Having never been on a shoot before I was pretty nervous, even more so because I didn’t know a single person going. The organisation in the lead up to the day was spot on and we were paired up (all newbies were paired up with someone experienced) which meant you had time to plan who was taking what and had someone to bombard with questions. Despite the fact, some of the girls knew each other already it wasn’t at all cliquey! Everyone is super welcoming and it’s a really relaxed atmosphere so don’t be afraid to get involved and ask questions. I wish I’d gone along sooner and I’m looking forward to the next one!
Sarah Sanderson – Simulated day
This was an incredible day of firsts, not just for me, but for the other ladies making up the team of guns: It was my first game day where 100% of the team of guns were ladies. My first game day where I knew no one else before I arrived, but left having made some amazing friends. My first ever game day where I was alongside experience shots and complete beginners, one of which shot her first-ever game bird, a privilege to see. The day was wonderful, considering I was nervous on my way, when I met all the other guns, I felt instantly relaxed and knew I was in for a day to remember. The presentation of the birds from folly sporting were fantastic, ranging from some easier birds for the beginners so some testing highflyers for the more experienced shots. After the incredible day of sport and food, we all left with game birds from the day and pheasant sausages made by folly sporting – the perfect cherry on the cake. I only hope I get to experience a day like this again.
Amelia Rome – Game day
Having followed The Country Girls UK since the very beginning and becoming very friendly with Tania, she kindly asked me to oversee a shoot she had organised at The Folly Sporting while she was away travelling. So if you take 18 women, most of who haven’t met before and travel to a shoot in rural Leicestershire for a day of game shooting, what can you really expect? Well, we had the most incredible day of shooting and laughter! After the warmest of welcomes and introductions, all the ladies were split into pairs dependent on ability making sure any novices were paired with an experienced gun. Throughout the day there were five drives of fabulous shooting with some girls bagging their first-ever game which meant there were definitely smiles all round! Alongside the shooting, the day included fantastic hospitality. Starting with bacon rolls for breakfast followed by elevenses, lunch and finishing with tea and homemade cakes, all accompanied by plenty of bubbles! To top it off, all ladies were presented with gift bags full of amazing goodies! Such a lovely and unexpected touch. After a day out with The Country Girls UK, you can be guaranteed to leave with newfound confidence, a whole bunch of new friends and a smile on your face.
Claire Annable – Game day
I absolutely loved my first ever Game day at The Folly with the Country Girls UK organised by Tania. I was the first to turn up (I was super early), I was a little nervous but was soon put at ease as soon as I met Kate, James and their lovely family… I was shown to the very cosy boot room and the other Country Girls started to arrive soon after. What a friendly and encouraging bunch of ladies, for someone who is very new to this sport and didn’t really know what to expect but again I was put at ease. Met my beautiful peg partner Caitlin for the first time, who kindly let me use her gun for the day and guided me through the day (we have now become very good friends) From start to finish it was well-organised hospitality was amazing and was enjoyed by all. Just to top off what was already a brilliant day I shot my first bird and also got kindly picked as the novice shooter of the day and was given a bag full of beautiful gifts. I left on a massive high with some new friends who I have since met up with at other events. Cannot wait until the next CGUK event. Thank you, EVERYONE, that was involved x
Hayley Varney – Game day
The shoot at The Plucked Pheasant was my first experience of a sim day and it completely exceeded my expectations thanks to all the hard work of everyone involved in planning it. The drives were fantastic, the hospitality was incredible and the company of the girls there was brilliant! I couldn’t fault a single thing and am so happy and grateful to have been part of it all. It’s a memory I will treasure forever, and I am forever in debt to the people there that have given me both the confidence to get out and shoot more, as well as the life -long friendships I have made as a result of this day.
Daniella Rye – Simulated day
My First Ladies sim day & what a cracking day it was, the excitement and rush of emotions on this day was never-ending. It was incredible. The plucked pheasant were phenomenal hosts! Everything down to the last detail I want to shout off the rooftops and praise! I’ve been around guns for a few years as my husband shoots, but I have never taken a keen interest in them until the middle of last year. The @thecountrygirlsuk gave me the confidence to attend a local shoot and shoot my first pheasant! Knowing all of those 200+ supportive ladies were in my pocket cheering me on gave me the best feeling. Since then I’ve gone from knowing I’m gun safe to being completely in charge of my gun! All thanks to the mega support of the country girls which made this sim day so much more fun knowing I was only surrounded by support and help, not judgement. The entire day at the plucked pheasant was such a memorable day, the atmosphere was next to none with all the excited faces of everyone new and experienced. It was such fun watching all the girls that had never been on a sim day before, gain the confidence & smash clays was amazing. A lot of the ladies were so nervous about before the day but after the first drive, you could tell that was all gone. I couldn’t stop seeing smiles all day, the infectious laughter echoed from us at peg 9 all the way down to peg 1 and never stopped all day. Given the chance and my bank account, I would be on every day the Country Girls put on. You are never disappointed and always feel so much love and support. As well as your face hurting from smiling so much, which is never a bad thing! So big thank you to the @thepluckedpheasant, @thecountrygirlsuk, our amazing photographer @hagued92 and of course all of the amazing ladies who went on the day and made it such fun! 💕💕💕
Shannon Hunter – Simulated day
This was my first sim day and it was safe to say it did not disappoint. I picked a gun up for the first time last November and haven’t been shooting clays as much as I can, but progressing from clays to real game is quite a daunting thought so a day like this was perfect for you to get the understanding of how game days run and what to expect from them. The Country Girls group has been so encouraging and supportive and I honestly wouldn’t have ever done something like this if it wasn’t for them, I’ve definitely made some friends for life.
