There was a time when a women\u2019s role was to stand dutifully behind her man, offering gentle praise and encouragement when needed. Sometimes, as long as she cut the mustard, she was allowed to stuff cartridges up his breech. That, apart from cooking and serving lunch of course, was a woman\u2019s lot; a supporting role.<\/p>\n
How times have changed.<\/p>\n
I was kindly invited to a shoot this week at a very famous estate and equally kindly invited to a very upmarket hotel for dinner the night before.<\/p>\n
I should point out that I have had something of a sabbatical from shooting and even when I shot more frequently, it was usually on a farm and we were elated if the bag was more than fifty and if the birds topped the trees.<\/p>\n
There were two very glamorous Ladies in the bar and as the introductions were made, it was clear that they were not accompanied by any men and that they were shooting the next day. The usual pre shoot excuses were bantered about, The Ladies professing their amateur status while the men, confident of their superiority, offered patronising advice disguised as support.<\/p>\n
The next day we assembled at the famous shoot for coffee and the briefing. The Ladies got out of their Range Rovers and joined the motley crew. Men make their best effort to blend in with the others, similar tweed breeks, old jumpers, gillets, and the usual shooting kit. The only concession to self-expression is the choice of tie, socks or flashy garters. It\u2019s just not done for men to make a fashion statement.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s different for women and these Ladies were making a statement. Wide brimmed hats with long pheasant tail feathers – cavalier style. Silk cravats, tasselled leather trousers, Spanish high boots, silk linings, long perfectly manicured nails. These girls were taking no prisoners in the field of fashion.<\/p>\n
Surely this was a case of \u2018all the gear, no idea\u2019? I\u2019m sure I saw a smirk or two from the men. You really can\u2019t shoot properly dressed like that, let alone reach the trigger with two-inch nails, oh well. I thought, at least they look good.<\/p>\n
The first drive was something of a surprise. I was at No 1 and out of the main action, which gave me the chance to look down the line. The Ladies seemed to be managing rather well; they both had stuffers of course. Those nails precluded loading a gun. I noticed some rather good birds come down and began to suspect that it was more a case of \u2018all the gear and a very good idea\u2019.<\/p>\n
On the second drive I was placed between The Ladies, a Thorn between two Roses; no pressure then. We were in a deep valley facing a near vertical bank topped with conifers. The birds began to appear and on my right and left they were stopped as if flying into a sheet of plate glass.<\/p>\n
The ones I shot at flew on, flicking V signs contemptuously down at me. I left the first shot too late and nearly fell over on the second. Up went the gun, nothing, safety catch\u2026.bang, bang, missed again. Reload, cartridge falls on the ground, up goes the gun, bang click, missed again. Move your feet, Ouch that was my thumb, oops that was the butt on my cheek, missed again, surely I hit that one?<\/p>\n