A Scottish Government Minister has condemned “the abuse and unfair harassment” of gamekeepers and their families in Scotland, after research commissioned by the Scottish government showed that almost two thirds had experienced abusive behaviour. In a letter to the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), the newly appointed Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment, Ben Macpherson MSP, said he was “appalled to hear of the experiences” reported by Scotland’s gamekeepers, which were documented in a study by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC). Mr Macpherson added that he “would work to ensure that no ...

The British Game Alliance (BGA) is on the hunt for young people who love cooking game and has launched an exciting competition with some amazing prizes – do you know someone who might make the grade? The Game Chef Hunt contest will showcase and celebrate great game recipes and the talent of people aged under 21 and will run until February 10th. Entries can be any game dish, fur or feather, that you love to cook and eat at home. If relevant and with the shoot and head keeper’s permission, let the BGA know the name ...

Health Secretary Matt Hancock wants the UK to get back to normal quickly and told the nation this week: “I want us to have that Great British summer. And my team and I are working hard to deliver this as fast as possible.” With the promise to vaccinate every over-50 against Covid-19 by the start of May – that’s 32 million people in all – the Government is doing everything it can to put a summer smile on our faces. The vaccine has already prompted The Game Fair regulars Colin and Carol Letch, who run ...

Falconry is more than just a popular pastime in Qatar – it’s a national treasure with a celebrated history and a very bright future. It is no wonder then that through Doha’s cultural village Katara, under the patronage of His Highness The Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, a wonderful partnership exits to celebrate falconry. Two spectacular events, The Game Fair in the United Kingdom, a celebration of the countryside since 1958 attracting 120,000 visitors each year, and S’Hail - Katara International Hunting and Falcons Exhibition, Qatar’s annual showcase promoting the pursuit and preservation of hunting ...

Once Britain has left the European Union you can no longer sell birds in-feather direct to buyers from Europe. From January 1st, 2021 game birds in-feather cannot be exported to Europe without certification by an official veterinarian and must be exported through an Approved Game Handling Establishment, just like processed game meat. What do you need to do? If you are currently exporting birds in-feather directly to Europe, you will need to make contact with a game processor to make alternative arrangements. You can find a list of British Game Alliance registered processors here, or contact ...

The Country Food Trust, The Game Fair’s charity for 2021, is inviting you to host a dinner party at your home on Friday February, 26th for as many guests as space allows, or as Covid-19 rules permit. The goal is for over 2,000 people to attend individual dinners across the country, with each party raising vital funds to ensure another 250,000 meals can reach those in need, including children and their families. There will be online access to both a silent and a live auction for everyone attending and a prize for the group who raises the ...

Cotswold MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown is the latest in a long line of well-known faces who can’t wait for The Game Fair 2021, having been saddened to miss the 2020 postponed event. In an interview with Gun Trade News editor Steve Faragher, the Conservative MP, who is also chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Shooting and Conservation and treasurer of the influential 1922 Committee, admitted he loves the event for many reasons. He revealed: “I was due to go this year (2020). I love The Game Fair. I think it’s a fantastic opportunity to ...

London gunmaker John Rigby & Co has launched a new service within their growing art department to immortalise your trusty hunting companion through pencil portrait commissions. Just like every piece of Rigby Art to leave the Pensbury Place workshop, it will be entered into the company’s historic ledgers and preserved for generations to come. Additionally, each completed commission will be stamped and hand-signed by in-house artist, Geoffrey Lignon. With a maximum of two commissions taken per month, to complete a portrait Geoffrey requires a full focus, high resolution image of the dog, preferably taken outdoors ...

English shotgun brand Longthorne guns has unveiled its Renaissance side by side models. Like all of its guns, these are made in its own Northampton factory using patented barrel technology, from one piece of steel with no soldered joints. The Renaissance SXS comes in a choice of 28in, 20in or 32in barrels, all featuring an exclusive engraving. The Renaissance design also extends to the true sidelock action, which features gold inlaid gamebirds and flowers and to its forend metalwork. There’s also an auto safety, gold-plated trigger, engraved extended full length beaded trigger guard and engraved ...

Do you think that Coronavirus has brought communities closer together or pushed us further apart? Do you have concerns about how divided we are becoming as a society, or that different parts of the country feel increasingly distant from one another? The Countryside Alliance is encouraging its members to participate in a major new survey which asks these important questions. The Countryside Alliance has long been concerned about divisive portrayals of rural-urban differences, which often serve to stereotype rural communities and marginalise their contribution to national life. Coronavirus has brought back to the fore conversations about ...

