Girl power and an AM make for an explosive National Shooting Week in Wales

Last week was National Shooting Week and a large numbers of events took place across Wales to introduce this great sport to new people.

Crynant Shooting Ground in the Neath Valley hosted seven ladies on 28 May as part of National Shooting Week.

The ladies (pictured), who are all members of the Banwen Miners hunt, thoroughly enjoyed their evening despite the majority of them having never shot before.

Rachel Evans Countryside Alliance director for Wales, who had organised the event, said: "Nerves were evident for the first round with young Lowri Smart and Danielle Green who were slightly wary of the re-coil but after one attempt at shooting a clay they were hooked, confidence grew with every shot and a friendly competition to end the evening saw Lowri winning the title of High Gun with Danielle a very close second. Not bad for beginners!"

Chris Hughes who owns Crynant Shooting Ground was very impressed with their ability and said that they had great potential.

And a warm welcome was given by Mid Wales Shooting Centre in Trefeglwys, near Newtown, to Russell George AM, who celebrated National Shooting Week with the Countryside Alliance and Councillor Graham Jones, also on 28 May.

Russell George said: "I'm pleased to have the opportunity to take part in National Shooting Week at this tremendous facility in Trefegwlys. The sport of shooting is important not just to the local economy but also the wider Welsh economy, generating over £73m in annual revenue and sustaining hundreds of jobs.

"The Mid Wales Clay Shooting Ground is in my opinion one of the premier clay target facilities in the UK and has held a number of major national and international tournaments. I'm therefore pleased that we have this great venue here in Montgomeryshire."

Rachel Evans: "We were delighted to welcome Russell to the Mid Wales Shooting Centre. We are very fortunate in Wales to have fantastic shooting grounds all across the country, providing tuition in a safe, knowledgeable and friendly environment.

"This year's National Shooting Week has seen a great number of people trying their hand at shooting for the first time. It is a sport open to all and Wales certainly has its fair share of great opportunities to learn."