Shoot Review – Cleggan Lodge, Antrim Hills

The day started in a fine country hotel not far from Belfast. A hearty bowl of porridge (and first class it was too) some coffee and we’re not long in mounting up in various vehicles to head north.  A half-hour drive and we turn into the road that leads to the Cleggan Lodge. The clouds roll over the top of the Antrim Hills with the peak of Slemish disappearing into the grey mist.

The group – 9 guns, a few ‘stuffers’, assorted keepers, beaters, ‘picker-uppers’ and their dogs all gather in the cobbled yard in front of the Cleggan Lodge clock. We are greeted by Lord Rathcaven, who, despite walking with the aid of two sticks is always there to greet the guns – a nice touch. A mixed group of guns with one lady and eight men of varying degrees of experience ranging  from those who having been shooting for years, others like myself, who started shooting 3 years ago and manage 3-4 outings between November and January, and two who would be happy to be classified in the beginners camp.

A swift coffee for the shooting party amid much movement, gesticulation, radio chatter and some sense of anxiety from the shoot manager and keepers. Beaters are directed to the first drive and we load up with cartridges with a reminder to one of our beginners using a 20 bore gun to always pick the yellow cartridges. The head keeper joins us and we have the obligatory safety briefing for the guns and the traditional drawing of the lots to see which stand you’re on – 7 for me, and move up 2 each drive.

It’s a creeping-cold day and I’m glad of the warmth afforded by my Hoggs of Fife Edinburgh tweed breeks, jacket and cap. Thankfully there’s no rain, nor any forecasted. To be honest, it wouldn’t be an issue if it was given the high quality waterproofing built into the garment.

The guns load up into the Cleggan Shoot bus, but number 7 is called to travel with the keeper to his stand – a 6 acre field and “feel free to roam as you see fit” he says between issuing instructions to the team heading over the hill in front of us and strangely enough, those who walk a little ahead towards an area of cover ready to push the birds even higher as they make their way towards the line of guns. My compatriots are stretched out approximately 50 yards apart over the wall to my right and duly noting, for safety reasons, exactly where they, the beaters ahead and the pickers behind are, I make my way to the position assigned to number 7.
So we wait, and wait, and wait – and I’m really glad of the perfectly positioned lined pockets of my jacket designed to keep the hands warm as I hold my Browning 525 in anticipation. It seems
like its going to be a fruitless drive, a view shared by a few of us afterwards. As the cold descends I slip the collar closed and even if it snowed I would still be as warm as toast and able to function should the birds ever arrive.

 And then, like a squadron of Tie Fighters in a Star Wars movie the birds appear from high on the hill, the early ones reaching a great height by the time they swing round to my right following the line of trees and across the line of guns. I’m a little bit out of the flight path and using my ‘freedom to roam’, but without impinging on my neighbour, I move slightly uphill and that brings me more into position for the path the flankers are taking.My first shot of the season misses, there’s almost a snuffle of displeasure from the 2 dogs standing 20m behind me with their master eager to burst into action retrieving the birds – they really are a marvel to watch. But I show them, I get success with the next 3 shots including a nice right and left pair. The freedom of movement from the Hoggs jacket allows a smooth swing as I turn to get a sight on the birds. There’s no tightening around the shoulders or under the arms thereby allowing a fluid adjustment in stance and direction – just what you want in a high quality shooting jacket. The pockets are large and hold 50 cartridges with ease allowing me quick and easy access to reload (my stuffer being employed shooting with the camera). The excitement of the drive continues, a few more birds are successfully despatched and I can hear from the other guns that they are all getting good sport. The birds, a new strain of pheasant for the Cleggan team, brought in from Wales, fly really well. With an inherent drive to gain height as soon as they see the guns they make for challenging sport and a few are allowed safe passage having achieved a height and distance at which a clean shot would be less than certain. With the number of birds coming over the guns it’s much better to wait for a more definite quarry.

Drive 2 follows after a 20 minute repositioning and again, even more so, this Welsh breed comes down the hill at a great height. I’m on stand 9 – a back gun and my colleague in front of me being a good shot doesn’t allow much past. That said there’s still plenty to shoot. Great sport is had by all and as the drive comes to an end I make a smooth turn to my left and take a bird cleanly at about the maximum range at which I would fire – a good shot.

Its elevenses, a tradition being the cocktail sausages, pate, nibbles and a glass of fortifying liquid – all delivered and served to the guns by Lord Rathcaven himself – now that’s something you don’t get every day.Drive 3 (before lunch) goes the same way as the previous 2 and we gradually increase the tally with the birds continuing to test the guns with their tendency to head for the clouds. Over  a sumptuous lunch of home grown beef carved by one of our fellow guns and followed by home made crumble we talk about the birds flight paths, congratulate the keeper on his excellent management of the morning sport and then we’re off on the 4th and last drive of the day. It doesn’t disappoint. Standing in a  gap in the middle of  a copse the action takes place further back the line but as the beaters make their way forward the birds come closer and then, like the first drive, they come in waves and I’m pleased to have taken 2 partridges and a number of pheasants, including a few pairs.

The day ends with much congratulations and a final report card indicating that we exceeded expectations by about 20%. A great days sport aided by the total comfort and practicality of my Hoggs of Fife attire which, to date, has more than proved adequate – but lets see how it goes on my next trip.

Meager Read