The day itself ( and especially the food 😍 ) exceeded my expectations and I can’t thank Rich and Francesca enough for all the time and thought that went into planning an amazing day for us all, Tania for getting us all together and pushing us a lot of us out of our comfort zones to do this amazing day & of course Dan for his amazing pictures.
This is definitely the first of many sim days for me 💙
Alix Jade – Simulated day
Where to start… this was my first sim day, having only shot a couple of beaters days and some clay lessons, I was ready for the challenge! Emily and I drove up together and picked up two “strangers” (Mel & Amelia) in which we all did not take a breath for talking and laughing so much on the way there. It was exciting yet daunting to meet all the rest of the girls, everyone was so lovely we were all at ease and straight away it was clear that the day was going to be one to remember!! It is rare to find such a great bunch of ladies all in one place. I can’t thank Tania enough as not only have you helped fuel my passion and confidence in shooting but also make new long-lasting friendships! @thepluckedpheasant put on the most fantastic day and one to remember, their attention to detail is impeccable and I wish them all the success with the business! 💖
Kirsten Smith – Simulated day
Wow. Where to start? Arriving at the sim day, having not met any of the @thecountrygirlsuk before, I was super nervous…. although had no need to be! The group of girls were so lovely and friendly, and I am so pleased to have found such a great group of girls who share the same interests. Frankie and Richard from @thepluckedpheasant were also very welcoming and their hospitality was second to none. Everything was so well thought of, from the food & drinks to each drive, this all made the day run smoothly ensuring we all had the best time! 💖
Becky Witt – Simulated day
I had the best day with an amazing bunch of the Country girls. Each of the four drives had a varying layout, putting both clays to test us and clays to build our confidence over our heads. Starting the day knowing no one and ending it knowing some amazing people was a bonus! I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend a @thecountrygirlsuk day to everyone! 🙌🏼🙌🏼
Amelia Roma – Simulated day
We arrived at 10 am, to a room of tea, coffee, bacon butties and faces full of nerves and excitement. I knew a lot of the girls already but that’s what’s great about @TheCountryGirlsUK events, we always pair up with someone new, so after meeting the lovely @ginshartop, we headed out by car to the first two drives. First up was a nice warm-up drive with steady mid-height driven clays from behind a woodland, everyone got stuck in and relaxed. This was followed by a fun drive full of high driven clays off a bank where we were pegged on the edge with some tricky targets over a tree line. We were soon laughing, and the poaching was well underway! Time for elevenses, Sloegasms and a spread of homemade pies, sausage rolls, Parma ham, olives and more! The sun was out and we all de-layering in excitement of the final two drives. Next up was an open field full of partridge crossers, followed by a final big quarry high pheasant drive. I was in my element and this pic says it all – we are both celebrating here after I hit a nice left and right, poaching from both my neighbouring pegs. I honestly can’t recommend a day with @thecountrygirlsuk enough. Whether you’re new or experienced, there’s something for everyone and we always spend the day laughing and having fun in some of the most stunning scenery. A big thank you to @grimstonsimulatedgame and @countrygirl_andlabradors for such an amazing day!
Hannah Colyer – Simulated day
I was pretty apprehensive arriving at the Country Girls UK sim day, I don’t shoot well with an audience and so I felt a little out of my depth, but I needn’t have worried. Everyone was so warm and welcoming with a superb comradery spirit which put me at total ease. Grimston simulated game put on a superb display of varying clays which both boosted confidence and tested your skills. Coupled with exquisite food and drinks we were treated like total queens making the whole day such an amazing experience which I would wholeheartedly recommend. I’ve never turned up somewhere not knowing a soul and came away with so many new friends! Being mostly a game shooter, this really is the next best thing and really helped me get my eye in for the coming season! So to anyone holding off due to nerves or lack of confidence, please do get involved, you won’t regret it and you’ll have the most memorable, fun and laughter filled day!
Alex Naim – Simulated day
I have to say if you had said to me this time last year that I would be out on a sim day with 17 other girls that I’d never met… I would’ve said… NO chance! But here I am, literally smashing the clay! @thecountrygirlsuk group has brought out so much confidence in me, and the support from all the girls in the group has just encouraged me to get out and have a go at something completely new to me! I have learnt and am still learning so much from every single one of the ladies! I have made friends for life through this group, and I can’t wait to get out more and more with them all! I loved this sim day so much, that the day after, I booked myself onto the next sim day with The Country Girls UK! I’m getting all this practice in ready for my first game day with the girls in December! What an awesome group of women, absolutely smashing it, in what is quite a male-dominated lifestyle!
Emily Winter – Simulated day
