoot - friends, partners, loaders, instructors who are chaps are most welcome - we just want to have a line of lady Guns.
This is not the highest bird shoot of Frank's repertoire but there are fast birds that flick up suddenly over your head and present a challenge because you can lose the line quite quickly.
But was it good shooting?
Well everyone agreed at the shoot lunch to come again next 1st November and they were still saying that a few days later. So yes. We will go for a bigger bag next time as we can manage it.
Links
Just for Ladies Shooting Events
Ripley Castle Shoot
Boars Head Hotel
