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 and Izzy Ward were in action representing Rugeley at the second round of the British Shooting Air Series this weekend.
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
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.
Congratulations to Rugeley member Megan Bamsey, who earned national honours when she was selected to represent Great Britain at the 2023 ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany. The team of five competed across Air Rifle and Air Pistol disciplines. Megan placed 91st in the Women’s Air Rifle, between teammates Rhona Love and Seren Thorne. In the Mixed Pairs, Megan placed 35th with Bertie Galloway.
Members of Rugeley Rifle Club were on hand to assist with British Shooting’s 2023 Schools Championship. Held over two days at Chase Leisure Centre in Cannock, 159 air pistol shooters and 107 air rifle shooters competed across Junior, Intermediate and Senior classes after qualifying through regional shoots around the UK. Congratulations to all the participants and medallists on a fantastic two days of competition.
The event was sponsored by Steyr Sport and Hill Pumps. A number of world class and Paralympic athletes on hand to award medals and inspire the next generation of target shooters. More photos at British Shooting’s Facebook Page.
Rugeley members supported the finals of British Shooting’s Schools Championship this week, volunteers acting as helpers and Range Officers. The Championship Finals came to Chase Leisure Centre in Cannock with nearly three hundred young athletes competing in the Air Pistol and Rifle Finals over Tuesday and Wednesday. Local schools came for trial shoots on Thursday with Rugeley providing instructors and coaches.
The competitors, aged 11-18, hailed from 140 schools up and down the country and Gorgs Geikie, the founder and manager of the Schools Championships who was the last pistol shooter to have competed at an Olympics at London 2012 said the enthusiasm and talent proves the event and the sport has a bright future ahead.
Chris Derbyshire, Managing Director at Inspiring healthy lifestyles, the not-for-profit charitable leisure trust which runs Chase Leisure Centre, said: “It was a privilege for Inspiring healthy lifestyles to be able to host the event at Chase Leisure Centre.
“I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the competition days and it was inspiring to see such talented young people from across the country competing as well as children from local schools giving it a go.
“I’d like to thank Cannock Chase Council for their support and look forward to working with British Shooting again in the future to ensure that the event is even bigger and better next time.”
Speaking after the Rifle competition, Gold Coast Commonwealth Games silver medalist, Dean Bale, said: “It’s been great. To see so many young athletes coming through in this grassroots environment is incredible, and I’ve been blown away by the number of participants today.
“When I was younger I was only really exposed to target shooting through the scouts so to see schools now getting involved and offering a new route into shooting is exciting to see.
“There’s a whole range of ages and when we’ve got to the finals of each category the competition has been very close – it’s very tense and great to watch!
“I think the Championships is going to help bring more shooters in at grassroots level to feed up through the Talent Pathway and eventually into the World Class Programme.”
Rugeley Rifle Club is proud to support Cannock Chase DC and British Shooting in bringing the National Finals of the British Shooting Schools Pistol and Rifle Championships to Chase Leisure Centre in February 2022.
Gorgs Geikie, London 2012 Olympian and manager of the Schools Championships said “British Shooting are thrilled to bring the National Final to Cannock, the true heart of the country. Athletes and school teams from all over the country will descend to Chase Leisure Centre to tussle to become National Champions of today and potential Olympians and Paralympians of the future.
