Lisa lives in Bangor, Co. Down, and throughout her childhood her family shot clays and hunted but it did not interest her. Two years ago, at a BBQ with her husband, who shoots and hunts, friends encouraged her to try shooting.
Lisa said: “A few weeks later I went clay shooting with them, assuming it would be cold and boring, and I have never looked back! I found a sport I enjoyed and could get actively involved in. I started off shooting a 20g over and under, but quickly progressed to a 12g, and a, now, growing collection!”
The first shooting successes
Shooting primarily Skeet and Sporting disciplines, Lisa won the first ever Ladies prize at the Great Game Fairs of Ireland (Shane’s Castle).
Lisa has a Beretta 690 for Skeet, a 400 for sporting, a 686, and a Colt 1911 for her pistol shooting. “One of the first things I noticed in the shooting world was how underrepresented Ladies and Juniors are and this set me on a mission to change this.”
In October, Lisa enjoyed her first game shooting experience on a driven duck day, she said: “The Shoot asked me to consider running an all-Ladies coached day next season."
Lisa is a Care Home Manager and a Trainer in Health and Social Care, and devotes all her free time to running events and shooting. She works alongside her shooting coach at the Carnview Clay Target Shooting Complex, Ballymena, to bring new people to the sport via introduction days with the aim of getting as many Ladies and Juniors, and men, out shooting as possible.
A sport for women and juniors too
“We also work to promote the sport to disabled shooters and I have had the pleasure of taking one of my young residents from work to Carnview to try shooting. He had heard me talk about it a lot and added it to his bucket list, so it was wonderful to help him realise this dream.”
Within the year of starting the introduction days, Lisa has seen a “massive increase” in people taking up shooting. “We are finding the interest continues to grow, and have seen some new shooters come through who have exceptional talent and we look forward to seeing the bright future ahead of them".
Who is our author Linda Mellor?
Linda Mellor is one of Scotland’s foremost shooting, fishing and hunting female writers and photographers. She is the product Ambassador for Venator Pro, a premier hunting company and stockist of the European brand Hillman. With a lifetime of countryside experience, Linda’s passion, enthusiasm and respect for the outdoors and hunting is explored and shared across her writing and photography.
For more information on Linda Mellor, please visit Linda Mellor's website, Twitter (LindaMellor) and instagram (linda_mellor).
