Colc08 Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 (edited) Does anyone know any statistics on the percentage of shooters in the UK that are female? Edited June 24, 2014 by Colc08 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmick Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 I don't know the answer to this but from experience around the clay circuit I doubt it would make ten percent.although when you see some of the whinges on here a lot of pw members could be classed as old women.lol.atb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 Very, very few I should think. Overall probably 5% or less, with the majority shooting clays. It's a shame really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 Not sure that it has ever been a question on the census, BASC + CPSA membership stats should give a decent stab at a % Depends what you class as a "shooter" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manton Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 All guns in N Ireland are held on firearms certificates and figures released to one of the newspapers show that 58170 certificate holders are male and 1397 female. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 All guns in N Ireland are held on firearms certificates and figures released to one of the newspapers show that 58170 certificate holders are male and 1397 female. 2.3% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 Half in my house,but my other half is on first name terms with virtually every lady shooter we meet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted June 25, 2014 Report Share Posted June 25, 2014 Not high enough, it would be good to see more as that would bring in more children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehb102 Posted June 25, 2014 Report Share Posted June 25, 2014 Does anyone know any statistics on the percentage of shooters in the UK that are female? I have figures on the percentage of certificate and licence holders. You have to file a freedom of information act to get these. I got them as part of a project a friend is working on. Roughly it's 3% of firearms licence holders and 5 and half percent of shotgun certificate holders. To put that in context that's roughly 5,000 firearms holders and 30,000 shotgun certificate holders. CPSA are not helpful with their membership statistics. BASC have a lot more female members but don't correlate those to shooting AFAIK. I'm always interested to see more stats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colc08 Posted June 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2014 I have figures on the percentage of certificate and licence holders. You have to file a freedom of information act to get these. I got them as part of a project a friend is working on. Roughly it's 3% of firearms licence holders and 5 and half percent of shotgun certificate holders. To put that in context that's roughly 5,000 firearms holders and 30,000 shotgun certificate holders. CPSA are not helpful with their membership statistics. BASC have a lot more female members but don't correlate those to shooting AFAIK. I'm always interested to see more stats. Thank you very much for that. I was having a discussion with a friend and he thought about 5% and I thought higher. There seem to be a lot of new organisations starting up and encouraging more females to shoot, which is great. Things like the Shotgun and Chelsa Bun Club and the Ladies days that BASC hold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beretta06 Posted June 25, 2014 Report Share Posted June 25, 2014 Not high enough, it would be good to see more as that would bring in more children. What a fantastically sexist comment!! So, only women look after kids in your world? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted June 25, 2014 Report Share Posted June 25, 2014 We re pleased to support the Shotgun & Chelsea Bun club, they have helped literally thousands of women try shooting over the last few years. We also have our own ladies groups, and yes the more the merrier, shooting is a sport for all! David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grrclark Posted June 25, 2014 Report Share Posted June 25, 2014 I don't know the answer to this but from experience around the clay circuit I doubt it would make ten percent.although when you see some of the whinges on here a lot of pw members could be classed as old women.lol.atb Made me giggle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted June 25, 2014 Report Share Posted June 25, 2014 I think it's also area focused in Surrey and Wiltshire I coached a lot more women than I currently see in Staffordshire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben0850 Posted June 25, 2014 Report Share Posted June 25, 2014 Have to admit when it comes to shotguns our lass is a blinding shot, taught by her dad since she was a nipper. She's generally the only woman shooting a peg though which is a shame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeadWasp Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 My partner shoots and she's always keen to get other women shooting too but usually is the only lass on a peg. She tried a day with the Chelsea Bun lot together with some of the pickers up we know but came away feeling that although it was nice it was a bit of a 'social natter with shooting as a novelty' affair - not really serious about drawing women into the sport in any committed way. She also has a pal who is a very keen small bore rifle shooter. We are also lucky to have a very good local lady instructor in a hamlet close to us. However sadly that's about it. I count myself as very lucky to be able to share a sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 As a former member of three handgun clubs there was only one female. In all the years I've been shooting game I've known of many, but only actually met three. