Barden Clay Shoot Saved After Last-Minute Push

The beloved Barden charity clay shoot came within days of cancellation before a desperate last-minute campaign saved the event and its impressive £277,000 fundraising legacy.

The Barden Clay Shoot near Leyburn, North Yorkshire, was at risk of being cancelled for the first time in its 18-year history when organisers struggled to attract enough teams. With only two weeks to go, the Birch family launched an intensive rescue mission — flooding social media, distributing posters and personally calling every team from the past two years.

And it paid off.

The event will now go ahead on 6 July with a record £1,000 first prize, continuing the shoot’s remarkable fundraising tradition that has generated more than a quarter of a million pounds for charities supporting the family’s daughter, Molly, 17, who has cerebral palsy.

Molly’s condition affects her balance and hand use, making walking difficult without assistance. Her specially trained Labrador, Chess, helps by picking up dropped items, providing balance support, and fetching essential items such as splints and shoes.

This year’s beneficiary is Support Dogs, which trained Chess and has been the primary recipient for five years. The Yorkshire-based charity also trains epilepsy seizure alert dogs and autism assistance dogs.

“A massive thank you to everyone who helped save this fantastic experience,” said Molly’s father, Kevin.

For more information, visit bardenclayshoot.co.uk.

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