Congratulations to Rugeley Rifle Club Chairman Martyn Buttery, who has been appointed Adjutant for the GB Dewar Team in 2025 and 2026. The Adjutant is an assistant to the Team Captain, and typically takes on the Captaincy following their term as Adjutant.
Category: Club News
Rugeley dominate County Championships
Rugeley Rifle Club repeated its 2023 success at the Staffordshire Smallbore Rifle Association’s Championships, held at Baldwin’s Gate near Keele.
Richard Hemingway again led the charge, retaining his title as Staffordshire Long Range Champion, winning A-Class in the process. He also won the County 50Metre Championship.
Dave Glover won B-Class, was highest scoring Veteran and also earned the NSRA County Silver Medal – awarded to the highest scorer who hasn’t won it before.
Graham Delaney won C-Class and the R.W. De Nicolas Memorial Trophy for the top C, D or Junior shooter. Graham won D-Class last year. Vic Tyne was runner-up in C-Class and Helen Robinson placed sixth.
Paul Watkiss won D-Class.
Bleed Kit Unveiled
As part of Rugeley Rifle Club’s ongoing partnership with Rugeley and District Community First Responders, the club was delighted to have Club President Cllr Olivia Lyons unveil the new Emergency Bleed Control Kit mounted on the exterior of the club.
Available to the general public in an emergency, it is located next to the defibrillator, installed in 2019.
Ryan selected for Paralympics
Congratulations to Rugeley member Ryan Cockbill who has been selected to represent TeamGB at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
Ryan’s Paralympic debut came in 2012, shooting in the R4 and R5 air rifle events. In Tokyo he qualified for the final in the R9 Mixed 50m Air Rifle, finishing eighth.
At the 2022 World Para Sport Shooting Championships he won a Bronze medal in the R4 Mixed 10m Air Rifle event.
Best of luck to Ryan!
Funeral Arrangements for Tom Glover
Tom Glover‘s funeral will be held at 2.30pm on Tuesday 4th June at Cannock Chase Crematorium, Norton Road, Heath Hayes, WS12 3HJ.
A wake will be held afterwards at Hednesford Town FC, Keys Park.
The family have requested no flowers, but any donations received will be passed on to causes at County Hospital Stafford.
Tom Glover
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of our Club President, Mr Tom Glover.
Tom joined Rugeley Rifle Club in 1977 when he brought his young son Dave along to learn to shoot. In that time he has served various roles on the committee and his service to the club over almost 50 years is truly admired and respected.
Tom has been one of the most generous people the club has had as a member, time is the most precious commodity we have and Tom always gave his time to members willingly and without hesitation.
He leaves behind his wife Beryl, son Dave, two grandsons and three great grandchildren and will be surely missed.
To quote Tom “Thanks for coming”.
Tom’s funeral will be held at 2.30pm on Tuesday 4th June at Cannock Chase Crematorium, Norton Road, Heath Hayes, WS12 3HJ. Full details.
Rugeley members support British Shooting Target Sprint Series
Rugeley Rifle Club members supported the West Midlands leg of British Shooting’s Target Sprint Series today. Martyn, Mick and Michelle were on hand as stewards and range officers. The event took place on the outdoor ranges at the NSRA’s Aldersley Shooting Centre at the Aldersley Leisure Village.
Rugeley have been a huge supporter of British Shooting events in the Midlands, with members also volunteering at the British Schools Championship Finals.
Special award at Club Prizegiving
Rugeley Rifle Club celebrated the past year’s achievements at their annual prize-giving on Friday night, with trophies presented by Councillor Sarah Elsom DL. The highlight of the evening was the surprise presentation of the NSRA Silver Award to Club Chairman Martyn Buttery. Martyn has long served on committee roles in the Club, as well as sitting on the Rifle Committee at the NSRA. He was instrumental in bringing the British Shooting School’s Shooting Championship Finals to Chase Leisure Centre – an event which has relied heavily on volunteers from Rugeley serving as range staff. In addition to prizes and trophies for shooting achievements, a number of discretionary awards were made. Megan Bamsey won the Captain’s Prize for achievements over the past year, including selection to represent GB at the 2023 ISSF Junior World Cup, and the Secretary’s Award to Russell Barlow for his outstanding support instructing and coaching within the club.
A £500 cheque was also presented to Rugeley and District Community First Responders, one of the club’s chosen charities. RADCFR maintain the defibrillator hosted on the outside of the club. This lifesaving piece of equipment was installed in 2019. Since then it has been activated six times, and used at least twice.
Trophies
- Short Range Champion – Richard Hemingway
- 50metre Frostbite Champion (Winter) – Martyn Buttery
- 50M/ISSF Champion – Richard Hemingway
- Dewar Champion – Craig Dower
- 10M Air Pistol Champion – Paul Watkiss
- 10M Air Rifle Champion – Ryan Williams
- Benchrest Champion – Paul Watkiss
- “Through the Ranges” Champion – Zoltan Papp
- “Through the Ranges” Runner-Up – Dave Glover
- “Through the Ranges” Handicap Champion – Lee Featherstone
Awards
- Junior Short Range Trophy – George Robinson
- Junior Long Range Trophy – Alex Buttery
- Best Potential (Junior) – Izzy Clark
- Best Potential (Senior) – John Passey
- Best Improver – Lee Featherstone
- Secretary’s Award – Russell Barlow
Captain’s Award Nominees
Megan Bamsey (Winner)
- Represented GB at 2023 ISSF Junior World Cup
- 2024 British Open Air Gun Championships – Bronze, Senior Women’s Air Rifle
- 2023/24 British Shooting Air Series Grand Finalist
- 2023 Welsh Air Gun Championships – Silver, Junior Women’s Air Rifle
Richard Hemingway
- 2023 Finalist – Earl Roberts (British Prone) Championship
- Represented Wales – 2023 Bisley Home Nations Match
- 2023 Welsh 50Metre Champion
- 2023 Staffordshire County Long Range Champion
Pavelas Voitiukevicius
Kiral Voitiukevicius
Zoe Perkin
- Fifth in final of NISC Open
Pippa Watterson
- Finalist, British Shooting Schools Championship
- Fourth in final of NISC Open, won Class C
Rugeley members support British Schools Championship 2024
Rugeley members were out in force again at British Shooting’s Schools Rifle & Pistol Championship. With the finals held again at Cannock Leisure Centre.
Manning the registration desk, and serving as range officers, the team were visible across both days of the Championships. Rugeley member Abbigael Beech won the Junior 6yd Air Rifle event.
Enjoy a Warm Space at Rugeley Rifle Club
Rugeley Rifle Club is pleased to extend its trial of Warm Spaces on Sundays from 11am-4pm for over-65s.
Call in for a hot drink, a social atmosphere, food served by Vysions Youth Volunteering and a social atmosphere, plus the opportunity to try Benchrest shooting!
The club is open every Sunday from now until April, including December 24th!
