Daniel Marwood wins NGO Golden Grouse clay shoot 2026

Who won the 2026 Golden Grouse?

The Golden Grouse category, open only to working grouse keepers and sponsored by country footwear brand Treksta UK, went to Daniel Marwood. Jack Robinson took second and Iain Conn third, with Robinson also winning the Juniors.

There were wins across the other categories too. Anthony Clark took the Supporter category, Dudley Bell the Veteran, Jo Smith the Ladies and Roger Ayton the Side-by-Side, while Les Rushworth secured the Pool Shoot.

The 115 competitors faced a challenging 100-bird sporting layout at Thimbleby, one of the north of England’s best-known grounds.

A new team event joins the card

This year’s shoot introduced the Davis & Bowring four-man Team Flush, which the NGO said began as a bit of fun but quickly became a serious matter of estate pride. Team Rosedale claimed the inaugural title, ahead of Colsterdale in second and the Anthill Mob in third.

The team format gave keepering outfits from neighbouring moors and estates something extra to contest, and it is expected to return next year.

Why the Golden Grouse matters to gamekeepers

The Golden Grouse is one of the fixtures of the gamekeeping calendar, bringing working keepers, their families and supporters together early in the summer as the moorland season builds towards the Glorious Twelfth.

Beyond the scores, the NGO said the day was once again among gamekeeping’s great social occasions, uniting keepers, supporters and friends. Events of this kind also raise the profile of the organisation and the work its members do managing moorland and game.

What happens next

Full results from each category are available on the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation website. The competition is expected to return in 2027, with the new Team Flush now established as part of the line-up.