Annual Awards Voting - Sports Personality for the Year

I am absolutely delighted to make the final 3 in the category of Sports Personality of The Year 2022.It was a shock to be nominated but I feel very honoured as I've been chosen by my peers. I love refereeing at all levels and at different grounds and it's always nice to see everybody taking part in the competitions. I hope I treat everyone fairly and try to encourage those who are not that confident. Most of all I want people to enjoy themselves and walk away with a smile regardless of their score. I also like to think that I use my discretion when refereeing and am very approachable and amenable and will speak to people the way I like to be spoken to. I would like to thank everyone who voted for me and the loud shirts will be back in 2022!

I am a CPSA shooting instructor, competitive shot, and mother of two boys. Born in Aberdeenshire, I am now based in West Sussex. I am avidly committed to coaching clay pigeon shooting and developing people within the sport, with a particular focus on working with ladies.

I instructed as a hobby for sixteen years, working around my various day jobs. In the midst of the pandemic in 2020, I decided to turn my love of shooting into a business and formed Dynamic Ladies Shooting Club.

The response I have had since starting the club and the feedback from the ladies has been overwhelming. When introducing new members to the sport, I pride myself on making lessons fun and engaging in a style for which I have become know. It’s this style of coaching that has got new members hooked on shooting and in some cases, even reignited lost enthusiasm for the sport. From the start, it was important for me to ensure my club is as much about the social side and networking, as it is the shooting. 

My personality within the sport brought me to the attention of Musto, who chose me to be one of their first shooting ambassadors, as well as gaining me support from a number of manufacturers of shotguns and associated clothing and accessories.

 I would love to be able to develop some of my ladies to become coaches who can take on board my style of instructing and infectious personality, to help build on the early success of Dynamic Ladies Shooting Club. It is important to me that my club always reflects my character, as a bubbly, colourful (ideally hot pink) and above all, fun coach and representative of the sport.

I started shooting around 15 years ago, something my husband and I could do together. Wow from my first lesson, no one tells you how it’s going to impact you very quickly!!

I had a great foundation, having lessons, steadily making progress, then started shooting competitions having a grand old time!!

 I shot for my county of Derbyshire, and still do, at Skeet, which is my discipline, but also on occasions DTL, a guilty pleasure, but also, I think because I bring cake!!

I took my referee course in Skeet first, followed later with DTL. This is something I thoroughly enjoy, even in the worst of weathers. It’s a great way of getting to know the shooters and I’ve met some great people and characters doing it!

After county shoots, came the England selections trying and failing, but making it in 2012 alongside my husband, and then again in 2015, another experience thoroughly enjoyed.

I felt my England selections we’re getting harder, and the manager’s position was becoming available, so decided to apply, and thankfully was successful. It’s a position I absolutely love!! I thought it would be less stressful than shooting, how wrong was I? It was like having all your favourite children competing and worrying for them all, you know not everyone is going to make the team, but you just have to be there with a smile, Pat on the back, maybe a little advice and a slice of homemade cake!!