CLA Game Fair hosts hotly contested Lady Shot of the Year final

The highly anticipated final of the Lady Shot of the Year competition took place on the Saturday of this year’s CLA Game Fair at Harewood House in Yorkshire.

Organised by the Shotgun and Chelsea Bun Club in partnership with Victoria’s Promise, a female cancer charity, the final was made up of two categories – Experienced and Novice – with each competitor shooting a 30-bird sporting layout over a range of stands.

The experienced class was won by Katie Ridley from Cumbria, who has been shooting for around five years. After winning the Lady Shot of the Year shield, Katie said: “This is my first time at the CLA Game Fair and it’s been fantastic. I’d like to thank the Shotgun & Chelsea Bun Club for putting on the competition, and I still can’t quite believe I’ve won it!”

The novice class was won by Becky Adlam from south Wales, who had only ever shot twice before and was one of more than 600 women who picked up a gun for the first time on National Ladies Shooting Day, which was organised by the Shotgun & Chelsea Bun Club earlier this summer. “I’m thrilled and amazed to have won,” she said, “The first time I ever went shooting was only a month ago so when I received Victoria's email saying I was in the final, I immediately booked a lesson for the following day! I’m extra glad I did now!”

Organiser and club founder, Victoria Knowles-Lacks, added: “The ladies all performed brilliantly, especially since for some of them it’s their first time shooting in a competition situation. They didn’t let the pressure or the weather put them off either. It’s also fabulous to see so many members here to support the finalists and create such a fantastic atmosphere. It’s a really great way to round off the competition that we kicked off on National Ladies Shooting Day back in June. I’d also like to thank everyone for their generous support of the Victoria’s Promise charity, which the competition has helped raise funds for."