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehb102 Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 My partner shoots and she's always keen to get other women shooting too but usually is the only lass on a peg. She tried a day with the Chelsea Bun lot together with some of the pickers up we know but came away feeling that although it was nice it was a bit of a 'social natter with shooting as a novelty' affair - not really serious about drawing women into the sport in any committed way. I think saying "not really serious about drawing women into the sport in any committed way." is a little bit unfair. S&CBC is not about feeding people into CPSA registered competitions, which is what many CPSA members consider to be the only definition of "committed" to the sport. As it happens at this year's conference I counted half a dozen of us who have graduated to doing registered shoots on a regular basis, but that's beside the point. The sport of shooting is wide and varied and wanting to participate without competing is not a bad thing. S&CBC is doing brilliantly at taking women who have no connection with shooting and turning them into licence holders and regular shotgun users. Just yesterday I met up with yet another a Bun Club friend who was buying her first "own" gun, plus another who travelled hundreds of miles for a lesson with a really top class coach. The problem we have with lady shots who are already good at shooting is that they are inclined to expect to find dozens of women already shooting at their level. Two years ago that simply wasn't possible. Now the format of events has changed so you can choose between 30 clays under instruction and a 75 bird competition because the S&CBC has developed a cohort of women who need more than the simple easy corporate clays. If your partner would like to shoot competition with ladies of a similar standard then I think ShootClay has a fair few focussed women competitors. They are often up for a meet up at a competition. I can't help on the game front though. What a fantastically sexist comment!! So, only women look after kids in your world? I don't think that's fair. The reality that women in the UK manage the majority of child care and therefore children's activities is not under dispute. Acknowledging that doesn't mean that men can't ever do the child care. Actually, I think that's the idea that more women participants is the way to getting more youth participants is a really, really good point and one I'm going to investigate further. Yesterday I was shocked to find that one of the most competitive ladies I know had at one time stopped her son from shooting because she thought it was dangerous and nasty. That's anecdote, but a timely one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norfolk dumpling Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 We have a couple of lasses (daughters of 'old' guns) in our syndicate of 20 or so (walk one stand one) and a farmers wife in another smaller outfit so roughly 5%. Could do with more. I like to see lady guns especially when they out-shoot the boys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirDread Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 We re pleased to support the Shotgun & Chelsea Bun club, they have helped literally thousands of women try shooting over the last few years. We also have our own ladies groups, and yes the more the merrier, shooting is a sport for all! David My missus is a regular attendee of the Shotgun & Chelsea Bun club events and my daughters has been as well. Have to say I hear of nothing but good things about Victoria and her efforts to get the ladies into the sport and I would thoroughly recommend anyone who knows of a lady who would like to have a try, look them up. Its an inclusive organisation that makes everyone from novice to expert feel welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeadWasp Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 "S&CBC is not about feeding people into CPSA registered competitions, which is what many CPSA members consider to be the only definition of "committed" to the sport." I never said anything about feeding into CPSA competitions, nor did I say that's what we considered to be the definition of committed. Furthermore she wasn't expecting to find dozens of women shooting at her level. To the contrary she participated to tempt other women on our shoot to consider adding shooting to their repertoire of field skills. Unfortunately she left with an impression that whilst the intention should be applauded the realisation of the S&CBC was rather stereotypical. To be honest the clue is all in the second half of the name. Couple that with "Victoria is our Head Girl" and you can hear the groans already. We've just had another chat about it and these are some direct quotes from her: "it was a very enjoyable day but it did feel a bit as thought the competition for who had brought the best cake was more important than the shooting". "It wasn't good enough to use XYZ's mugs, it was all pretty cups and saucers" "all very vintage chic" "it's all a bit pink and jolly hockey sticks"........."Looking back on it the vibe was .....very old fashioned minor girls public school take on it .......a bit of a consolation prize for the girls because we couldn't possibly be taken seriously alongside the boys". When