Eriswell Lodge Press Release – 20th October 2017

  
Stuart Smith & Phil Moss

Both sad and exciting news befalls sporting shooters in and around Suffolk in October 2017, starting with the extremely unfortunate closure of Barrow Heath shooting ground.
 
Phil Moss took over at Barrow Heath in 2012, and has taken the ground to new levels since then, including premier status with the CPSA, and winning successive Premier League cups with the CPSA in 2016 and 2017. Phil has also held numerous county and regional sporting and FITASC competitions, along with National sporting events too. 
 
“It’s been 5 great years and I truly thank all of those that have supported us over that time.” Said Phil, “I hope you have all enjoyed the shoots & improvements we made here since taking over 5 years ago. It really has been an interesting & rewarding journey! We have achieved a lot over the years at Barrow Heath, and whilst sad to see it come to an end there is an excitement in the air also.”
 
“I firmly believe that as one door closes, another one opens…. And as we enter into a new chapter with Stuart and the team at Eriswell Lodge we will continue to provide the shooters with enjoyable and testing shoots for the foreseeable future!”
 
Eriswell Lodge, formerly the Lakenheath clay target centre, re-opened its doors for business in 2015 following a period of closure that looked like it would spell the end of the ground. Father and Son duo Nigel and Stuart Smith took over the ground with the vision of creating a top flight clay shooting ground with facilities to match. The ground has been going from strength to strength since opening, and has held county championships for 3 counties, regional championships and inter-counties championships, NSSA state championships, and many other registered competitions. In October they hosted the National InterCounties Sporting championships, with targets set by Phil, and achieved the highest entry to the event since 2012 with 335 people shooting.
 
Following the news of the Barrow Heath closure, Stuart and Phil started discussions about moving the regular competitions (currently held twice a month at Barrow Heath) over to Eriswell Lodge, and also merge the two staff teams on the competition days. 
 
"As a relatively new business we are looking to push Eriswell Lodge to the forefront of clay shooting in every way." said Stuart, "We are currently open Wednesday to Sunday every week for practice clays, with our shop and café also open, and hold regular CPSA and NSSA competitions already, but this joint effort between Barrow Heath and Eriswell Lodge will open up a new opportunity for everyone, especially the sporting competition shooters who will now have regular competitions to attend throughout the year. It is always sad to hear of a shooting ground closing, especially one with such a history and one  I have enjoyed shooting at for many years, but at least with this partnership going forward we are able to provide facilities for the county shooters to keep enjoying their pastime!"
  
Eriswell Lodge is currently in the process of becoming a CPSA Premier ground, with the Director’s inspection due at the end of October, and will be entering into the CPSA Premier League in 2018 to attempt to keep the cup in Suffolk!
 
All of the memorial trophies and shoots that have been held at Barrow Heath over the last few years will be moving over to Eriswell Lodge for 2018, so anyone currently holding any of the trophies will need to return them to Eriswell Lodge prior to the shoot dates.
 
The first of the new partnership competitions is to be held on the 5th November, and regular updates will be made to the fixtures on the Eriswell Lodge website, social media feeds, various magazines, and the CPSA website.