The perfect present for Fathers Day - Sunday 16th June
Surrey, South England
Scottish Borders, Scotland
Described by the Shooting Gazette as “a master of the art” John has been part of the instructing team at Bisley for the last 20 years, and has been instrumental in growing the world-class teaching at the ground. As Shooting Manager John ensures that all instructors are at the top of their game when it comes to clay or game shooting instruction. John regularly appears in The Field’s top 100 game shots and the CPSA Top 20 Sporting shooters list. He also competes at the highest level, having won the Beretta World AA class and been runner up at the UK FITASC championship three times! In 2012 John was ranked UK number 1 in FITASC averages.
John was a gamekeeper for 13 years at the Middleton Estate, Longparish. In his younger days he used to play cricket for Hampshire, also playing and winning at Lords for Longparish in the national village championships. In the off seasons he enjoys playing golf to a scratch handicap. John brings an understanding and an ability to instruct clients ranging from the complete novice to the seasoned campaigner in a fun and hugely rewarding way.
In 2014 John competed against 20 of the country’s best shots to win a Morgan Supercar for 6 months! Among the finalists were George Digweed (winner of 23 world titles), Mark Marshall (No. 2 in FITASC World rankings) and Sam Green (British Open Champion).
Tony’s introduction to shooting was at the age of ten with a .410 shooting at a coke can swinging from a tree. This soon moved on to clays, but the seed was forever sown by that first coke can!
On leaving school Tony embarked on a career in Game Keeping. Starting in Devon on a high bird shoot, followed by two seasons on a Scottish Grouse Moor and finally settling in the south, firstly on a commercial shoot then on a smaller family shoot.
Whilst Game Keeping, Tony spent much time double gunning on local estates and it was here that his passion for coaching started. Teaching techniques to help clients improve their shooting in order to get the best out of their day. With over twenty years experience, Tony has had the opportunity to visit the best shoots in the UK and abroad, as well as looking after everyone from rock legends to captains of industry and royalty.
Tony finds it particularly rewarding introducing young shots and newcomers to the sport. For the past 10 years Tony has also been coaching both rifle and shotgun shooting at two private schools with the aim of students leaving with a full understanding of any shooting situation, the relative safety issues and etiquette. From that first shot, through to competing at National competitions (with several wins too). Tony’s expertise covers Trap, Skeet and Sporting clays as well simulated driven game , walked up and shooting from a hide. Tony is also our resident Master Gunfitter ensuring that you get the best measurements before having a bespoke gun made.
Tony is happily married with two beautiful daughters and is never happier than when out shooting with his dogs or sitting in a pigeon hide!
Andrew started shotgun shooting at the age of twelve and has shot all over the UK from the bogs of Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands. His background is in agriculture & forestry where he worked as a freelance instructor and assessor before returning to teach at the UK’s top colleges and for the Forestry Commission. In more recent years Andrew has worked as an arboricultural consultant involved with planning and development schemes for county councils and local authorities.
For several years Andrew has provided coaching on game and clays, introducing many newcomers to the sport. He is also a former deer manager and long range rifle competitor with a vast knowledge of ballistics and confesses to have owned “far too many guns”!
When not shooting Andrew can be found picking up with his dogs on shoots or fishing with them on wind-swept beaches.
Andrew joined the Bisley instructing team in the Spring of 2016 following his acceptance into the Association of Professional Shooting Instruction (APSI) and is a popular member of the team.
Nick has over 50 years experience in game and clay target shooting. As an Honorary Research Fellow and life member of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Nick has a comprehensive knowledge of game shooting techniques and shooting etiquette, he also shoots competition clays at International level and is a former English Open Olympic Skeet Champion.
Through his enthusiastic and supportive approach to coaching Nick has established a committed following. Teaching beginners and novices and specialising in training competition shooters Nick has been teaching shooting techniques since the late 1970’s, and joined the Bisley Shooting Ground team in the early 1990’s. He is a Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (CPSA) qualified shotgun instructor and an International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) accredited coach.
Whether your ambition is to become an accomplished social shot or a serious shotgun competitor, Nicks’ reputation for no nonsense energetic mentorship will enable you to realise your full potential efficiently and safely.
Martin first started clay shooting in 1984 after he left HM Armed Forces and won a World Gold Medal, shooting for team GB in 2014. Martin has also won several awards at County level. Martin is a multi-disciplined clay shooter, shooting Sporting, FITASC, Compaq and Skeet, who also enjoys coaching in the field.
Martin decided to turn his passion for shooting into his profession and became a shooting instructor for several years before joining Bisley Shooting Ground in 2016.
His previous career spanned from HM Armed Services where he qualified as a small-arms instructor and a member of the Army Shooting Team, winning national prizes at Bisley, to corporate sales for Mercedes Benz.
Coming from rural Cambridge Martin spent his leave periods working with a Game Keeper where he developed a keen interest in Game Shooting. He has also coached in the field at a number of estates.
Martin’s greatest achievement as a coach was to take a novice junior shooter and coaching them to winning a Junior European Gold Medal.
Martin is a full member of the Association of Professional Shooting Instructors and when not instructing he continues to shoot competitively and for his own enjoyment.
John started shooting shotguns and also fly fishing at the age of 10. He was lucky enough to be allowed to shoot and fish at school, this was when it was ok for pupils to take a gun to school!
John’s career has passed through many different areas including Hotel Management, Engineering and finally into Software where he was Assistant Vice President for an American Software company. After retiring from the software industry John decided to share his passion for shooting and fishing by becoming a freelance instructor in both. John is a member of the Association of Professional Shooting Instructors and has been working as a freelance instructor at Bisley since 2006.
John’s past interests have included flying helicopters and Kart Racing, however when he is not instructing at Bisley he can now generally be found on a chalk stream somewhere!
Peter Wilson MBE – GB Olympic Gold Medallist 2012