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We are at the first event of the 2012's Schools Challenge. More than 180 children and youths
from schools across England are here at the Oxford Gun Company competing for £12,000
worth of prizes today. Here's one of them, Megan Bates, from Bredon School in Gloucestershire.
It would be nice to be in the prizes, but it's the second one I've done so far so hopefully,
I have had a couple of lessons and that's good.
So this is all about taking part.
Yes, yes.
It's very big of you. I was expecting you to say no win
[Laughter]
It would be nice to win, but it's the taking part that counts and it's just nice to come
out and meet people within the shooting industry and get to know people around the course.
Megan's brother is punchy about his chances.
It's my first school challenge competition, but I have shot a lot recently so I am hoping
to put the team up and hoping the team will win.
How do they prep you for all this, do you have shooting lessons at school.
I have been shooting at school for 4 years now and I have been shooting since I was tiny
and coming up here since last July with David Florent having lessons and previously I have
been here on Monday practicing hard ready for the day ahead now.
Last year's winners of the two main schools challenge events are Millfield school and
Warwickshire College. These lads from Seaford College in west Sussex reckon they are in
with a chance.
I think a good chance not too bad, yes.
Millfield and Warwick College winners from last year are you worried?
We beat them one year so we can beat them again. They have always been our main competitors,
but I think as Aly just said years ago we beat them so I think we can do it again.
Are you happy with the way you have shot so far?
We only shot one so we'll see how we do on this one.
It's not all private schools Cannelton High has produced schools challenge winners. There
are lots here like Megan who are interested in the competition for individual glory.
Now we are in a shocking situation cause Charlie you are on 35, Alex you are on 45, should
you be quite proud of that score?
[Laughter]
No he shouldn't. He should have straighted it, he shoots every day of his life.
[Laughter]
Alex is that true, should you have straighted it?
Uh, yes, really because the ones I dropped were silly mistakes, all of them.
Now you are on the edge of your seat because one of these guys could score, 46, 47, 48
Yeah
And that would be bad because then you wouldn't win.
Yeah
But you reckon you are in with a chance to win?
Yeah, hopefully
And do you hope that Alex will win, Charlie?
Yes I do, yup, yup, he's a team mate, so
He's a team mate even though he is from a different school?
Just because we're from.....
Brilliant, well good luck this year we'll see how it pans out.
Thanks.
But the best reason to be here is for the fun of it.
Are you off to shoot the rabbit mania now?
Yes, we shot it this morning, but we're going back to have a go at pool shooting in the
rabbit mania.
OK fantastic, this is a fun day isn't it?
Yes.
You're here to enjoy yourselves.
Yes. It's great. We're back because we like it, we love it.
Now, a prize pot like the one assembled by the Oxford Gun Company is only possible with
the generous help from sponsors. Rather than get them to explain their products to you
we have set them our own Fieldsports Channel challenge in a TV game show format taken straight
from a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta we have asked them to pair up and change roles. First
up is a gun maker and a clay pigeon trap manufacturer.
All I have got to do is flick that and press the button. Yup, ready,let's go.
On your marks, have you got a cartridge, get set, you haven't got a cartridge have you,
go.
Yes!
[Laughter]
Browning clearly ahead of Bowling. Now its the turn of the insurance and car sales man.
Nice of you to turn up.
Thanks Charlie.
[Laughter]
Explain to viewers what you do with your job.
I am an NFU Mutual insurance agent and the local group secretary for the Elsbury branch
of the National Farmers Union.
Terrific Martin what do you do?
I look after the Landrover dealership in Cheltenham.
Right that's where you are both wrong because you Simon are going to look after the Landrover
dealership by riding this Landrover bicycle up that hill and you Martin are going to explain
the benefits of NFU insurance to Simon while he does it. Are you ready?
No.
On your marks, get set, go.
Right then Simon life insurance, health insurance..
Health insurance definitely.
Oh that's it.
[Laughter]
I think we have a winner in Martin. Right back to your original positions Simon's from
the NFU and you Martin are going to get up that hill in the manner that most typifies
a landrover driver.
Fantastic.
Does it mean its going to break down half way up?
Go! Oh Martin!
[Laughter]
Land Rover of Cheltenham a winner there! Derek Barnes of Sporting Shooter magazine finds
himself giving a shooting lesson to the Oxford Gun Company's Doug Florent, while Doug tries
to sell advertising to Derek.
Hello Mr Florent. I am Derek Barnes from the Oxford Gun Company, welcome to my shooting
ground have you been shooting before?
No.
No? You haven't Are you married?
No.
I think I am going to leave these two to get on with it.
Have you got children?
Er no.
Unfortunately that would have helped.
I am actually a bachelor. I am actually advertising for a wife at this moment.
Are you trying to pitch me some advertising space.
No not at all.
Well don't do that now I'm trying to teach you how to shoot.
We'll call that a draw. Meanwhile back to the schools challenge and Doug's son David
is racing around organising the clays.
So 185 kids today is that a success?
Yes, my aim is to try and beat 180 and we beat 180, that's what we wanted to get in
for each of the events so that's a success and the best thing that's done today is we've
probably had 3 or 4 of the schools are new schools first competition they have ever come
into, so that's what the 6 Schools Challenge is there for and we have also had individuals
we have had an increase of individuals coming on their own which has only just started as
well, so some of the old schools haven't come because it's been full, but it has come up
with new schools which have never shot before, can't really argue with that that's what it
is there for.
One of the UK's top junior shooters is Amber Hill.
It should not have gone well for you should it because you are moving to another sport.
Not exactly yes, cause I am doing Olympic skeet now, because I've just gone to Italy
and got a new gun with my sponsors for it, so I have been practicing with that.
And how did you do today?
I didn't shoot too bad I thought I would do worse than I did but I got a 46 I think out
of 50 I think.
A 46, well that's not bad. Do you think you could be in with a chance?
Well I think Taylor Hedgecock has got a 47 and he did really really well so, but hopefully
for the ladies I'll have a chance.
Well that's not bad considering you are training now as an Olympic skeeter.
Yeah I was really happy with it.
At last the prize giving. Will Ford is prep winner with Isabella Ford ladies prep winner.
Top ladies team is Millfield in Somerset while Amber Hill wins the ladies individual prize.
Boys prize is Taylor Hedgecock from the Some Village College in Cambridgeshire and Bloxham
School goes away with a senior team prize.