Outcome of sartorial challenge "suits" Howard and Annie

Howard Kirby of Lains Shooting School and Mullenscote Gundogs may have made a reputation for himself in the world of shooting and dog training, but his sartorial elegance was perhaps more questionable.

But not anymore, as Howard and his senior gun dog trainer, Annie Buckley, are now strutting round dressing more like pop stars, or at least those with an interest in country sports.

Their move into the age of elegance came when Noll Uloth, partner with guitarist Eric Clapton in world famous tailors Cordings, of London’s Piccadilly, met Howard at the CLA game fair.

He joked with Howard, an old friend who has given him regular shooting lessons, that he was, perhaps, a little sartorially challenged. Howard suggested that perhaps a new suit might not go amiss, so Noll whipped out the tape measure and has now duly obliged with a complete shooting suit each for both Howard and Annie.

"When I made the light hearted comment to Howard he called my bluff," said Noll. "Having challenged him over his tailoring he challenged me to deliver something more suited to him and Annie so I had to do just that."

Howard says that Noll, who lives close to Lains Shooting School at Quarley, near Andover, has shown that he’s as sharp with a needle as he is with a shotgun.

"Annie and I love the new suits and if we didn’t have them we’d have been a bit jealous when Noll used our facilities here as the backdrop for the pictures for Cordings new mail order catalogue," added Howard.

"As it is, we look really good although I doubt I’ll ever make it as a model!"