Brian Hebditch

Anthony Hebditch, known by all as Brian, was an excellent trap, skeet, and clay pigeon shooter who went on to become a leading coach. Prior to his call-up for the 1976 Montréal Olympics, Hebditch was on the Great Britain team that won gold at the European Commonwealth Shooting Championships at Haverfordwest, South Wales, with Hebditch taking the individual prize. At Montréal, however, he could only finish joint 47th in the skeet competition.

At the time of the Montréal Games, Hebditch was employed as gamekeeper on an Estate in Wiltshire. He then ran the Roundwood Shooting School near Winchester, Hampshire, which was opened in 1980. He took part in fewer competitions as he devoted his time to teaching although he did win the Scottish Grand Prix clay pigeon event at the Loch Ness Gun Club in 1983. Hebditch went to the 1995 World Clay Pigeon Championship at San Antonio, Texas, and finished second to fellow Briton Gary Phillips.

When Hebditch’s wife Jeanette was diagnosed with cancer he sold Roundwood in 2018 so he could nurse her. Sadly, she passed away the following year. Brian died in tragic circumstances in 2023 when hit by a lorry outside the Stewarts Abbey Garden Centre at Titchfield, Hampshire, not far from his Fareham home. He died at the scene.