What to see and do at Northern Shooting Show at Harrogate in May – plus £1,000 competition prize
As well as demonstrations and have-a-go stands focusing on clay shooting, airguns, rifles, gundogs, gunmaking and Airsoft, this bucket list event will showcase wares from hundreds of shooting and countryside goods exhibitors from around the world, for truly a unique shopping experience.
BASC (British Association for Shooting and Conservation) members will enjoy complimentary entry and guest discounts on advance bookings and, new for 2023, there’s free parking for all, courtesy of Browning.
The Northern Shooting Show will draw visitors from across Britain and celebrate the coronation of King Charles III with the chance to win £1,000 in a special competition.
The E.J. Churchill clayline
Award-winning shooting ground and gunmaker E.J. Churchill will be running the clayline, offering clay shooting novices to seasoned experts a hands-on chance to get involved across the weekend. The E.J. Churchill clay line is set to include have-a-go stands, a 50-bird English Sporting competition, 25-bird Sportrap competition and the Coronation Cup which is a one-time, open-entry competition to commemorate the King’s coronation. The competition boasts a £1,000 cash prize for the high gun and further generous cash prizes up for grabs in ladies, juniors and veterans categories.
The gundog field
The Gundog Field, hosted by popular gundog trainer Darren Kirk of Kirkbourne Spaniels, will showcase exciting demos and thrilling competitions for handlers of all levels. The competitions, which last year attracted over 200 dogs, include the long retrieve, scurry, junior handler class and the extremely competitive working test. Darren and his dogs will also be appearing in the arena three times a day, so don’t miss the chance to see them in action.
World hunter field target championships
Aimed at elite airgun shooters, 240 competitors from all over the world will shoot two 40-target courses, made up of four standing targets, four kneeling and 32 prone, on both days of the show. The overall winner will go home with a specially commissioned trophy and there are medals for the top three in each class – open, veterans, ladies, junior, 22, springer and international team.
Airsoft Experience
Head to the Airsoft Experience to learn more about this fast-paced combat game. Have a go at airsoft for the first time, browse the latest equipment and accessories and chat to experts from local clubs to learn more about the sport.
New for 2023, the Xsite Practical Shooting Club is organising a level three, IPSC action air match with 12 stages to be shot on either day of the show, open to anyone with a short gun competition licence from the UK Practical Shooting Association.
BASC hunter’s kitchen
Whet your appetite with cooking displays from some of Yorkshire’s best game chefs, as they create imaginative dishes using nature’s larder.
Chefs already confirmed include Simon Whitehead, of Pakefield Ferrets, who will be creating a tasty rabbit dish, chef Cai Ap Bryn giving a deer butchery demonstration and Sophie Bagley with her moorland-to-microwave business Glorious Game.
The .50 cal experience
Visitors can fire the only sub-10,000ft/lbs muzzle energy .50 calibre target rifle in the UK using a film blank, and it will cost just £5 a go. The blank gives off a thrilling muzzle flash, satisfying bang and puff of smoke without the thump of recoil from a real .50 calibre round.
Organised by the Fifty Calibre Shooters Association (UK), this new attraction gives visitors a rare chance to learn how to handle, load and aim a .50 calibre rifle under instruction, and is open to everyone, including those totally new to shooting and children (aged eight and over).
Practical shooting, including mini rifles
Fancy having a go at practical shooting? Magload will be running a practical shooting stand giving newcomers of all ages the chance to try out both mini rifles and practical shotguns. The UKPSA (United Kingdom Practical Shooting Association) will also be there to help answer any questions people might have about the sport and how to start in practical shooting.
Have-a-go archery
St George’s Archery Club will celebrate its golden jubilee this spring as they return to the Northern Shooting Show (NSS). They have exhibited at the event for the past five years, offering its archery experiences to hundreds of visitors. In fact, a record 400 people took part last year, using a recurve bow to fire arrows up to 15 yards into a traditional straw target under the watchful eye of an instructor.
Rabbiting demos
Britain’s best-known rabbiter Simon Whitehead is set to once again bring his highly popular team of ferrets and lurchers to the Northern Shooting Show. Simon will be giving two 40-minute demos in his dedicated Pugs & Drummers arena on both days plus a rabbit butchery and cookery demo in the Hunter’s Kitchen on the Sunday. As well as watching his entertaining and informative displays, visitors can interact with the ferrets and pre-order his latest book, Pugs & Drummers: A Ferreter’s Fable.
Clay shooting for everyone and £1,000 prize
E.J. Churchill is looking after the clay line offering all visitors, from those new to clay pigeon shooting to seasoned experts, a hands-on chance to get involved across the weekend.
There will be have-a-go stands, a 50-bird English Sporting competition, a 25-bird Sportrap competition and the Coronation Cup which is a one-time, open-entry competition held to commemorate the King’s Coronation on the weekend of the show. The competition boasts a £1,000 cash prize for the high gun and further cash prizes up for grabs for ladies, juniors and veterans categories.
For tickets and details
To buy tickets or for more information visit www.northernshootingshow.co.uk
*This is independent paid-for content from the Northern Shooting Show