Going through some past files I came across this photo of one of the greatest Clays shooters the UK has produced and that is Joe Wheater. Joe Wheater (Decd), Clay Target Shooting World Champion and British Olympic Team member, Proprietor of The Grantham S.S., Joe was one of the UK’s most successful Shooters during the 60’s & 70’s he shot in the G.B Team at the 1956, 1960 & 64 Olympics he was the British Open Sporting Champion in 1956, 60, 61,62, 64 and then again in 1971 & 72, I was incredibly fortunate to be introduced to him by Chris Craddock. I spent many weeks staying at his home on his own shooting ground and shooting School, where he instructed me on the skills needed for Shooting Competitive Sporting Clays at Championship level. He was a “No Nonsense Yorkshireman" who said that in his early Competition days he had no choice but to win as he needed to get the “Bus Fare Home”.
A great man who really deserves to be remembered by British shooters. He achieved something that even 'George Digweed' or the more recent Top Guns haven’t, and that is to win a British Open Sporting Championships in the same years as Shooting in the G.B Olympic Squad. He is one of my all time shooting Heroes!