An old friend telephoned me a few weeks ago and invited me to take his place for a days partridge shooting.
He is a member of a very good (and expensive) Syndicate, but due to a broken arm would not be able to shoot.
We met on Saturday morning, high on the rolling downs, about 8 miles from Canterbury, (about 10 miles from the cottage).
It was a windy morning, but the sky was clear and there were no signs of the rain clouds we have had almost daily for the last 2 weeks.
He introduced me to the other 7 Guns, one of which was an attractive middle aged lady.
I assumed she was accompanying one of the Guns, until I saw her with a cartridge bag over her shoulder and a rather nice Army and Navy 12 gauge side by side under her arm.
As is customary we drew for pegs, I was peg number 2 on the first drive and we would all move up one peg number throughout the day.
We were driven to our pegs, which were on grassland in a wide valley, so we were facing quite a steep slope.
On my left was the lady I mentioned earlier.
This was a short drive, which meant that when we heard a whistle blow, the Beaters would start off less than a quarter of a mile away.
Therefore, the birds would arrive quite soon...... which they did.
A covey of about 12 birds swung over the hill, followed the contour down briefly and then flared high over the front of the line (where we were).
It all happened very, very fast and then the birds were gone.
The lady had 2 birds dead in the air and I never fired my gun.
Another larger covey came over towards the end of the drive and I managed to pick one out from the back (the slowest one) and the lady had 2 more.
On the way to the next drive we were in the same Landrover and she mentioned how fast the birds were flying today.
I agreed and mumbled that the first flight rather surprised me and I was a bit slow on the second group.
She reassured me that I would "warm up" as the drives progressed, I didn't mention that she didn't seem to need to "warm up".
The next drive was in a shallower valley, but it had quite a high hedge along the top, so the little grey birds were going to look like insects again....and they did.
About 20 turbo charged birds came over the hedge and I got one in front, but could not get on another bird before they were gone.
I turned toward my neighbour in time to see her picking up 2 birds.
More birds followed, but I was only able to add 2 more to my total.
The next 2 drives showed a lot more birds, but the results were much the same, total, Cranfield 6 , Hot Shot Lady 22.
At this point we stopped for lunch, which was a very civil repast.
There was cold game pie, pickles, salads and fresh bread rolls, all eaten whilst sitting in an old barn.
The lady sat next to me and asked if I had done much partridge shooting.
After nearly choking on my pie, I told her that I whilst I did little partridge only shooting, the Syndicate I belonged to shot mostly driven pheasant and woodcock, but did occasionally shoot a few partridges.
I didn't mention that I did, "walk up" partridges from time to time, as I knew that "bum shooting" birds was not considered the thing to do, in "best" shooting circles.
She said the trick is to listen for the birds whistling, which means you are ready for them, even though you can't see them.
I have never heard partridges whistle and said so.
She then explained that it was the whistle of their wings you listened for and although I was sceptical, I promised to try that for the two drives left.
The first drive after lunch was on an open wheat stubble field and about 40 yards in front of the pegs, was placed a "wall" of round straw bales, 3 high, which made the "wall" about 18ft high.
The whistle blew, the Beaters set off and I concentrated on listening.
Within a few minutes I heard a slight rushing sound and I became like a coiled spring, then they were there, a flush of about 20 birds over the "wall" and climbing when they saw the guns, I took 2 out front without even thinking.
With barely time to reload, another 30, or more birds appeared, one downed and 10 foot behind the second bird, but no time to think about it, as I could hear the rushing of more birds.
It was a busy drive and at the end I was quite breathless, mainly through the tension of listening hard.
On the way to the last drive, I thanked the Lady for the advice and she said that she had noticed the improvement in my shooting.
I was only one bird behind her on that drive, she having taken 2 birds on every flush.
The final drive of the day was strange.
The pegs were set across a steep sided valley, barely 80 yards wide and the Guns were facing a bend in the valley, about 70 yards away.
I was still trying to work out what was going to happen , when the Beaters whistle went and I soon found out.
Round the bend in front of us, 6ft off the ground came about 20 birds, they saw us and went straight into vertical lift off.
I took two birds in front that looked as though they were on their way to the moon.
More birds appeared before I could reload and they went through unsaluted.
The next groups were better spaced, but the shooting was still fast and frantic.
All too soon it was over.
We went back to the barn to discuss the day, where coffee and sloe gin was available.
My friend was there and asked how I had got on and I explained my poor start, but also added that things had improved by the end of the day.
We were joined by the Lady who agreed with me and was kind enough to mention that the birds had been "very testing", but also modest enough not to mention that they didn't seem to be "testing" her.
When she moved off I asked my friend who she was.
"Don't you recognise her ?" he said, "thats Elena Little, she shoots for the England International Team, Skeet is her speciality".
I can now tell all my friends that I shot next to Elena Little.
I doubt she will mention to anyone that she shot next to me.
Grey partridges and a Lady.
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FUTCHCAIRO
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HEY BRIAN
HEY BRIAN, SOUNDS LIKE YA HAD A GREAT DAY POPPING THE BIRDS OUT OF THE SKY. VERY NICE REPORT, THANKS FOR SENDING.
PA THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA
PA THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA
FUTCHCAIRO
Sounds like a great day. I have an older lady friend who has humbled many a man with her shoting skills. She came by grinning one day and announced that while she rather liked her last date that his face looked like a prune when she outshot him 
She questioned herself as to whether she should have missed a few so that there would be a second date 
She questioned herself as to whether she should have missed a few so that there would be a second date -
trout fisher
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