Following the latest changes in restrictions across the UK, broadly speaking, people are still able to go fishing and tackle shops, charter boats and fisheries are open for business. However, there are variations to the rules in different countries as regards travel and some openings but overall it’s great news for the tackle industry as we head towards Christmas. The Angling Trust’s CEO Jamie Cook has issued the following advice for fishing in England. We are pleased that ministers appreciate both the importance and safety of outdoor recreation and organised sport and that the plan ...

Game and clay shooting look set to carry on in many parts of the UK, subject to Tier restrictions, while those engaged in pest control should also be able to continue. The changes in rules will also mean that many gun shops have been able to reopen. However, since the rules vary from devolved region to devolved region and in different tiers, here is an overview of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation’s and the Countryside Alliance’s understanding of the current situation. ENGLAND From December 2nd, subject to following strict Covid-19 guidelines, organised outdoor ...

Bookings are flooding in for next July’s Game Fair at Ragley Hall, following the Government’s announcement that the events sector should get back to normal by Easter. Delivering a keynote speech at the Major Events Summit as the UK became the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, Oliver Dowden, the secretary of state for the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said he expected a return to normality for the events industry by Easter. He added that the Government’s Winter Plan which enables venues in Tier 1 and Tier 2 ...

Night vision and thermal imaging expert Pulsar, distributed by Thomas Jacks, will be sponsoring the new optics village at The Game Fair 2021. We caught up with Thomas Jacks’ marketing manager, Lee Adams, to find out more about its plans. Firstly, Lee, it’s been a ‘different’ year to say the least. What has Thomas Jacks and Pulsar been up to you in that time? Despite the interruptions bestowed upon us this year, Thomas Jacks’ business has remained constant and there has been no shortage of new products released from Pulsar. Towards the beginning of the ...

An exceptional Kell-engraved lightweight 12-bore 'Spring-Opener' sidelock ejector gun by Henry Atkin, is among the eye-catching lots in Bonhams Antique Arms, Modern Sporting Guns and Exceptional Firearms sale in London on Thursday, December 3rd. Built in 1948 to the specifications of Gough Thomas, one of the leading authorities on guns and shooting of the day and a writer in Shooting Times, the gun is estimated at £10,000-15,000. Thomas’ order was quite particular, demanding Atkin “guarantee that in respect of materials, workmanship, finish and shooting qualities, the gun will conform to your highest pre-war standards,” before adding: “although I am very critical, I ...

Rural organisations have condemned the Scottish Government’s announcement that it is to develop a licensing scheme for grouse moors, saying it will be a seriously damaging blow to fragile rural communities. Following publication of the government’s response to the Werritty Review of grouse moor management a joint statement has been issued by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, Scottish Countryside Alliance, Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association, Scottish Association for Country Sports and Scottish Land & Estates. The statement says: “We are dismayed that the Scottish Government has not listened to the voice of some of our ...

The UK Angling Trades Association (ATA) has used its knowledge of lead fishing weight bans as part of a wider discussion about possible further restrictions on the substance. It joined others in the first round-table discussion on the use of lead in fishing tackle, arranged by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to enable key stakeholders in the European tackle trade to highlight key information for the forthcoming consultation possible lead restrictions in angling. During the meeting the ATA was able to give its views on the assumptions being made by ECHA and the drivers and ...

A new competition aimed at amateurs will run alongside the prestigious Euro Challenge and Home International. The Game Fair Gundog Working Test Champion will be crowned in July 2021. Qualifiers are now confirmed at Hertfordshire County Show, Garstang Show, Penistone Show, Cheshire Show, Lincolnshire Show with further club qualifiers and Irish qualifiers to be announced. The competition is split in to spaniels and retrievers, dogs do not need to be KC registered. Two spaniels and two retrievers from each qualifying round will be invited to compete for the grand title at The Game Fair. Both the Champion spaniel and ...

As the British Game Alliance works on plans for its attendance at The Game Fair 2021, we caught up with Liam Stokes, who was appointed CEO back in May, to discover his vision for the organisation and why we should all get on board. How would you explain the British Game Alliance’s aims and objectives to someone who has not come across the organisation before? We work for the British game meat sector and in that, alongside game farmers, processors and stockists, we include shoots of all sizes and models, because anyone who shoots game ...

The Game Fair is set to return to Ragley Hall, Warwickshire in July 2021 – on 23rd, 24th and 25th. Alongside the familiar and much loved event, organisers have teamed up with The Gun Trade Association to deliver a purpose built Trade Pavilion comprising of public access trade stands and trade only exhibition space which will only be accessible to invitees. Meeting rooms, business services and a new product showcase will also be featured. The venture, born following customer demand and feedback, will serve wholesale and B2B exhibitors from the gun trade. The Pavilion will ...