More women are stepping onto the stand, booking lessons, entering competitions, and finding confidence in a sport that once felt intimidating to break into. And honestly? It’s women like Jo Smith; the founder of Prestige Sporting helping make that happen. Jo has built a community that feels less like a traditional sporting club and more like a genuinely welcoming space for women to learn, improve, and enjoy the sport without pressure.
From starting out knowing absolutely nobody in shooting, to becoming a respected instructor and running ladies’ shooting events across Yorkshire and Lancashire, her story is proof that sometimes the best things begin with simply saying: “Sod it, let’s have a go.”
Thanks for joining us Jo, we’d like to start with how your shooting journey started.
I actually wanted to try archery first, but there was nothing local. Instead, I stumbled across a nearby shooting ground offering clay shooting lessons and decided to give it a try.
I didn’t know anyone in my friends or family circle who shot, so it was completely new to me. But it didn’t take long before I was hooked, it became a hobby I completely fell in love with straight away.
The sport has opened up a whole new world for me, so many opportunities, incredible people, companies, and I’ve made some amazing friends along the way.
Because beyond the shooting itself, there’s often an unexpected sense of community that keeps people coming back.
What an amazing journey, what then led you to found Prestige Sporting?
Living in Yorkshire, I noticed how little we actually had up here in terms of events. When the opportunity came to take over Prestige Sporting, I grabbed it with both hands. And the vision was clear from the beginning.
I wanted to create accessible and affordable shooting events for ladies across Yorkshire and Lancashire.
Because while countryside life can be beautiful, it can also feel isolating — especially in more rural areas.
Even just having an event to look forward to, meeting new people, having a fun day out, and making friends is such a vital part of this community. And honestly, that’s exactly what makes women-only shooting events so important. They’re not just about improving your shooting. They’re about confidence, connection, and helping women feel like they belong in the sport.
That’s fantastic Jo, well done. How did you become a shooting instructor?
Becoming an instructor was never actually my original plan. But as I became more involved in the sport, one thing became increasingly obvious — there simply weren’t enough female instructors. That definitely pushed me to work hard to become one.
Understanding how women think really helps. We don’t need targets overcomplicated. We don’t always need the ‘light 20 bore’ or someone putting a hand on our shoulder while we shoot. Instead, my lessons focus on confidence first.
I’d say most of my lessons are probably 80% confidence building and 20% targets.
Because for many women, the biggest barrier to shooting isn’t ability — it’s self-belief. We can ALL do it, sometimes people just need reminding that they can.
Teaching young guns is really important to me. We need that next generation.
Do you have any advice for someone that is thinking about getting into shooting?
Drop me a message! Even if you’ve shot before, always go back to basics.
My biggest recommendation? Find an instructor you genuinely get along with. Make sure the equipment is right for you too — gun fit is massively important — and try to stick with the same instructor.
You should still be enjoying your lessons. Because yes, safety always comes first — but shooting should also feel fun.
When you miss, learn why you missed. Don’t overthink it or get annoyed. At the end of the day, it’s just a clay.
Even the best shots still miss.
Great advice, Jo. Have you been given a piece of advice that has stuck with you?
Bum. Belly. Beak. Bang. If you know shooting, you probably smiled immediately.
I learned it early on and still use it in my lessons all the time. It’s all about keeping the gun moving on driven birds.
Come up from behind, move through the bird, pull in front of the beak — bang.
Simple. Memorable. Effective.
And probably something half her clients now hear in their sleep.
What misconceptions frustrate you most in fieldsports?
Lead, or more specifically — the vague advice shooters often give beginners.
You’ll hear things like ‘give it a barn door of lead’, but my brain immediately starts wondering what colour the barn door is and how big it is. Instead, I encourage women to find references that make sense to them. I personally use cartridge lengths for lead because I can visualise that better.
And then comes one of the biggest myths women in shooting still hear: That women need a light gun or a 20 bore because they’re female. Wrong.
You need a gun that fits you. Something you can use safely and confidently. I’m equally passionate about challenging the marketing around so-called “ladies guns”. You don’t need a pink price tag, adjustable combs, proper fit, and comfort matter far more than labels designed for marketing.
All our faces and cheekbones are different. Don’t just buy something because someone says it’s for women.
Do you have any role models in the industry?
There are honestly too many to pick just one or two now. And that, in itself, feels like progress.
The most important thing is that we support each other and continue encouraging more women, young guns, and new people into the sport. No elitism. No judgement.
It doesn’t matter where they come from, what they wear, or what they drive — everyone should feel welcome. And perhaps that’s exactly the future shooting needs.
And finally, if you could share a peg with anyone, who would it be?
Angelina Jolie. She just comes across like someone who genuinely doesn’t care what people think. Confident. Unapologetic. Effortlessly composed. She’d make such a fantastic role model in the sport.
And you can absolutely picture it — driven birds, polished boots, and pure boss energy on the peg.
What makes conversations like this so refreshing is the honesty behind them.
No intimidating jargon. No pressure to be perfect. Just genuine encouragement, practical advice, and a reminder that shooting doesn’t belong to one type of person anymore.
The world of women in shooting is growing rapidly — and communities like Prestige Sporting are helping create spaces where women can learn, laugh, improve, and feel comfortable picking up a gun for the very first time. Sometimes it simply starts with saying: “Sod it… let’s have a go.”
