There’s something undeniably elegant about a crisp winter morning in the countryside — the smell of wet grass underfoot, the sound of dogs working cover, and the confidence that comes from standing on peg completely in your element. For more and more women, shooting is becoming not only a sport, but a lifestyle. One built around tradition, resilience, countryside fashion, and community.
In this Q&A we sit down with Lucy Hollinworth, a passionate game and clay shooter story feels instantly relatable for so many women entering the fieldsports world. From being the only woman at her local clay club to finding confidence on game days, she shares what it’s really like to carve your place in the shooting world.
Thanks for joining us, Lucy, we’d like to start with how your shooting journey started.
I’ve been shooting for over 13 years now. It all started with my dad at our local members’ clay pigeon club. Back then, clay shooting was all I knew — weekends at the club, learning the discipline, building confidence, and honestly just loving being outdoors.
Game shooting came later when I met my partner four years ago. He’d grown up around it his whole life, whereas I’d only ever shot clays, so moving into game shooting felt like stepping into a completely different world.
Now we’re lucky enough to enjoy multiple days on peg each season. But for me, it’s not only about shooting. I work my cocker spaniels throughout the season too — beating occasionally but mainly picking up. That side of field sports is something I absolutely love.
What an amazing journey. We love how the women’s shooting groups have built a supporting community, how have they helped you on your journey?
I grew up in an area where I genuinely didn’t know any other ladies who shot. It was always difficult explaining to people that my hobby was clay pigeon shooting. For around a decade, I was the only woman at my local clay club.
Now it’s amazing seeing how many women shoot. When I moved up to North Yorkshire, it became much more common, which was refreshing.
I started entering ladies’ clay competitions I found online, and for the first time I was meeting women with exactly the same interests as me. That sense of community makes such a difference.
And it really does feel like the landscape is changing. More women are embracing field sports, ladies clay shooting competitions, and country pursuits than ever before — bringing a modern femininity to a traditionally male-dominated space.
This is fantastic, well-done Lucy. As a women who shoots, what’s biggest misconception you hear?
When I first became involved in fieldsports, people would often assume I wasn’t there to shoot. They’d think I was just there with my partner, and I’d often get asked whether I only got into shooting because of him. But the reality couldn’t have been further from the truth.
It’s actually really nice to be able to say I was involved in shooting and fieldsports long before we met.
Do you have any advice for someone that is thinking about getting into shooting?
Don’t give up! At first, shooting was just a bit of fun for me, but I didn’t start seeing really good results until a few years ago when I became more consistent. Like many shooters, confidence didn’t come overnight.
I used to put so much pressure on myself to hit every clay or every bird. But shooting doesn’t work like that. It all comes with time
Great advice, Lucy. Have you been given a piece of advice that stuck with you?
Not to worry about what anyone else thinks. I used to get so nervous shooting in front of anyone that wasn’t my dad. If I missed, I felt judged. But eventually, something clicked.
When I stopped worrying about everyone watching me, I became a much better shot. I realised no one is actually judging how I’m shooting — they’re there to support you.
And honestly, that mindset applies far beyond shooting.
Whether it’s stepping onto your first peg, entering your first clay competition, or simply walking into a shoot day where you don’t know anyone — confidence grows the second you stop trying to prove yourself.
And finally, what’s your biggest non-negotiable when shooting?
Safety. Every single time. I’ve seen people become too focused on shooting as much as they can, even when they’re low or dangerous shots. I take pride in leaving birds that shouldn’t be shot. I actually get far more satisfaction from hitting a challenging shot than I do shooting at everything that comes over me. And that mindset says everything about true sportsmanship. Because great shooting isn’t about pulling the trigger constantly — it’s about judgement, respect, patience, and knowing when not to shoot.
What stands out most from this conversation isn’t just the shooting itself — it’s the confidence behind it.
The world of women in fieldsports is evolving, more women are stepping onto the peg, joining clay clubs, working dogs, and finding community in a sport that once felt intimidating to enter. And stories like this matter because they remind other women that there’s space for them here too.
You don’t need to know everything immediately. You don’t need to hit every target. And you certainly don’t need to fit anyone else’s idea of what a shooter “should” look like.
Sometimes all it takes is turning up, staying consistent, and backing yourself.
Follow Lucy’s journey on Instagram @Lucyhollinworth
