The cancellation of the CLA Game Fair hit us all hard and left a very strange gap in the summer calendar. The last weekend of July is always Game Fair weekend and for us at Shooting Gazette that means packing up and moving en masse to the site for four days. We love the chance to meet our readers and find out what they really think and will really miss that this year. Although you can help by responding here and letting us know what you like and don't like about the magazine.

Since the news of the cancellation I have spoken to many people who I look forward to meeting at the Game Fair every year, regardless of the venue, from artists and gunmakers to shooting instructors and Countryside Alliance staff. All were left with the same feeling of deep anti-climax, although I might add that none thought it was the wrong decision.

But, wallowing around in self pity certainly won't help, so the good news is that there are other options. This year sees the first Sporting Gun Show to be held at Althorp in Northamptonshire on August 11-12. And Shooting Gazette will have a stand there so get along to what promises to be a great event to take advantage of a special subscription offer. For more information click on the link below.

Further to that we will also be at the Midland Game Fair at Weston Park on September 15-16. Look out for the September edition of Shooting Gazette for the chance to enter the Midland Game Fair competition to win a wonderful snipe sculpture by one of the country's leading sporting artists, Ian Greensitt.

So, see you at Althorp or Weston Park.

Sporting Gun Show

As we see rising numbers of robberies in rural areas, we must ask ourselves, 'are we doing enough to deter such criminal activity?'

In a lot of cases, rural crime can be put down to opportunism, but now we are seeing a more methodical approach as thieves are stealing to order. From sitting in someone's drive one minute, a Land Rover could find itself in Ireland or on the continent, the end result of theft that, when successful, provides good financial returns.

Unfortunately we are not living in a society where at one time it was fine to leave one's back door open, or let children play until the sun goes down. No, we have got to be on our guard to ensure that these people don't win. This isn't scaremongering, but with rural communities becoming more accessible via road links that are encroaching on them, it is easier for thieving scum to strike and then escape easily. What we need to do is keep an eye out, make sure everything is locked, and look at reasonably priced security systems. Let's not give the thieves a chance.

Are there any of you readers out there who have had problems due to rural crime?
EMAIL us and tell your story.

Welcome to the new Shooting Gazette website. As you will see we have used this opportunity to give all regular and new readers much more up to date information about the world of shooting in the UK and across the world. The website is inter-active so this is your chance to contribute to some of the most topical discussions in the shooting world.

Will Hetherington
Editor