Exclusive interview with Sam Green

Who is Sam Green?

I’m just a normal lad from Norfolk, really. For all my life my dad has been the gamekeeper at Wretham Hall, so I grew up surrounded by the countryside, and that’s where my love for it all began. From the moment I could walk I was out beating, shooting pigeons or rabbits, and helping on the shoot.

Day-to-day I run two shoots of my own: Bridgham, a 1,000-acre duck, partridge and pheasant shoot; and Kilverstone, a 2,500-acre shoot I have taken on this year. Both are near Thetford. My best mate Darren Stanford, who I do all my clay shooting and travelling with, helps run the days and handles the stalking side of things. In the summer I shoot clays and have won three world titles to date.

At home I’ve got my wife, Sarah, our two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Poppy, and two labradors – Doug, a white, and Ruby, a fox red. Doug is my best buddy and comes everywhere with me, dogging in during the day and keeping me company in the field.

How did you get into shooting?

Ever since I can remember I’ve been shooting – not clays at first, just anything legal I could find on the estate. I started shooting clays at Sandringham through a BASC Young Shots event. I shot with a 28-bore side-by-side and won that a few years running.

One of Dad’s mates later bought me a membership for Eriswell Lodge – at that time it was called the Rod & Gun Club – which got me properly into clay shooting. That sort of forced Dad to take me, even though he was busy running a big shoot. I used to go every Wednesday and shoot the evening skeet competitions, pestering him to have “just one more go” until I’d hit a 25 straight.

I never had formal lessons, really. I went once to Mid Norfolk Shooting Ground where Jonny Walker, a well-known skeet shot of the time, gave lessons. I had always shot gun-down, as is normal with any wild quarry. He said: “You will never ever achieve anything if you don’t shoot gun-up.” I didn’t like that and it upset me, so I left. I still shoot gun-down to this day.

I taught myself from then on. I used to stand in the living room while Mum watched EastEnders or some other soap on TV, mounting the gun at details in the picture frames and following the lines where the walls meet the ceiling. I was utterly obsessed.

Your biggest shooting successes?

Most people would argue that winning the World FITASC Sporting in 2019 is my greatest achievement, but it is the World Sporting Championships in 2023 for me.

FITASC is probably the harder of the two. The targets are generally a little more challenging and the focus required is much more intense as the competition is split across four days instead of two. That means more down time and distractions.

Why the World Sporting stands out for me is that my dad was there to see me shoot. I shot early on the first two days of the champs and the weather was absolutely horrendous on my second day – windy with thunder and lightning, and rain so heavy I had to tip out my wellies after the round. But I shot out of my skin and scored 97/100. It was one of those days when I felt I just couldn’t miss.

I’ve also won the World Sportrap in Ireland and a couple of Junior World titles.

What’s the secret to your success?

Confidence, focus and good company. Shooting with Darren has been a big part of it. We have shot thousands of clays together and we know how each other works and are happy in each other’s company. He can spot things I might be doing wrong, give me a nudge if I lose focus, or I can stand behind him and see how he might approach a target I’m unsure about and vice versa. As well as that, I can talk to him if I need to, or when other people want to chat and I want to stay focused, he can talk to them instead.

Mindset and preparation matter just as much as shooting. You need the right people around you, a steady home life and no distractions. If everything off the range is calm, you can concentrate fully when it counts and your scores will show for it.

How often do you shoot?

This year’s been quieter on the clay side of things. Taking on the new shoot has been a colossal task as it hadn’t been run for over 10 years. We have had to build new pens, fix drives, manage the woodland, predators, deer population and a lot more.

I shot the Worlds in Cyprus and finished joint sixth, which I’ll take having done less shooting than I have for a long time. I think taking a break is healthy though. I won’t shoot a clay now until April. Once I’ve had that rest I’ll be ready to go full throttle. Clay shooting has always been something I love, not something I have to do. I am also lucky that it only takes me 1,500 shots after a long time off to get back into the groove and feel I have a chance.

