Month: August 2025

Three medals in three days for Ryan

by RichHin Competitions

Ryan Cockbill has won three medals in three days at the WSPS (World Shooting Para Sport) Grand Prix in Novi Sad, Serbia.

In the Mixed 10m Air Rifle Standing SH2 (R4) on Thursday, he qualified second in a competitive field, and maintained his composure to hold his place in the final. No sooner had he finished the R4 final and he was called to the line for Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH2 (R5). Qualifying second again – close behind the Italian who had also led R4 qualifying, Ryan finished third to collect a Bronze medal.

After a day off, he came back to the 50metre range on Saturday for the Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH2 (R9), qualifying second again behind Austrian Josef Pacher. After his first string of 5 shots he was joint second, but after the second string had taken a 0.5 point lead, which he held for the remainder of the final, finishing on 248.7 – a full 2.2 points ahead of silver medallist Gianluca Iacus of Italy.

A man in a wheelchair aims a .22lr rifle on an outdoor shooting range. A metal stand takes the weight of the rifle, leaving him to aim and release the shot.

Rugeley Captain makes National Championship Final

by RichHin Competitions

Club Captain Richard Hemingway became the first Rugeley member to qualify in the top-20 for the British Long Range Smallbore Championship Final since Martyn Buttery in 2013. Shooting at 50metres and 100yards, Richard finished 9th in his first stage squad, comfortably qualifying for the second stage where he finished 12th, with the top 20 progressing to the final.

Richard started the final strong with a 199/200, placing him narrowly in the lead after his first card. Changeable winds caused a struggle in the middle with a pair of 191s, managing a 193 to finish joint 9th, ranked 10th on count-back.

Concurrent to the British Championship, Richard was also the highest ranking Welsh competitor, earning him the title of Welsh Long-Range Champion and the Western Mail & Echo Cup.

Richard had previously qualified for the final of the 100th Roberts Championship in 2023, when 40 finalists were taken forward as was the practice in 1923. He finished 27th.

Two smiling men take a selfie on a shooting range between details. A plotting board is visible where one of them will mark the fall of shot and estimate scores for the benefit of spectators.
Richard & Club Chair Martyn before the match
A man stands in front of a table and a row of flags holding a silver trophy. He is suited with a red and green tie and a black blazer bearing a gold, red and green badge. The badge reads "Welsh Target Shooting Federation" and is embroidered with the Prince of Wales Feathers.
Richard with the Western Mail & Echo cup for leading Welsh competitor
A man kneels next to a plotting board on a shooting range. He is holding an unloaded target rifle and wearing a red and green shooting jacket. The board is titled "Earl Roberts Final" and the shots on the target have been marked by a spotter along with estimated scores for the benefit of spectators.
Richard with plotting board after the match
A man lies on a blue shooting mat aiming a rifle on a shooting range. A row of targets are visible in the distance. He is wearing brown shorts and a red and white shooting jacket.

Martyn witnesses historic Roberts match at Bisley

by RichHin Club News

Rugeley Club Chairman Martyn Buttery saw history being made on Friday 15th August as official Team Witness for the victorious British team in the historic Roberts match. On a sweltering Century range where temperatures exceeded 28 degrees, teams from GB and the USA shot for the Roberts Trophy, contested once every 8 years.

Britain had pride to regain, having lost the previous Roberts Match in 2017, and also losing away during the reciprocal matches for the Pershing Trophy in 2022 (delayed from 2021) and 2013, hosted in the United States.

The United States brought score potential, with Sarah Beard dominating proceedings. Having already won the X-Class Aggregate during the week, Sarah shot an exceptional 396 across both distances, setting herself well ahead of GB’s top scorer Adam Fowler on 391. GB made up in depth though. Where the USA’s scores dipped rapidly through the 380s into the 370s, GB held steady to finished with a score of 3863 against USA’s 3821.

