Competitions Archives | Rugeley Rifle Club

GB Selection for Hemingway

8 July 202411 July 2024 by RichHin Competitions

Rugeley Rifle Club member Richard Hemingway was selected to shoot for Great Britain on Saturday after an outstanding performance in the Dewar Match Trials held at Appleton Rifle Club.

Scoring 789/800, he finished top of his squad to qualify for the team. The top five from each of four squads made up the team of twenty. This was Richard’s second GB cap after also making the team in 2018. Richard qualified for the Trials in 2023 but narrowly missed selection, finishing seventh in his squad.

The Dewar Match is an International Postal against the United States, with South Africa and Australia also entering in some years. Following the Trials, the team shot their cards – the scores of which are embargoed until the other teams have shot their end of the match.

In the match itself, Richard placed mid-table with the tenth highest score. Significantly, in finishing in the top 15 he qualifies for the Roberts Match Trials in October. The Roberts Match is a shoulder-to-shoulder match held every 8 years when the United States comes to Bisley to compete at the August National Meeting. The Roberts Squad wll be selected from the October trials.

Friend of the club Liam Webster also qualified for the trials, but missed selection from his squad after a difficult shoot at 100yards.

England selection and Silver medal for Olivia at British 50Metre Championships

30 June 202430 June 2024 by RichHin Competitions

Olivia Beech was selected to represent England in the Home Countries match on Saturday at the British 50Metre Rifle Championships. Shooting on the difficult Malcolm Cooper Range at the NSRA Lord Roberts Centre in Surrey, Olivia scored 555/600, placing her fourth overall and between team mates Wes Cann on 565 and Lloyd Collins-Page on 532. In a tight-fought match England placed second with 1652/1800, just three points behind Wales on 1655.

Having comfortably qualified for the final, she held her nerve to win Silver, making her top female competitor.

Richard defends Welsh title in Tondu

25 June 202430 June 2024 by RichHin Competitions

Rugeley shooter Richard Hemingway defended his 2023 title at the Welsh 50M Championship this weekend. Shooting at Tondu Target Shooting Club near Bridgend, Rich again saw off strong competition from GB & Commonwealth shooters.

Qualifying at the top of the table on Saturday in good conditions with a robust 618.9, Sunday saw a drizzly, flat outlook and steady start for Richard, but outdone by the stronge start of Sian Corish. A blustery middle section saw Richard close the gap, and he held his nerve in the last 15 shots to overtake Sian and retain his Welsh Championship title with a score of 617.5. Sian Corish was runner up on 615.0, and Liam Webster – formerly of Rugeley and friend of the club – narrowly placed third with 614.1.

Full Results

Richard finishes second in Torfaen Open

7 April 20247 April 2024 by RichHin Competitions

Rugeley shooter Richard Hemingway won his squad, and finished second in X-Class this weekend at the Torfaen Open Championship.

Contested at Long Ashton District Rifle Club near Bristol, the match is a 60-shot course of fire on Megalink electronic targets. Shooting on the second squad of the day, Richard’s score of 616.2 bested top shooters including Simon Green. Overall, he was left behind Alan Bain, who had managed an excellent 621.0 on the first detail.

A group of floor shooters lie prone on the floor of an indoor firing point, aiming out through square holes in the wall at targets on the outdoor range. They wear canvas and leather jackets for support, some in bright colours. Monitors show the score from the electronic target system.

A monitor shows a blank target from an electronic scoring system. Through a hole in the wall, the bank of targets are visible fifty metres away on the outdoor range. Two range officers are just visible inspecting the targets before the next detail starts.

Medals from British Open Airgun Championships

26 February 202427 February 2024 by RichHin Competitions

Rugeley shooters claimed a pair of medals at the NSRA British Open Airgun Championships this weekend. For the Open Championship, athletes shoot an Olympic course – a 60-shot qualification match, with the top-8 progressing to a final. Competitors also shoot a seocnd qualification course which is aggregated with their first score for the Class Aggregate,

Shooting in the Women’s Air Rifle, Megan Bamsey placed fourth in qualification, improving in the final to take the bronze medal – her first senior medal. In her second match for the Aggregate, Megan set a new PB of 616.4.

In the Men’s Air Pistol, Paul Watkiss narrowly missed a spot in the final, finishing 9th. He collected a consolation prize with an excellent second shoot to take silver in the A-Class aggregate.

In the Junior Women’s Air Rifle, Olivia Beech qualified for her final in third place, and also improved to win the silver medal. Izzy Ward finished 13th in the same event.

Pippa Watterson finished 10th in the Junior Women’s Air Pistol, and Abbigael Beech placed 20th in the Sporter Air Rifle.

