The event was attended by both Durham and Oxford Brookes Universities’ shooting clubs, alongside an enthusiastic troop of supporters who were treated to barbecue and beer to bolster fundraising efforts.
The tournament, which took place at Wallsend Rugby Club, consisted of three matches in a round-robin format. Newcastle dominated the day’s proceedings, winning the tournament without conceding a point. The hosts defeated Durham with a 54-0 drubbing and edged out Oxford with just one try, winning 7-0. Oxford walked over Durham in the third fixture, winning 41-0 to send Durham home with a wooden spoon and zero points scored on the day.
Come the end of the rugby, £550 had been raised for Yellow Wellies, though that number has now surpassed £1600.
Clay Pigeon Shooting Society's President Izzy Walters was thrilled with the successes of the day's events, telling The Courier that, "We had over 80 spectators come watch and donate. Overall it was a very fun and happy day which was followed by a group trip to Spy Bar with the other universities."
The fundraising figures were boosted by a second day of charitable events, consisting of a shooting tournament followed by the Guns and Horses Ball, a black tie ball. Attendees could try their luck with a £5 raffle ticket, the proceeds of which supported Yellow Wellies, for a chance to win the flagship prize, a weekend stay at rural Northumberland resort Felmoor Park. For those who did not want to try their luck, a Yellow Wellies-themed cocktail was also available, the profits of which were also donated.
The ball's attendees included Newcastle University's polo club, and shooting societies from the universities of Durham, Oxford Brookes, Harper Adams, and Edinburgh.
Yellow Wellies, also known as the Farm Safety Foundation, states that its work aims to mitigate the risks of farming in the UK, where farmers account for just 1% of the nation’s workforce but 18% of worker fatalities, the worst safety record of any British industry. It achieves this goal through educational programs and the promotion of safer farming practices. Its website also offers farmers a wealth of educational resources.
The issue of farm safety is one that is particularly close not just to Walters' heart, but those of the Clay Pigeon Shooting Society as a whole.
"We chose to support Yellow Wellies because so much of our committee come from farming families," Walters said.
"My dad is a farmer," she continued. "It means a lot to me to support a charity that can improve farm safety and support farmers with their mental health issues, as I understand how lonely the job can be."
Yellow Wellies reports that 36 farmers lost their lives to suicide in 2021, a statistic it aims to mitigate through the 'Mind Your Head' campaign, which educates farmers about mental health issues and encourages constructive conversations on the topic.
The Newcastle Shooting Society have enjoyed a strong 2023/24 BUCS season, finishing sixth overall at December’s national championship event and contributing 10 points to Team Newcastle’s total tally of 3127, good enough for sixth in overall standings.