The Roberts and Pershing Matches are considered somewhat the Ryder Cup of shooting in their pagentry and alternating host continents. Canada also contests the Pershing Trophy. The next match will be 2029. Both Roberts and Pershing matches are a single dewar – twenty shots each at 50m/yd and 100yd – between teams of ten. As a team match, wind coaches are permitted. The only difference between Roberts and Pershing is the use of British vs American targets. The latter have a larger bull meaning it is common for top shooters to drop no points and be tie-broken on inner-tens.

A suited man is seated. He wears a sun hat, sunglasses and a blue blazer with a badge embroidered with the Union Flag and the words "Great Britain Dewar".
Martyn supervises proceedings
Two smiling men pose for a selfie. One is suited, wearing a white shirt and a tie bearing an emblem of crossed rifles. The other is wearing a thing blue t-shirt for the hot weather, has a green cooling towel around his neck and is carrying a Canon camera with a large lens.
Club Captain Richard is roped in on photography duties
A group of smiling people pose as a group on a shooting range. They all wear visors bearing the union flag or black caps bearing the word "eley". Their shirts read
GB Roberts Team 2025 Photo: Eleanor Shorey https://www.nsratheshorey.com/

Rugeley win top prizes at County Championship

by RichHin Competitions

Rugeley collected a table of silverware at the Staffordshire Smallbore Rifle Association’s Championships on Sunday.

Richard Hemingway retained his title as County Long Range Champion, winning the double dewar match by four points thanks to an excellent set of 100yard cards. Dave Glover was second, and claimed the County 50Metre Championship, pipping Richard at the shorter distance.

Paul Baron became Staffordshire C-Class Champion. Phoebe Haughton – Rugeley’s 2024 Young Gun champion – was Staffordshire Junior Champion and also Staffordshire Ladies Championship.

Steve Rowe of City of Stoke RC was Staffordshire Veteran Champion, whilst Olivia Kirkland of Altrincham Rifle Club was Open Ladies Champion.

Martyn Buttery and Dave Glover won the Pairs competition. Rugeley’s team won the Astor Tankard for best club team.

At the start of the prizegiving, Richard – Staffordshire’s County Captain and representative to NSRA Shooting Council – presented a special service award to County Treasurer Judith Simcock of Market Drayton Rifle Club. Judith has served on her club committee for over 15 years and became Treasurer to the County in 2010, which makes this year her 15th anniversary in post. In addition to committee duties, Judith has been the supervising scorer at the County Championship for 8 years.

Two men walk up a shooting range, one carries wooden target frames and a yellow bag. A wind flag is visible to the left.
Silver trophies stand on a table awaiting their winners.
A young shooter adjusts their spotting scope before the start of a shooting match. They are wearing a red visor and blue ear defenders, along with a teal shooting jacket.
A group of target shooters stand and kneel in front of a shed, bearing a banner.
A man watches the shooting through a tripod-mounted spotting scope. He holds a white umbrella bearing the logo of Rugeley Rifle Club.
Two smiling shooters walk up a target shooting range after changing targets. One is wearing shorts and a blue t-shirt. The other is wearing jeans and a canvas shooting jacket in bright pink and cyan colours.
A group of five target shooters stand behind a table loaded with silverware that they have won.

Rugeley juniors selected to GB team

by RichHin Club News

Congratulations to two Rugeley members have been selected to the GB Team for the Drew International Postal Match.

Alex Buttery and Izzy Ward both earned spots as reserves for the main mixed Drew team of 10, earning GB colours. Alex was also selected as a reserve for the men’s team of 3. Both earn their GB Colours.

Two selections is growth from 2024 when Helen Robinson was selected as reserve to the Women’s team of 3. They will shoot their cards later in the year, after which scores will be shared with the US, Australian and New Zealand teams.

Two smiling young people stand in front of a wall bearing a banner with the Rugeley Rifle Club crest. They are wearing canvas shooting jackets and holding smallbore target rifles.