Ralph and Nini Raynor recently hosted guests at their home Ashcombe Towers on Ashcombe estate near the Exe Estuary in South Devon for a Champagne reception, kindly sponsored by Fisher German, to launch the GWCT Devon High Four Raffle (you can enter here) where the winner will experience four of the county’s most prestigious shoots.
Guns will start the day at Ugbrooke estate, where they will be welcomed by owner Alexander Clifford with coffee served in the family’s home, a beautifully restored Robert Adam house set in sweeping Capability Brown parkland before enjoying one of the shoot’s premier drives.
Neighbouring, Ashcombe is the next destination where the team will be hosted by Ralph Raynor, who runs the traditional family shoot and takes pride in its inclusive and friendly atmosphere. The 2,500-acre estate was first laid out for driven shooting by the Earls of Lisburne in the late 1800s and the hilltop woods provide a truly sporting experience.
Pictured above: Chairman of GWCT Devon Committee Stewart Priddle and Ralph Raynor
After enjoying Ashcombe’s famous elevenses, it’s off to the 2,800-acre Berry Pomeroy estate near the river Dart, site of the legendary Castle built for Ralph de Pomeroy, as a reward for his loyal services to William the Conqueror. Guns will be welcomed by headkeeper Jason Hooper and his team and experience one of the spectacular 27 drives on the steep South Devon hills.
A light lunch will be followed by the final drive at Lyneham shoot courtesy of Damon Harvey. At the end of the drive your team will be chauffeured to a local hotel for dinner and a chance to reflect on a wonderful day.
A night’s accommodation is included in the prize and Land Rover Experience will provide chauffeur-driven vehicles. The Field will cover the day for a feature in the magazine and professional photographs will be available. The winning ticket to be drawn at next year’s Game Fair.
Enter Here →
In his speech at the launch event, the chairman of GWCT Devon Committee Stewart Priddle encouraged guests and GWCT supporters to enter the draw, stressing the need for continued support of the Trust. He said, “The GWCT is unique in that its work is underpinned by peer-reviewed scientific research, which is widely published, giving other organisations a chance to use it. This is vital, if we are going to meet the huge environmental challenges we face. The main aim of the County Committees is to help raise funds for game and wildlife research and education, so we are very excited to be launching the raffle for what will be an exceptional day for the lucky team. We are hugely grateful to Mr and Mrs Raynor, our sponsors and all four shoots, which so generously donated a drive.”
Win a shoot day for 8 guns on four outstanding shoots in Devon
The four drives are:
- Ugbrooke
- Ashcombe
- Berry Pomeroy
- Lyneham
There are just 250 tickets available and they are £200 each.
Enter Here →
Draw closes at midday on Friday 30th June 2023 and is in aid of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust.
Promoter: Teresa Dent, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Fordingbridge, Hampshire, SP6 1EF. Registered Charity No: 112023. Registered with the Gambling Commission. www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk Please make cheques payable to Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust. No one under 16 years of age may purchase or sell lottery tickets. Closing date for tickets 30 June 2023. Winner will be notified by post and result published on the website and Gamewise magazine. No correspondence will be entered into. No cash alternative to prize awarded.