This year’s Birdshot Uveitis Society shoot was more than just another fantastic day of sport and fundraising. It marked a truly extraordinary moment in its history.
Held on 3 June at Holland & Holland Shooting Grounds, and proudly sponsored by John F Hunt, guests came together for a day full of energy, generosity and purpose. Thanks to the incredible support of everyone involved, the shoot raised an outstanding £72,000 on the day. Even more significantly, this year saw us surpass £1 million in total raised since 2013. This is a milestone that cannot be overstated.
A Cause Close to Our Hearts
Birdshot is not just a charity we support; it is a cause we believe in. It is one that is deeply personal to John F Hunt. Our Chairman, John Hall, was diagnosed with Birdshot many years ago, and his continued dedication has helped drive awareness, funding and momentum behind this important cause.
Birdshot is a rare, potentially blinding eye disease with no cure. It gets its name from white marks that develop on the retina, manifesting themselves as black spots in the field of vision, mirroring lead pellets hitting a pattern plate when fired from a shotgun.
A Game-Changing Addition
This year’s shoot introduced something truly special. An Optos retinal imaging machine proved to be a real game-changer.
Guests had the opportunity to have their eyes checked on the day, offering valuable, often eye-opening insight into their eye health. This advanced technology captures ultra-widefield images of the retina, enabling potential issues to be identified earlier and more accurately.
It served as a powerful reminder that many eye conditions, including Birdshot, can develop silently. You never truly know what is going on in your eyes until you get them checked.
A Fantastic Day All Round
31 teams took to the stands and enjoyed a day of friendly competition despite some challenging weather conditions. Spirits remained high throughout, with plenty of camaraderie, resilience and good humour on display.
A heartfelt thank you also goes to everyone who made the day possible, including John Hall, our Chairman, and Alison Sherring, our Group Marketing Director at John F Hunt, Paul, Sam and the team at Holland & Holland, our principal sponsor, John F Hunt Group, our guest speaker, Dr Tasanee Braithwaite, and auctioneer and MC Dylan Williams. Your support and contribution made the day what it was.
Congratulations to this year’s winners:
- Top Team: 2 Birds, Only 1 Stone. Oliver Rees, Mikey Reeves, Craig Chaplin and John Dutton (433)
- Second Place: The 4 Bores. Liam Dunford, Robin Partington, Adrian Wilson and Richard Estrop (429)
- Third Place: Inmalo MisHits. John Polak, Charles Polak, Nigel Reynolds and Rupert Greatrix (421)
Individual Awards:
- Top Gun: Grant Conley (101)
- Top Lady: Becky Bone
Looking Ahead
Birdshot is always a highlight of the year, but this one will stand out for years to come. Breaking the £1 million mark since 2013, with two years out thanks to Covid, is a phenomenal achievement and a true reflection of the generosity and commitment of everyone involved.
To everyone who attended, supported and contributed, thank you.
And finally, a simple but important reminder. Make time to get your eyes checked. Conditions like Birdshot often go unnoticed until it is too late. Looking after your eye health is something none of us should take for granted.
We are already looking forward to next year!
