25th April 2026 - A FISTFUL OF CLAYS

On the 25th of April 2026, members of the Prince of Wales Lodge, together with guests and partners, assembled for a splendid clay pigeon shoot, masterfully organised by the Lodge’s Number 1 Charity Steward, Alan BP. The setting could not have been more fitting: a glorious spring morning in the very bosom of the Cotswolds, bathed in sunshine so bright it almost felt unsporting to miss anything.

After a hearty breakfast—enthusiasm fuelled by bacon, eggs, and optimistic self‑belief—the assembled gun‑slingers swaggered purposefully towards the shooting pens to confront the unsuspecting clay pigeons. There was a strong Wild West vibe about the group, though admittedly this was somewhat undermined by the fact that some were wearing peaked caps and baseball caps instead of cowboy hats, there wasn’t a horse within three counties, and the closest thing to a saloon was the tea urn. Still, spines were straightened, shoulders squared, and a few imaginary spurs were undoubtedly jingled.

The posse was then split neatly into Professionals and Amateurs, seven in each group—though definitions of “professional” varied wildly and were, in some cases, self‑assigned. The amateurs approached the task with admirable enthusiasm, occasionally aiming first and thinking later, while the professionals favoured a more considered approach, pausing just long enough to explain in great detail how easy the next shot would be.

Spectators were treated to an entertaining blend of expert marksmanship, near misses, surprise hits, creative explanations, and the occasional clays escaping unscathed out of pure shock.

As the morning drew to a close, excitement peaked with an Amateur Shoot‑Off, dramatically pitching SW Andy C against his son, Max. It was youth versus experience, reflexes versus guile, optimism versus quiet confidence. Max fought valiantly, but in the end the old gun‑slinger’s decades of hard‑won wisdom (and perhaps selective hearing) paid dividends, and Andy emerged victorious—proving once again that experience counts for a great deal, especially when combined with a refusal to be beaten by your own offspring.

Meanwhile, the Professional Shoot‑Off delivered drama of its own. Luke shot with calm precision and took the win in convincing style. At the other end of the leaderboard was Mike F, who finished last—but only on the scorecard. Mike undisputedly claimed first place for running commentary, tactical analysis, retrospective advice, and explaining exactly what should have happened on every single shot. A truly outstanding performance in the verbal discipline, and a reminder that shooting is as much about confidence as it is about actually hitting anything.

All in all, it was a cracking morning filled with sunshine, laughter, good fellowship, heroic shots, heroic excuses, and clay pigeons that will no doubt be telling their side of the story for years to come.