Bisley 2009 This year’s trip to NRA Bisley was a very worthwhile and enjoyable experience for the shooting team. Twelve shooters, including five “first-timers”, were accompanied by Capt Gilmour and WO2 Duff to the prestigious School’s Week where they took part in many competitions during the first three days before Ashburton Day, the highlight of the year for cadet full-bore shooters. The team shot very successfully, achieving scores considerably higher than in recent years and frequently making their way onto the leader boards of several competitions. Particular mention should here go to the younger shooters who on several occasions outperformed the shooting team veterans! On the Tuesday evening the team experienced the alternative discipline of Clay Pigeon Shooting. This provided an enjoyable respite from the regular fullbore target shooting upon which the week was based. Emily Dow achieved an impressive result of nine clays out of ten. On the Wednesday evening we also left the camp altogether to go to the premiere of the new Harry Potter movie in Woking, a gesture which was not lost on any of us!
While everybody in the team exceeded expectations in their shooting, particular credit should go to three cadets. Catherine Reid achieved the highest single score in the team of the week, attaining 34 with 2 V-bulls and Scott Gilmour achieved the highest aggregate score over the whole week. Iona Brodie was selected to shoot the Spenser Mellish. This is the final competition of the week and one in which the shooter has to fire without help from any outside coach – not an easy task at the best of times and far harder when everyone is watching you. Well done to Iona for scoring 44 out of a possible 50 and including 2 V-bulls too! During Ashburton Day the team of eight were second in the London Scottish Challenge, each winning a bronze medal, while the team of four were third in the Open Four, each winning an engraved spoon. Several engraved spoons were earned in competitions throughout the week. Badges were awarded to 5 who achieved Marksman level, and a further 6 who achieved either skilled Shot or rilfeman – all in all a very fine result.
All this could not have happened without the dedication and expertise of our coach, Allan Mabon, whose direction throughout the whole of the full-bore season made all of this possible We were delighted to welcome the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr Gordon Jack, who gave up his valuable time to support us on Ashburton Day and also to attend the annual Bisley Dinner. This year the London Branch of the Aademicals took us out for the evening to the Surrey Club, one of the famous Bisley Shooting clubs and we are indebted to them for this treat which we all look forward to on the last evening before the long journey home. A grand farewell should be said to the retiring captain, James Robertson, and the retiring vice captain, Iona Brodie who both proved themselves more than capable of handling the responsibility this year and who will be missed by all in the team. The captain for the year 2009-2010 will be Scott Gilmour and the vice captains will be Catherine Reid and Scott Smylie. I am sure that all three will take their duties in their stride – whilst also enjoying their time on the ranges. E A Gilmour
Chronicle
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