General News
Sporting Rifle at the 150th Imperial Meeting
2019 is not just a special year because of the 150th Imperial Meeting, it is also a special year for Sporting Rifle shooters. With 1,079 of the current 9,202 NRA members being Sporting Rifle discipline members I am very pleased to announce five new competitions that have been introduced to the Imperial this year just for them:
- The Fox Test
- The Running Deer
- The Running Boar
- The Stalkers Test
- The Swedish Deer
These will all be held over the first weekend of the Meeting, 13 and 14 July, on the ‘Running Deer’ ranges next to Melville. Entry forms can be found on the NRA website and full details of the rules and courses of fire are on pages 304 – 306 of the 2019 NRA Bible. Please come and support these, even if you’re not a Sporting Rifle discipline member, they’re open to all members and if popular will hopefully become a regular feature of the Imperial.
As well as these exciting new competitions there will also be old favourites in the form of the British Running Deer Championships and Running Deer Unlimiteds as well as the Sporting McQueen. Details of which can be found in the 2019 Bible on pages 303 and 237 respectively.
Steve Wallis – Sporting Rifle Discipline Representative
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Competitions
CSR & Historic SR Matches – Feb 2024
Historic Service Rifle Match: Saturday 3rd February
Calling all Lee Enfield enthusiasts – entries are now open!
Our Historic Service Rifle match on Saturday 3rd February is dedicated to Historic Rifles, we thank the HBSA and LERA who have been involved in the development of this Event
This event is open to British pre-1955 Service Rifles under the Service Rifle (a) definition in three classes. In addition there is an All Comers Class for all Foreign Service Rifles:
– Classic: Pre-1919 SMLEs
– Veteran: Pre-1955 No 4s/No 5s
– Veteran Optic: Pre-1955 No 4T
– All Comers Iron: Pre-1972 Foreign Service Rifles
The Course of Fire is based on military practices at 100, 200 and 300 yards, shooting from standing, kneeling, sitting and prone with no run downs!
For more information and to enter please visit: online.nra.org.uk/historic-sr-feb24
CSR Winter League: Sunday 4th February
The fifth Round of the 2023/24 CSR Winter League is made up of the following events:
08:30-15:30 Short Range Match
08:30-15:30 Urban Match
You can take part in one of our 4 classes:
- Historic Enfield
- Any Iron
- Service Optic
- Practical Optic
Classifications: Within each firearm class shooters will be divided into classification groups based on their highest League total in the last 3 season – New shooters will be placed in the lowest class.
For more information and to book your place please visit:
online.nra.org.uk/csr-league-feb24
Competitions
Historic Service Rifle Match – Saturday 6th October
Places are still available for the Historic Service Rifle Meeting, taking place in the afternoon of Saturday 6th October.
The match is open to 4 categories of service rifles:
- Classic (SMLEs)
- Veteran (No 4s/ No 5s)
- Veteran Optic (No 4T)
- All Comers Iron (Foreign Service Rifle)
Six different practices will be shot, at distances ranging from 100-300 yards.
This meeting offers a great lead up to the start of the new Civ SR League Season, and the Armistice Centenary Commemoration Match.
The first round of the league 2018-19 Civ SR League is shot on the following day (Sunday 7th October), consisting of three matches: Short Range Rural, Urban and Whitehead Matches.
The Armistice Centenary Match on Saturday 10th November promises to be both a reflective and enjoyable day of commemoration. Spaces are limited, but spectators are also welcome to enjoy the atmosphere.
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General News
Vickers Machine Gun Demonstration
This year is the centenary of the disbandment of the Machine Gun Corps (MGC). To commemorate this important anniversary, the NRA will host a demonstration of Vickers MG on Sunday 3 July on Century Range, from 4pm. Members and guests are welcome to attend.
The MGC played a pivotal role in the First World War, delivering battle winning innovation to the development and employment of automatic firepower and early efforts to mechanise the British Army. It also paid a very heavy price in terms of causalities, which earnt it the name the Suicide Club. For these reasons it is fitting to commemorate the MGC.
The commemoration is being led by the Vickers Machinegun Collection and Research Association (VMGCRA). Gun crews will be wearing period uniform for each era, and there will be a commentary. It is planned that the live fire demonstration will include a Company’s worth of Vickers MGs – up to 16 MGs – firing at 200 yds on Century, allowing as many people as possible to view.
This event is FREE to attend. Any visitors to Bisley are to follow signs to the Corral Car Park on the left hand side of Century range. We encourage all visitors to bring ear protection if possible, there will be some available at the event also.
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General News
Lt. Col. Rex Goddard MBE
It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Rex Goddard on 15 February 2022 at the age of 102, surrounded by his family.
Lt. Col. Rex Goddard was one of the great figures of cadet shooting recognised and known by generations at Bisley and in Canada. He led a long and remarkable life, living at home independently until very recently and even driving well into his late 90s.
After military service during the 2nd World War Rex joined the staff of Epsom College in 1948 and – amongst his many duties – was Officer Commanding the school Combined Cadet Force Contingent and Master in Charge of the school Rifle Team, winning the Ashburton in 1973. He remained at Epsom until his retirement in 1980.
Rex’s involvement with Epsom shooting led to his invitation to be Commandant of the 1962 British Cadet Rifle Team (The Athelings) and also to join the Committee of the Imperial Cadet Association. This Committee subsequently merged with others to form the Council for Cadet Rifle Shooting in 1969. Rex was invited to take over as Athelings’ Organiser in 1970 and remained in that role until 1995. This long involvement with the Athelings and their Canadian equivalent – the Royal Canadian Army Cadet National Rifle Team – is permanently reflected in the Rex Goddard match which the teams compete for annually. Rex and his wife, Jill, regularly visited Canada to support the Athelings, and he was particularly pleased to travel in 2010 to mark the 100th anniversary of the exchange. Rex was also Chairman of the Council for Cadet Rifle Shooting from 1978 until 1990 and remained interested in all CCRS matters well into his 102nd year.
There will be a small family funeral with a memorial service at Epsom College to follow later in the year.
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General News
Cadet Shooting Centenarian
Lieutenant Colonel Rex Goddard will celebrate his 100th birthday on 6 November 2019 and also a lifetime of involvement with cadet shooting.
After military service during the 2nd World War Rex joined the staff of Epsom College in 1948 and – amongst his many duties – was Officer Commanding the school Combined Cadet Force Contingent and Master in Charge of the school Rifle Club. He remained at Epsom until his retirement in 1980.
Rex’s involvement with Epsom shooting led to his invitation to be Commandant of the 1962 British Cadet Rifle Team (The Athelings) and also to join the Committee of the Imperial Cadet Association. This Committee subsequently merged with others to form the Council for Cadet Rifle Shooting in 1969.
Rex was invited to take over as Athelings’ Organiser in 1970 and remained in that role until 1994. This long involvement with the Athelings and their Canadian equivalent – the Royal Canadian Army Cadet National Rifle Team – is permanently reflected in the Rex Goddard match which the teams compete for annually. Rex was also Chairman of the Council for Cadet Rifle Shooting from 1978 until 1990.
Chairman of the Council for Cadet Rifle Shooting and all members send their warmest best wishes to Rex as he celebrates his birthday and thank him for his immense contribution to cadet shooting.
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