A row of computer monitors on a bench at the firing point of a 10metre airgun range — Megan Bamsey (right) wins bronze – Women’s Air Rifle

Three smiling women stand on a podium. The athlete in the centre holds a trophy. — Megan Bamsey (right) wins bronze – Women’s Air Rifle

Gold for Abbigael at Schools Air Championship

9 February 202411 February 2024 by RichHin Competitions1 Comment

Rugeley member Abbigael Beech took Gold at the British Shooting Schools Rifle & Pistol Championships this week, winning the Junior 6yd Air Rifle event. The 6yd event is shot with “Sporter” air rifles which are lighter than full precision air rifles, and does not allow special shooting jackets or trousers.

The Championships took place over the 6th and 7th of February at Cannock Leisure Centre, and were supported by volunteers from Rugeley Rifle Club.

A sports hall built of red brick is configured for target shooting. Electronic targets for air rifles and air pistols are visible in the background. In the foreground, a blue banner identifies the event as the British Shooting Schools Rifle and Pistol Championships.

Young people shoot air pistols during a practice session at the British Shooting Schools Rifle & Pistol Championships. The range is located in a brick sports hall set up for the event. Electronic targets are visible in the background with monitors on tables at the firing point.

Final for Paul at British Shooting Air Series

7 February 20247 February 2024 by RichHin Competitions

Paul Watkiss had a stand-up weekend, finishing fourth in the open Air Pistol event at the third installment of British Shooting’s Air Series at Aldersley, near Wolverhampton.

Shooting on Saturday, Paul managed 561, topping Relay 2. On Sunday morning he improved on that with a 562 in Relay 4. Both these scores were good enough to qualify Paul for the 8-athlete final. Starting with a wobble he placed 6th after the first string. Regrouping however, he climbed to fifth after the second string and fourth after his 12th shot. Further steady shooting saw him climb in to bronze medal position, but a robust response from Charlotte Hicks over her last four shots saw her climb past Paul and Ayush Chauhan into silver medal position, pushing Ayush in Bronze and Paul just out the medals.

In the Air Rifle, Bill Clark, Izzy Ward and Nathan Clark all put in strong performances. Bill managed third and 5th in his two relays, Izzy placed 5th and 3rd, whilst Nathan placed 6th in his relay. Their best results put Bill 13th overall, Izzy 15th and Nathan 19th. Congratulations to all.

A man aims a target air pistol with his right arm. He is wearing a blue t-shirt with "Rugeley Rifle Club" printed on the back. — Paul Watkiss on aim in the Air Pistol Final at the British Shooting Air Series.

Paul takes Gold in Bedford

15 January 202422 January 2024 by RichHin Competitions

Congratulations to Rugeley Rifle Club member Paul Watkiss who won the Air Pistol event at the Bedfordshire Open Airgun Meeting!

Shooting in the 10m Air Pistol event, Paul scored 554/600 to win the Open. On his second detail he improved with 556, which together earned him the A-class aggregate.

British Shooting Finals for Rugeley Pair

4 December 20235 December 2023 by RichHin Competitions

Paul Watkiss and Izzy Ward were in action representing Rugeley at the second round of the British Shooting Air Series this weekend.

Athletes fire target air pistols in an Olympic Final style match at the Aldersley Leisure Village

Shooting two relays – one on Saturday and another on Sunday – the better score is used to qualify athletes for an Olympic Final on Sunday.

Shooting Air Pistol, Paul placed third on his Saturday relay, with 560, and managed a consistent 559 on Sunday, finishing second in that relay.

In the final he was eliminated in sixth place, missing fifth by just a point.

On the Air Rifle squads, Izzy placed 5th on Saturday with a massive new Personal Best of 591.3. She placed 9th on her Sunday relay with 580.6.

Full results at British Shooting

Rugeley shooters represent at Welsh Airgun Championships

9 November 202327 March 2024 by RichHin Competitions

Shooters from Rugeley Rifle Club collected medals in Cardiff this weekend at the Welsh Airgun Championships. Held at the Sport Wales centre in Sophia Gardens, the meeting rolls in three days of shooting with three matches. Competitors participate in the Cardiff Grand Prix; an AirOShoot qualification match (in which top scorers can qualify for the Super Final in Belgium) and finish with the Welsh Open Championship.

Shooting Air Pistol, Pavelas Voitiukevicius placed 2nd in the Cardiff GP on Friday, before placing 3rd in the AirOShoot qualification match on Saturday – climbing in the final to win silver. On Sunday, he qualified for the final in the Welsh Open Championship match, narrowly missing a medal to place 4th.

Paul Watkiss placed eighth in the Cardiff GP and qualified for the Bronze medal match in the Mixed Pairs, where he finished 4th with randomly-allocated partner Ina Gulowsen Knudsen. Paul finished 12th in the AiroShoot match and 17th in the Welsh Championship.

Kiril Voitiukevicius placed 5th in the Cardiff GP, and qualified for the final of the AirOShoot match, finishing 7th. He placed 23rd in the Championship.

On Air Rifle, Zoe Perkin placed 12th in the Cardiff GP and 10th in the AirOShoot match, finishing 25th in the Championship.

Megan Bamsey claimed silver in her AirOShoot and Cardiff GP matches, whilst Mike Bamsey placed fourth in the Cardiff GP and won silver in the Welsh Championship.