Santa’s on the pull at EJ Churchill shooting ground

It seems a sleigh is the not the only thing that gets pulled when Santa hits the shooting grounds for Christmas shoot

He has a rather important 160 million mile round trip to undertake on Christmas Eve, so how does Santa like to kick back and relax ahead of his epic journey?

Well it appears he’s like thousands upon thousands of Muddy Matches singletons; he finds his comfort and joy shooting clays -if recent events at EJ Churchill Shooting Ground are anything to go by.

The West Wycombe estate, with its 120 clay shooting stands set in 40 acres of woodland, welcomed not one but a full drive of Santas for their now annual Christmas shoot. It is becoming somewhat of a tradition. It seems a sleigh is the not the only thing that gets pulled when Santa comes to town (or, more accurately, British countryside).

“We’ve been hosting the Santa shoot for about 8 years now” a spokesperson for EJ Churchill tells Muddy Matches.

“It is a group of college friends who get together, dress up and shoot. There’s usually between 8 to 10 guns and it’s a little bit like ‘dead man’s shoes’. The group have an annual reunion on a shoot in Shropshire every year.

“It was great to see everyone this year after everything that has gone on.”

The Santa Shoot, as you’d expect, has a strict code, but we are not talking the traditional tweed breeks and shooting jacket. It’s Father Christmas fancy dress – and the forfeit for anyone not following the festive rules is somewhat frosty.

“If you don’t come in fancy dress you have to shoot a drive naked (or semi naked.) This can be rather cold in December. It was 100% fancy dress this year, except one!”

EJ Churchill are no strangers to hosting country pursuit events. They arrange corporate client clay or game shooting days as well as group events such as stag parties, birthday bashes and hen parties.
vClay pigeon and game shooting tuition from novice to experienced shooter is also well catered for, both in the field and at the shooting ground with three high towers, skeet, multisport, down-the-line layouts and purpose built grouse butts.

And it seems a taste for it is proving ever popular.

“The shooting grounds are flying” a spokesperson added. “We took advantage of lock down and have done loads of development at the grounds in the south of England and opened a new shooting ground in Yorkshire at the Swinton Estate.

It great being open again and we are really welcoming of the support we have received.”

CLICK HERE to discover more about the EJ Churchill Shooting Grounds, named Best Shooting Ground at the 2019 Shooting Awards.