‘Unwavering dedication’ and ‘remarkable service’ rewarded at The Game Fair

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July 28, 2024

This year’s recipients of BASC’s prestigious annual honours were presented with their awards at The Game Fair yesterday.

BASC’s main stand at The Game Fair was packed out with members and supporters yesterday, 27 July, all of whom were there to celebrate the achievements of the recipients of BASC’s annual honours and awards.

The awards shine a light on the difference BASC members make every day, not only to the Association, but to shooting and conservation as a whole.

A "pivotal role in the representation of shooting sports"

A keen game shot and deer stalker, Jonathan Djanogly was presented with Honorary Vice President of the Association in recognition of his commitment to BASC and representation of shooting at the highest level.

Jonathan was elected Chairman of the British Shooting Sports Council in March 2017 and has played a pivotal role in the representation of shooting sports.

In his first year as chair, he was instrumental in encouraging the Home Secretary to withdraw the Government’s proposed ban on high muzzle energy rifles. Johnathan has also argued consistently for greater clarity on medical involvement within the firearms licensing process and for a statutory duty upon GPs to place the firearms marker on certificate holders’ medical records.

During his 23 years as an MP, Jonathan acted as a conduit for shooting sports in Parliament, ensuring that both MPs of all persuasions, and successive policing ministers – firstly Kit Malthouse and subsequently Chris Philp – were properly briefed on firearms matters. Working closely with BASC Vice President Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, his work ensured that the voice of the shooting community was heard, and taken seriously, in the corridors of Westminster.

Stanley Duncan Conservation Trophy

It was William Barling’s tireless dedication to habitat creation for waders on his farm that led to him being presented with the prestigious Stanley Duncan Conservation Trophy. His dedication and effort has yielded success for breeding lapwing and terns in particular, with several other species also reaping the benefits of his improvement work.

Thirteen years ago, William reintroduced grey partridge to the area, and has nurtured their return ever since. At the age of 89, he has also served as gamekeeper for his own successful farm shoot for the last 45 years, continuing his exemplary and remarkable example in this role as he has in all others he has undertaken.

Ian Richardson Trophy

Rewarded for his long-term commitment and contribution was BASC member and passionate shooter Nick Lister, who runs the Weatherby-based game dealers Ox Close Fine Foods. Ox Close is a leading name in the game processing sector, modelling best practice and aiming to improve standards across the board.

Over the last five years, Nick has worked with his shoot suppliers to encourage them to embrace the sector’s voluntary transition away from lead shot, paying them for top-quality game shot with steel.

Awards for long service

This year saw Payne-Galleway Long Service Awards presented to four worthy individuals in John Bates, George Ashcroft, David Upton and Anthony Warner.

John Bates

A BASC member since 1988, John Bates has served as gamekeeper in various forms on the Monks Wood syndicate shoot in Derbyshire for the last 40 years. Aside from producing excellent shooting, John’s vision around habitat management and creation has seen the shoot’s biodiversity blossom under his tenure. He has also been at the forefront of introducing the use of non-lead ammunition, demonstrating his commitment to a sustainable future for the shoot.

George Ashcroft

George Ashcroft, known as Geordie, has been a member of BASC since 1983 and involved in shooting for half a century. A passionate wildfowler and lifelong member and current chair of Newcastle Wildfowler’s Association , Geordie was Lindisfarne warden for 11 years, stepping down in 2004. He was instrumental in the setting up of the Lindisfarne wildfowling permit scheme and was also behind the establishment of the annual Lindisfarne charity auction, raising £50k for charity over the last 18 years.

David Upton

David Upton has been a member of the Hull and East Riding Wildfowling Association’s committee since 1979. He has served as warden at the Humber wildfowl refuge since 2000, playing a crucial role in the preservation of its diverse wildlife population. David’s dedication to preserving the natural habitat and educating others about the importance of wildlife conservation is truly commendable and makes him a deserved recipient of this award.

Anthony Warner

A member of BASC for more than 40 years, Anthony Warner fulfilled the role of chair at Leicestershire Wildfowlers Association (LWA) for 16 years before retiring in 2023. Under Anthony’s guidance, LWA produced the best inland wildfowling facility in the county at Kirby Lakes. A true champion of the sport, Anthony attracted large numbers of newcomers to wildfowling in Leicestershire, and since retiring has turned his hand to getting new people into deer stalking too.

