aris Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 http://www.southerncountiesleisure.com/shooting/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 That's a shame Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88ajp Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 Heard a rumour now confirmed but do we know why? Ash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derfley Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 Looks like it was a fantastic ground. A real shame to see another one go :( Like Ash, says I wonder what happened for them to close? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 Looks like it was a fantastic ground. A real shame to see another one go :( Like Ash, says I wonder what happened for them to close? Owner wants to repurpose the land and make more money as far as i know..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 Shouldn`t be hard to do ,you`d have to be really busy to make a lot of money at clays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www.sparky Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 there been planing for a solar farm on the ground, but as far as i know the planing has been rejected. Its a shame to lose another ground, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnphilip Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 We were there a couple of times in the summer holidays a lovely place, there was talk of it closing then. a great shame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Masher Posted December 19, 2014 Report Share Posted December 19, 2014 It's all down to the owners as far as I can tell. This ground has been on the downward slide for a number of years in my opinion there just didn't seem to be any interest in getting the entries through the doors (especially for reg sporting events)I've been shooting this ground for over 20years so I'm gutted!! I really hope some one with an interest towards are great sport and has the money can take this ground off the current owners hands..I live in hope!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted December 19, 2014 Report Share Posted December 19, 2014 Crook will repurpose the land it won't be sold.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted December 19, 2014 Report Share Posted December 19, 2014 Yes, I'd have to agree with Masher, the present owners have no interest in Sporting shoots, it used to be a good ground many years back when run by Steve & Jan Middleditch, when they moved on, it went progressively downhill as they seemed to be more interested in Tarp and Skeet. It's a dreadful ground for low cloud as it's perched right on top of the hill, and is very often fogged out, even in the Summer months. I don't like to see any Ground closing, but I won't shed any tears over the loss of Southern Counties. Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
100milesaway Posted December 19, 2014 Report Share Posted December 19, 2014 I agree Cat, I can recall doing a rather important shoot there once and the tower target was totally engulfed in sea mist and they put a different target on half way through the shoot and never told the CPSA.Lots of us asked to shoot it again but were refused which cost us about 4 targets we couldn't see.If I have to travel a round trip of 750 miles I expect better treatment than that. So no loss to me either.from Auntie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Masher Posted December 20, 2014 Report Share Posted December 20, 2014 Agreed the weather has always played a big part with this ground but as a facility it has always been very good, its needed a graham brown or haggis Hartman back there to pull it around and set some quality targets and get the punters back through the doors and a ground manager that actually takes on board shooters feed back and not tell them "if your not happy go else where" which I my self have witnessed!! Let's just hope that this trend of grounds closing down can turn a corner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilR Posted December 20, 2014 Report Share Posted December 20, 2014 If I recall correctly Blandford & Dorchester GC was a skeet and trap ground before it became Southern Counties and expanded into sporting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minghis Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 I hear the shop will stay open, not sure if its true. As for the reasons I also heard (as you do) that they'd invested too much money into the hotel there as they thought they were going to be favoured with the Olympics but that went elsewhere. Apparently they've been having a lot of complaints about the noise from locals, not that there are that many! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 http://www.southerncountiesleisure.com/shooting/ Just thought it worth a mention, that despite numerous rumours of closure The A1 Shooting Ground is still open and well worth a visit. (Yes I have vested interest in that I work there). Wednesday through Saturday 10.00 until 4.00 (6.00 when the clocks change) 10.00 until 1.00 on Sundays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 I hear the shop will stay open, not sure if its true. As for the reasons I also heard (as you do) that they'd invested too much money into the hotel there as they thought they were going to be favoured with the Olympics but that went elsewhere. Apparently they've been having a lot of complaints about the noise from locals, not that there are that many! GO Karting is staying too.... Only person who knows why it is closing is the owner.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted January 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 Just thought it worth a mention, that despite numerous rumours of closure The A1 Shooting Ground is still open and well worth a visit. (Yes I have vested interest in that I work there). Wednesday through Saturday 10.00 until 4.00 (6.00 when the clocks change) 10.00 until 1.00 on Sundays. When is the Helice starting up again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 I will check the diary and get back to you. It will most probably start again in the Spring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brett1985 Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/550060/British-Olympian-Peter-Wilson-gold-medal-retiring-shooting-gun-range-closure-Rio-Olympics just seen this. apparently its due to the lead contamination of surrounding land, and the owner has stated it was not his decision? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevy Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 No sad loss IMHO the BOsc skeet there was a disaster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilR Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 There's been a lot of 'disasters' there over the years. Some caused by the weather and some man made. Most of the latter should've been dealt with by the ground management or organising body. The fact is we've collectively lost another shooting ground with facilities for multiple disciplines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www.sparky Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 There another ground opening up just up the road, all I know its on the same road as southern counties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sian Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 From another site - is this it maybe? Grand opening on the 8th of March and will be Dorsets Sporting Championship. Shoot will be twice a month, 100 reg sporting, 12 stands and a pool shoot. Owner Kevin Newton who also runs Podimore will also run England Sporting South West selection shoot on the 29th of March. Ground is 6miles North of Dorchester on the A37. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www.sparky Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 From another site - is this it maybe? Grand opening on the 8th of March and will be Dorsets Sporting Championship. Shoot will be twice a month, 100 reg sporting, 12 stands and a pool shoot. Owner Kevin Newton who also runs Podimore will also run England Sporting South West selection shoot on the 29th of March. Ground is 6miles North of Dorchester on the A37. that's the one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.