The 31st edition of Big Shots, The Furniture Makers’ Company’s annual clay pigeon shooting fundraiser, raised an impressive £30,000 to support people working in the furnishing industry.
Held at the prestigious Holland & Holland shooting grounds in Middlesex, the popular event brought together industry professionals, suppliers and supporters for a day of friendly competition, networking and fundraising.
Principally sponsored by Furniture Village, the event welcomed both experienced and novice shooters to compete across 10 challenging stands set within 60 acres of countryside.
Following a hearty breakfast and safety briefing, teams took part in the traditional 100-bird competition, alongside a range of novelty challenges. Guests later enjoyed a three-course lunch, prize-giving ceremony, charity raffle and auction with money-can’t-buy items like a tour of the McLaren Technology Centre up for grabs, all helping to generate vital funds for the industry charity.
This year’s top individual honours went to Chris Shaw, who claimed the title of Top Gun Male with an outstanding score of 98 points. Rebecca Mayes was named Top Gun Female with 69 points, while Lee Bruckland took home the Top Gun Novice award with an impressive 85 points.
In the team competition, Sharpe's Shooters emerged victorious as Top Team, scoring 416 points. Tech TopShots secured the Runner-Up Team position with 399 points and claimed the title of Top Novice Team. The Four Man Flurry competition was won by Clay Commanders, who achieved a score of 81 points.
There were also some light-hearted awards presented on the day, with Paul Hambly receiving the title of Worst Male Shot with 28 points, while Samantha Harding was named Worst Female Shot with 20 points.
"Big Shots continues to be one of the highlights of the furnishing industry calendar," says Jonny Westbrooke, CEO of The Furniture Makers’ Company. "It was wonderful to see so many companies and individuals come together to enjoy a fantastic day while raising £30,000 to support our work. These funds will help us continue providing practical assistance to those facing hardship, while also championing the next generation of industry talent. Thank you to everyone who attended, sponsored, donated and supported the event, especially our principal sponsor, Furniture Village."