What’s your true passion?

I love game and clays, but my true passion is pigeons and flighting ducks. When the wind and conditions are just right there’s nothing better than being able to grab my coat, a pocketful of shells and my gun, and go off with Doug to pick off a few pigeons on a flightline or a brace of ducks onto a splash I’ve been feeding.

I almost grew up in a hide with Dad. The middle pole was the dividing line, and if I shot on his side I’d get a clip round the ear! That’s where I learned safety, patience and respect.

It’s never guaranteed and that’s what makes it so special. There’s a misconception that gamekeepers shoot everything, but just like any other keeper I might not fire a shot for a week, but when the moment’s right I’ll be there.

Do you enjoy stalking and foxing?

We’ve got a good mix of red, roe and muntjac on the land – just last week I shot a 14-point red stag. But my real passion on the rifle side of shooting is foxing. Thermal imaging has become a total game changer. Outwitting a fox really does give you such a buzz.

Darren manages all our stalking and we tend to leave the good stags for clients and offer cull packages, which are seemingly very popular with European clients.

Who are your sponsors?

Browning has supported me since I was about 15 or 16 and has been brilliant, providing my guns, cartridges and clothing. I shoot a Browning Ultra XS Crown, one of only 100 made, and use Winchester AA 28g No 7.5 cartridges.

What else is in the kit bag?

I am so boring! I keep my setup simple – one lens, one pair of muffs, one vest, the same ¾ chokes and the same cartridges. The fewer variables there are the better. Rarely do I carry anything other than my gun and cartridge bag.

Top shooting tips?

Keep it simple. Pick a choke and cartridge you trust and stick with them. Worrying about whether you should go up a shot size or change a choke is a waste of time in my opinion. Spend that time learning to read targets – that’s what makes you better. Confidence is everything. Whether it’s game or clays, if you believe in your gun, your cartridges and yourself, you’ll shoot better.

Lastly, get your gun-fit right early on, with someone that knows what they are talking about. It’s the foundation for everything.

Best advice you’ve ever been given?

Well, it wasn’t to shoot gun-up! I have been told many things over the years, but there is one thing that sticks out. Long ago there was a clay shoot called The Classic. I must have been in my teens and George Digweed came up to me and asked how I was getting on. He said: “If you want a bit of advice, go out there and shoot every stand like a pool shoot.”

I never really knew what he meant at that age; I was just shocked that he knew who I was. But I think I have worked it out now. On a pool shoot you pay your small fee and just try to shoot the best score you can. If you shoot poorly, so what? You forget it, pay another fee and shoot again with renewed determination. So my interpretation of George’s advice is that if you have a bad stand, forget it, move on and try your best on the next one.

Favourite venues and bucket list?

I’ve shot all over the world – the US, France, Cyprus, Italy – but Euro Cash in France is probably my favourite. It’s a very tough FITASC competition that really tests you. For example, a normal FITASC Worlds is won with around 185/200, but this is won with only 165. I have had two seconds and a third, but am yet to win it.

I’ve already ticked off most of my shooting dreams, including Argentina dove shooting, which was incredible. To be honest I’m happiest back home, shooting a few pigeons or ducks on the farm in the evening with Doug by my side.

Do you cook a lot of game?

I do 90% of the cooking at home and game features regularly. It isn’t that my wife is a bad cook, but she’s a stick insect, so the portion sizes are way too small! You can’t beat a young roe loin – salt, pepper and a quick fry. Beautiful. Another favourite is pigeon with a red wine sauce. We eat loads of pheasant and partridge, too.

Who would you most like to share a peg with?

Honestly, just my dad and a bunch of good friends. The old characters from the shoot days gone by. The sport’s become a bit more serious now, so I’d love to bring some of the old folk back.

Something people wouldn’t know about you?

You’d have to ask my wife! [Apparently Sam is very good at singing, performing mostly in the shower or in the kitchen.]