Student gamekeeper receives award

A student from Bishop Burton College has been named Gamekeeping Student of the Year at the CLA Game Fair.

Ben Pocklington was awarded the inaugural Frank Jenkins trophy by the National Gamekeepers Organisation after being nominated by his tutor at Bishop Burton College, Norman Dalleywater. Ben is an apprentice keeper for Joseph Nickerson Farms on the Rothwell Estate. Both said he was “an exceptional young keeper”.

The NGO said that although nominations were received from all over the country, Ben successfully impressed judges including NGO president David Clark and Brian Hayes of the NGO educational trust.

The award is named for Frank Jenkins, a respected keeper of 63 years service who was still gamekeeping at his death at 83 years old. His son Martin (also a keeper) and daughter Jennifer presented Ben with his award.