Warrington North MP gets hands-on with clay shooting and BASC

Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols swapped the Commons for the clay ground as she joined BASC at the Manchester Clay Shooting Club in August to learn more about shooting sports and the role they play in local communities.

Ms Nichols (pictured below, second from right) was accompanied by her assistant and former Chair of North West Labour, Leigh Drennan, and was welcomed by BASC Northern director Duncan Thomas and BASC shotgun coach Phil Roughley.

The visit gave the MP the chance to see the club in action and hear first-hand how shooting provides both sporting opportunities and significant contributions to conservation. Discussions also focused on firearms legislation and recent changes to licensing. 

The group explored the scale of shooting across the country and its economic importance to rural communities. She also heard about BASC’s ongoing work to support members across the North West, from grassroots participation through to countryside management.

As a memento of the day, BASC presented Ms Nichols with a handcrafted birdbox – a symbol of the conservation work BASC and our members do on a daily basis.

Manchester Clay Shooting Club is run by David Lloyd, a stalwart of the sport who has represented both Great Britain and England for more than 40 years. Under his leadership, the club continues to encourage new people into clay target shooting while nurturing international-level talent.

Speaking after the visit, Charlotte Nichols MP said: “It was excellent to meet with the British Association of Shooting and Conservation and discuss some of the important work they do, both for sport and for our countryside. There are many members of BASC across Warrington and they play an important role in our community and I’m looking forward to working with them in future.”

BASC Northern director Duncan Thomas added: “We were delighted to welcome Charlotte to Manchester Clay Shooting Club and to highlight both the sporting and community benefits of shooting. It was a valuable opportunity to showcase the positive work of our members across the North West and we look forward to continuing constructive dialogue with Charlotte in the months ahead.”