Ryan Cockbill has won gold in the R4 Mixed 10M Air Rifle SH2 event at the World Shooting ParaSport World Cup in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi. Qualifying third with a score of 630.6, Ryan led the final from the start, setting a 0.8 point lead in the first string and maintaining a half point over his competitors throughout.
Ayesha Almehairi of the United Arab Emirates won silver and Michael Johnson of New Zealand took bronze.
Fellow Brit Josh Wintersgill ranked 13th in the field of 35, missing out on the 8-athlete final.
Ryan’s medal tops off a successful year. In August he won three medals at the WSPS World Cup in Novi Sad, Serbia.
At the British Shooting Awards 2024 this weekend, Rugeley Rifle Club was honoured with the Target Change Award, presented to organisations that have made a significant contribution to public engagement and/or public perception of the sport.
Club Secretary Lee Featherstone accepted the award on behalf of the club and its volunteers, accompanied by Club Captain Richard Hemingway; Property Manager Graham Delaney and Treasurer Craig Dower – who is also GB Head Coach (Rifle & Pistol). The Award further recognises the community work done by the club over the past 10 years, which was highlighted when the club received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service in November 2024. The King’s Award will be formally presented at the club’s annual prizegiving on March 28th by the Lord Lieutenant for Staffordshire, Sir Ian Dudson KCVO CBE.
Over the past 10 years the club has worked with the Staffordshire Council of Voluntary Youth Services and Vysions Youth Service of Brereton, providing summer camps for local young people in association with Burntwood Target Sprint. Participants have completed volunteer work at the club including a mural on the outside of the range, and in return learned to shoot Olympic Air Rifle and Air Pistol. Since 2021, more than 900 young people have learned to shoot safely through the club’s community outreach activities.
In 2019, the club fundraised for a Public Access Defibrillator, which saw the adoption of Rugeley and District Community First Responders as a supported charity and the more recent installation of an emergency Bleed Control Kit.
In 2022, the Club supported British Shooting in bringing the National Finals of the Schools Pistol and Rifle Championships to Cannock Leisure Centre, with Rugeley members volunteering as Range Officers and match administration during the competition. British Shooting have returned to Cannock every year since.
Club Captain Richard Hemingway said “To receive such a prestigious award, whilst surrounded by Olympic and Paralympic Champions is a real honour, and a well deserved recognition of the hard work put in by all the club’s volunteers over the past few years.“
During all this time, the club has enjoyed hosting guest nights for diverse local community groups, running an air rifle range at Brereton Carnival and serving as a venue for local groups including Viking re-enactors and West Midlands 4×4 response.
The Awards were held on Saturday 18th January 2025 at the Imperial War Museum (IWM North) in Trafford.
The British Shooting Awards 2024 were held at the Imperial War Museum North in Trafford.Club Secretary Lee Featherstone accepts the Target Change AwardSome of the 900 new shooters who have passed since through the club since 2021Young Guns 2024
Rugeley shooters have been in action at the regional heats of the British Shooting Schools Championship. On the 20th November, Abbi and Pippa competed at Ellesmere College in the West Midlands Pistol Regionals.
Qualifying fifth, Abbi shot a strong final to picking up bronze in the Junior class, whilst Pippa climbed from third place in qualification to win Silver in the Intermediates.
A few days later, Abbi was in action again at the NSRA’s West Midlands Regional Centre at Aldersley, shooting in the West Midlands Rifle Regionals, where she took a decisive win in the Junior 10M Sporter Rifle class!
Abbi and Pippa will both be finding themselves busy at the National Finals at Chase Leisure Centre in February!
Abbi takes Junior Bronze and Pippa takes Intermediate Silver in the 10M Air Pistol Regionals at Ellesmere CollegeAbbi takes Junior Gold in the 10M Sporter Air Rifle Regionals at Aldersley
With great pleasure and excitement, the Committee can announce that Rugeley Rifle Club has been honoured with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service. Gazetted this morning, the King’s Award is the highest honour a voluntary group can receive in the UK, equivalent to an MBE. Rugeley is the first shooting sports club to ever receive this award.
