Chris Humphreys' Farewell Shoot

Ashfold hosted a farewell shoot for Chris Humphreys who has retired after 40 years as our Head Clay Pigeon Shooting Coach.

Supported by fellow coaches, Trevor Johnson, Mark Crampton Smith and Dicki Gunn, Chris has given his time selflessly to encourage Ashfold children to take up shooting and learn a love of the sport.

Generations of children have benefitted from Chris’s expertise. He has coached them in the most wonderful way, never barking instructions, but getting alongside them quietly and working with them to develop a style with which they feel comfortable. He has shared their joy when they have been successful with his characteristically supportive pat on the shoulders and whispered words of encouragement when they have felt deflated.

It is a testament to the respect with which Chris is held by all of us at Ashfold that so many OAs turned up on Saturday 13 May to a farewell shoot to celebrate Chris’s contribution to Ashfold life.

Ashfold has won the annual National Prep School Championships more times than any other school in the country. In the 40 years Chris has been coaching our squads, we have won the Championships at least 25 times and in the last 20, we have won it 8 times and been runners-up 10 times; in fact there have only been 3 years in the last 20 when we have not either been National Champions or ‘Runners-up’! An astonishing record of success.

From all of us at Ashfold, thank you Chris!

Michael Chitty
Headmaster