Following the establishment of the new Welsh Parliament, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation has written to all members of the Senedd, highlighting the importance of shooting to the Welsh economy, environment and culture. The elections, held a fortnight ago, saw Welsh Labour narrowly miss out on securing a majority, winning 30 of the 60 seats in the Senedd. The Conservatives gained 16 seats becoming the official opposition with Plaid Cymru obtaining 13 and the Liberal Democrats one. Lesley Griffiths, MS for Wrexham, has maintained the rural affairs portfolio, though her responsibilities have been expanded ...

The British Game Alliance is urging everyone to be early adopters of its voluntary 50p levy, which will be added to every bird shot this season so the not-for-profit organisation can build a much-needed self-regulatory shield around game shooting. CEO Liam Stokes explained: “Put simply, game shooting cannot continue without credible self-regulation and it cannot thrive without a market for the birds we shoot. To achieve both, we need widespread implementation of the BGA standards. “The BGA is almost entirely funded through registration fees of its shoots and game farms and through the efforts of guns, ...

English gunmaker Longthorne has just proofed its first set of Damascus barrels for steel shot at The London Proof House. The news will delight a customer who has waited for quite some time for these. As an added bonus, at the same time they had the honour of meeting the new London Proof Master David Miles, and the team. In addition, a number of UK dealers have now taken delivery of Longthorne demonstration models, with more to come in the following weeks. It means customers now can view and try the latest models at various shops and ...

As well as exhibiting, leading country clothing brand Joules will be hosting a just-for-fun dog agility course at The Game Fair this year, which is being held at Ragley Hall from 23 to 25 July. The agility course is designed to be a non-competitive and inclusive activity that will be open to furry friends of all shapes and sizes that may not have been eligible for other competitions. Dogs can whizz through a series of obstacles that are bound to leave tails wagging as they spring over fences, leap through hoops and slalom their way to ...

London antique dealer and vintage luggage specialist Bentleys London is back at The Game Fair for the first time in more than 20 years. Owner Tim Bent tells us what it means to return, the importance of the LAPADA pavilion and why this summer will be so exciting. TGF: With over 30 years’ experience, what have been your career highlights? Tim Bent: Opening my first shop on Walton Street in Chelsea in 1996 was a big moment. Taking a Bentleys pop-up shop to Tokyo and Shanghai promoting vintage luggage and British craftsmanship with Alfred Dunhill ...

A high-quality, well-thought-out design boasting a string of features for any dog trainer. The vest is made from a mesh and ripstop fabric and boasts a zipped two-way front opening plus hidden deep chest pockets, two inside pockets with zip closures, double front cartridge/utility pockets and a large rear waterproof game/carrying pocket with an adjuster. Each pocket, including the one at the rear, also includes eyelets for drainage. It also incorporates an elasticated back area so the vest will give and take with you, for example, if you decide to put a jumper or coat under ...

This week’s key industry figure is Marc Newton, the managing director of London gunmaker John Rigby & Co, which has a history stretching back to the 18th century. Since his appointment in 2013, Marc has guided Rigby’s evolution into a firm fit for the 21st century while keeping its history alive. As well as overseeing the production of finely crafted, fit-for-purpose firearms, Marc always has an eye to shoring up the future of the gun trade as a whole, supporting young gunmaking talent through apprenticeships and by creating a well-balanced team where the enthusiasm of youth ...

With all eyes on the summer, game specialist Wild and Game has launched an expanded BBQ offering with two variety packs and recipes. The company’s barbeque range includes garlic and herb pheasant breasts, chilli and lemon partridge breasts, venison or wild boar steaks, game burgers and sausages plus mallard breasts. The packs are the latest addition to the firm’s growing range of game-based food, which runs from pies and sausage rolls to ready meals, pates and read-to-cook meats. Other recent additions include game charcuterie and gin-based pâtés. Steven Frampton, the company’s co-founder, said: “Wild and ...

Forensic scientist Martin Parker has been appointed as the new head of firearms at the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC). Martin, whose most recent post was as chief scientist at the National Ballistics Intelligence Service is a biochemist by training and has been involved in forensic science as a practitioner, instructor and senior manager. Part of his career has been devoted to forensic firearms examination at every level. BASC’s director of firearms, Bill Harriman, said Martin was well-known and respected within law enforcement and government agencies and highly regarded by those shooting organisations he ...

Global auctioneer and Game Fair regular Bonhams announces has been entrusted with the sale of one of the most important and well-documented collection of firearms belonging to Western lawmen and outlaw legends. Among the highlights of The Early West: The Collection of Jim and Theresa Earle, is arguably the most iconic treasure of early western history – the gun Pat Garrett used to kill Billy The Kid (estimate: $2-3 million). Jim Earle, a beloved engineering professor at Texas A&M, and his wife Theresa assembled this incredible collection over the course of more than 40 ...

The Government has signalled the next step in its roadmap out of lockdown, with further restrictions being eased from Monday and more venues opening up for us to enjoy. It’s one step closer to the return of normality as we head towards a fantastic summer, culminating in The Game Fair’s celebration of the great British countryside. The event, which has already been given “Good To Go” industry standard backing from VisitBritain to reassure visitors this July, ticks all the boxes for a safe and fun gathering for all countryside lovers. Announcing the “considerable step on ...