Volunteering is at our heart
This award is a testament to all our volunteers, including the property team, coaches and administrators; but in particular recognises the work the club has done outside it’s own membership and the positive impact it has had on the wider local community. Over the past 10 years the club has worked with the Staffordshire Council of Voluntary Youth Services and Vysions Youth Service of Brereton, providing summer camps for local young people in association with Burntwood Target Sprint. Participants have completed volunteer work at the club including a mural on the outside of the range, and in return learned to shoot Olympic Air Rifle and Air Pistol.
Defibrillator unveiled 2019Vysions paint a mural at RugeleyYoung volunteers enjoy learning air pistol
Rugeley volunteers support British Shooting Schools Championship
Alongside these major events, the club has enjoyed hosting guest nights for diverse community groups, running an air rifle range at Brereton Carnival and serving as a venue for local groups including Viking re-enactors and 4×4 response.
Sporting Achievements
In competition, the club’s Air Rifle A-Team won Division 1 of the National League three consecutive years from 2018-2020, and again in 2022. Members have represented England, Wales and Great Britain, with recent sporting highlights including:
Rugeley Rifle Club is just one of 262 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The work of these organisations reminds us of all the ways fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them.
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to benefit their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and, following his accession, His Majesty The King emphasised his desire to continue the Award.
Representatives from the club will receive the award crystal and certificate from Ian Dudson, Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire later this year. In addition, two volunteers from Rugeley Rifle Club will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in summer 2025, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.
Club Chairman Martyn Buttery said: “To be nominated for such a prestigious award as The Kings Award for Voluntary Service is an honour in itself but to actually win is such an incredible achievement. It goes to show what can be done and achieved with a positive attitude.“
Club President Olivia Lyons said: “I am was absolutely delighted to hear that Rugeley Rifle Club had been awarded a King’s Award, it is a real testament to the Club’s Committee and the volunteers who work tirelessly to make it such a success. The Club is a real asset and hive of activity within our local community, supporting a number of local voluntary groups, hosting youth programs and nurturing the talent of the many Club members. The award is such a fantastic achievement, which will be shared and celebrated with our whole community.”
Whilst all eyes were on GB’s shooters at the Paris Olympics, Rugeley Rifle Club member Olivia Beech has been representing Great Britain at the Nordic Championships in Denmark.
Shooting in the Mixed Team and Women’s 50Metre Three Position rifle events, Olivia placed 18th individually, and 16th in the Mixed Pairs with teammate Louis Norman.
The Nordic Championships were first run in 1922 with the aim of providing Nordic target shooters with the best preparation for competing at the World Championships and Olympic Games. Great Britain applied to join the Nordic Shooting Region in 1971, receiving approval in 1973. With the launch of the UIT (ISSF) World Cup series as a means to distribute Olympic Quota Places, the significance of the Nordic Championships declined through the 1980s as the World Cups took precedence for top shooter’s competition calendars and financial resources. In 1992 it was agreed to refocus the event as a biennial Junior Championship to prepare development athletes for the senior World Cup series with seniors only included sporadically.
Olivia trains in kneeling position.
Credit: Shannon Davies
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.
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.
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.
Paul Watkiss on aim in the Air Pistol Final at the British Shooting Air Series.
Congratulations to Rugeley shooter Olivia Beech, who claimed a Bronze medal at the July leg of British Shooting’s 50M Series on Sunday. The series – new for 2023 – is being held at the West Midlands Regional Shooting Centre at Aldersley, near Wolverhampton.
After a hard fought qualification round, six athletes qualified into an adapted Final, which allowed Para-athletes to compete alongside the able-bodied competitors on an equal footing. Olivia eventually placed third, behind silver medallist Wesley Cann and gold medallist Beth Edwards.
Wes Cann, Beth Edwards & Olivia Beech celebrate their medals Photo courtesy:British Shooting3-Position Final underway Photo:British ShootingOlivia training Photo courtesy: Shannon Davies
