Not only are the Purdey Gun team the ones to speak to about our guns and rifles, the history of the brand, and the finer details of our craftsmanship, but they're also some of the most well connected people in the industry. In January (9th to 12th), they'll be at Dallas Safari Club in Atlanta to discuss all of the above; with plans to meet those who are newer to Purdey, as well as reuniting with old friends out there. But, closer to home, they also connect with clients at select estates around the UK like Goodwood, in the stunning surroundings of the West Sussex South Downs. Here, Goodwood’s head of shooting, Edward Arkell, shares an insight into their exclusive shoot days.
“I always enjoy our shoot days, especially as you get to the back end of January,” says Arkell, as he shelters from a morning of rather heavy downpours. “It’s fun to test your wits against those higher and more wiley birds. A bit of rough weather makes things more exciting, too.”
Arkell has been at Goodwood for the last six years; he originally joined to run the race course, but has since also picked up shooting in the winter. “I’ve always shot, shooting has been part of my life since I was tiny,” he shares. “What I love about Goodwood is that we’ve got some very beautiful country to shoot over, which is wonderful, and we can provide quite challenging birds. We have a fantastic team behind the scenes, and a great list of clients. It’s a really interesting mix.”
What does a day out at Goodwood entail? “Every shoot is different, we very much try to make it as if the host is on their own estate. The whole point is that it’s a fun, friendly, relaxed environment for them to entertain guests as they wish; that’s the most important thing to us.” And the all-important birds? “You can expect a mix of pheasant and partridge — a couple of particularly good high pheasant drives; and partridges can always be challenging, especially if you get a bit of wind, which we often do here being quite close to the coast.”
On the whole, Goodwood is best suited to a more experienced shot, with an eye for the finer things. The night before a shoot, guests usually stay in Hound Lodge — “an intimate 10-room, sleeps 20, country house atmosphere, where everyone should feel very much at home; it’s an extension of the idea that the host is entertaining on their grounds,” explains Arkell. “A lot of our clients are involved in the estate for more than just shooting, they may well visit for racing or motor events on other occasions,” he adds. When it comes to kit, Goodwood has a stock of Purdey options ready to loan. “The majority of clients bring their own, although some international guests find it easier to borrow from us, to save any palaver.”
Where would we find Arkell on a day off? “I like small drives, a good variety of birds, always some duck or some snipe; a mixed day is great. I’d head out west and wild, right down to the far West Country, or west Wales is always fun.” He admits he’s more of a Side-by-Side man than Over-and-Under — “I’m old-fashioned” — and sings the praises of the Purdey Technical Yorkshire Coat. “I think it’s absolutely brilliant. It does exactly what it says on the tin: good, solid, warm and waterproof, you can’t really ask for more.” And with that, it’s back out into the rain for, hopefully, a great day’s shoot.
Get in touch if you'd like to speak to the Gun team here, or book in with them at Dallas Safari Club from 9th-12th January, 2025.