If you have a disability and fancy a go at clay pigeon shooting one of the best places to start is by giving the Disabled Shooters Group [DSG] a shout.

The organisation runs events at shooting grounds across the UK between March and November for disabled and non disabled members.

Formed 25 years ago DSG runs regular competitions for anyone interested in picking up a gun trying to shoot clay targets fired into the skyline regardless of their abilities.

In 2012 the DSG was recognised by the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association [CPSA]; they now work in partnership to extend their services to disabled people.

The collaboration has seen disabled categories introduced in national championships organised by the CPSA.

It’s not just the UK where they have made their mark, the DSG invites members to participate in competitions overseas, such as Grand Prix matches launched by Italians in 2011 running alongside ISSF World Cup Shooting Championships.

As a result the International Paralympic Committee now acknowledges Clay target shooting as an official candidate for inclusion in the Paralympic Games.

The DSG website states its fundamental goal is to ‘to offer clay shooting for disabled people of all levels of skill and ability, including the opportunity to officially represent Great Britain.’

[ Cricket balls, stones and potatoes were used as targets before the invention of clay targets ]