Gamekeeper of the Year

A new award for this year, the title of BASC Gamekeeper of the Year went to Robert Crofts.

Robert started work as gamekeeper on the Portavo estate, near Donaghadee in Northern Ireland 41 years ago, when he was just 19. Tasked with developing a driven game shoot on the estate, Robert has skilfully curated the shoot from the ground up. Years later, the Portavo shoot is renowned for the quality of the sport it offers. Robert has worked tirelessly year after year to improve the quality and welfare of the birds, constantly refining the drives with subtle use of game crops.

Robert’s deft touch has resulted in the return of such species as pine martins, badgers, herons, swans, several varieties of geese and other water fowl, buzzards and Irish brown hares. There has also been an increase in the number and variety of garden and woodland birds.

Women in Shooting award

BASC’s Women in Shooting award recognises women who promote inclusion in fieldsports, inspire others to get involved and demonstrate significant commitment and passion in their field.

This year’s recipient was Ann Shepherd. Ann has been involved with BASC for the last 25 years, initially bringing her son to a young shots event and gradually becoming an dedicated and loyal volunteer for Northern regional team.

Ann was at the forefront of the establishment of women-only events at BASC, which first took place more than 20 years ago. From there she established her own women’s syndicate in the Fire Birds, which continues to go from strength-to-strength as it enters its third decade of existence. She has been responsible for the introduction of countless individuals to shooting and remains as passionate and enthusiastic today as ever.

Special Presentation awards

Each year, BASC gives a number of Special Presentation awards to recognise outstanding contribution in many forms. This year’s recipients were as follows:

Charlie Mellor

Charlie Mellor is head gamekeeper of the Norfolk Estate, Arundel, for His Grace the Duke of Norfolk. Charlie heads up a team that work across the estate, leading the Peppering Partridge Project as well as a commercial pheasant shoot.

The Purdey Gold Award-winning Peppering Partridge Project was started in 2002, with Charlie joining the team in 2009. The project has achieved great success in increasing the numbers of grey partridge on the South Downs, an exemplar of how shooting and conservation can work together to improve biodiversity.

Mark Williams

Mark Williams is a police firearms licensing officer and an all-round supporter of everything shooting and conservation. Mark’s humility and genuine desire to help people renders him a hugely valued volunteer at BASC, he often attends shows to help out on the BASC stand providing members with common sense firearms licensing advice.

Mark has also set up a small syndicate shoot, where the primary objective is to let as many people try shooting for the first time in an environment where you feel comfortable with the opportunity to learn.

Keith Cann

A BASC member of 20 years, Keith Cann has also been a BASC DSC trainer for 15 years and a DSC assessor for 11 years. He has volunteered on the BASC stand at the Royal Cornwall Show, at the West of England game fair, and at young shot and other events in the region over many years.

Keith’s loyalty to BASC is legendary and he is a persuasive and powerful ambassador for the Association. This commitment to BASC and his willingness to go “above and beyond” to help out is what makes Keith stand out.

John Senior

John Senior is head of wildlife management at the Thoresby Park estate. Having designed and created a purpose-built rifle range on the estate for the use of BASC training courses and rifle events, John has facilitated the increase of deer-related training and education for our members. Courses held on the estate include DSC1 and pre-DSC1 courses, alongside firearms awareness and intermediate deer courses.

John himself is an approved BASC trainer for deer courses and is a knowledgeable stalker and enthusiastic promoter of the Association.

Grace Allen

A student at Cardiff University, Grace Allen became the university’s clay pigeon shooting club’s first female captain and only it’s second ever female president since it’s establishment 15 years ago. She has worked to increase club membership and following, and introduced women-focused shooting, all while simultaneously competing herself. Grace has been so successful, that club membership is up 14 per cent, with women making up more than 30 per cent of all new members this year.

Grace is herself a highly competitive shot, placing in BUCS competitions, helping to lead multiple mixed and female teams to victory, and winning many university shooting competitions during her time at Cardiff.

If you know someone who is worthy of recognition for their contribution to shooting and conservation, find out more about BASC’s honours and awards here.