you consider that these are comments from a woman who has already competed internationally in another sport - sailing - and also fencing then I think they might be worth noting. Both sports are also strongly represented by men rather like shooting. I didn't originally post in order to start dissecting/assassinating the Chelsea bun lot. It was mentioned as an aside, as a passing experience relevant to the issue of seeing more women in shooting. However you said the observations were unfair, but if they were genuine experiences then they are very fair comments. Every walk of life is richer for diversity and I lament the fact that we see so few women actually shooting. I actually see more women caving. It is a great idea to produce another access point to our sport, but if it creates the wrong impression then it may very well do more harm than good. Rounding up I understand that the S&CBC did not suggest to the women present that if they wanted to do something more with shooting that they should talk to the instructor/club ground they were at, rather their interest was getting them to in attending another Bun event. Additionally none of the gang from our shoot who went have felt inspired to take things any further. OK, so that's only 4 ladies but it is a first hand account. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 Is the S&CBC a charity ? Or an events business??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehb102 Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 It is a great idea to produce another access point to our sport, but if it creates the wrong impression then it may very well do more harm than good. It's different, but I understand it's not to everyone's taste. I'm not exactly a fan of pink or tweed myself. I don't think it creates a "wrong" impression, it creates one impression. If it's not your thing, it's not your thing. I roll with it because it makes lots of people comfortable. We're a broad church after all. Saying "a bit of a consolation prize for the girls because we couldn't possibly be taken seriously alongside the boys" I think comes from an individual's personal interpretation. After all, Cheryl Hall is our brand ambassador and she comes to events and talks with and to us. Also Caroline Povey, currently competing in the Commonwealth Games. You don't get much more serious than those two. Anyway, it's a massive social network of women who are much, much more likely to try something new with a friend, and we do try new places and new competitions because we have these contacts. It's a different way of shooting for women. The ever-so-serious way doesn't seem to attract many new entrants. it's interesting to hear different views. To me clay shooting is either social, competitive or practice. My head doesn't really go with there being any "right" way to do it. Shotgun & Chelsea Bun Club meetings are definitely social shooting though, with very low-level competition. Is the S&CBC a charity ? Or an events business??? It's a business. It runs events, clay shoots across the country, simulated game days, game days, social events, a conference, and educational events like this weekend's day of learning all about how a shoot is run. There are some cool introduction days such as the introduction to Olympic Trap with Anita North (Commonwealth Games gold medal winner) in September. There's a Facebook group and a big Twitter presence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeadWasp Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 Yes I rather though it would be a business (or is it you too, as you use the 'WE' a lot)? If that is the case then they are already in breach of the law (Companies Act) as a good deal of corporate or sole trader/partner information appears to be missing from the website. There is also a breach of the Data Protection Act as there is no privacy policy or other things (I'm not going to do the job for them). Might want to look at the new distance selling regulations that came into force June 13th too. EHB102 I'm sorry but you did prod after a passing comment. I am surprised given some of your other posts that you roll with pink tweedy and shopping obsessed. It doesn't have to be like this to be fun (or at least avoid being ever-so-serious). I never said that I knew the right way to do it but there may just be a wrong way. There is a conflict in the message that S&CBC sends. On the one hand there is the admirable intention to introduce women to shooting then on the other hand there seems to be a desire to promote the impractical uber smart country attired bystander - surely the very stereotype you are trying to dismiss. Then of course there is the certificate for the best hair (Facebook June 5th). I'm not sure which is more worrying, taking it seriously or tongue in cheek. What's next - butterfly wings and dressing up boxes? I would be far more reserved if the Club (sic) was actually not for profit, but as a business they are playing with something rather precious. Business or charity if you have women coming away from an event thinking it was condescending and vacuous then something must be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 Like all clubs some may like it some may not, but they are delivering a lot for shooting and women in shooting in particular, and their overall formula must be right as they are growing and delivering more and more events. So if someone wants to set up another club doing something different, all you need to do is what Victoria did, get up and do it! David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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