Category: Club News

Rugeley receives British Shooting Target Change Award

by RichHin Club News

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.

A room is lit by purple light, filled with people eating at circular tables. A projection on the wall reads "British Shooting Awards 2024".
The British Shooting Awards 2024 were held at the Imperial War Museum North in Trafford.
Two men speak behind a podium on a stage as one accepts an award. Above the stage a projection reads "Target Change Award" and "Rugeley Rifle Club"
Club Secretary Lee Featherstone accepts the Target Change Award
A group of four youth volunteers pose with rifle targets on an indoor shooting range
Some of the 900 new shooters who have passed since through the club since 2021
A group of young shooters stand in a clubroom with medals and prizes at the conclusion of a competition.
Young Guns 2024

Ed takes on champions at Benchrest Nationals

by RichHin Club News, Competitions

Ed Vickers attended the Benchrest UK National Open at Portishead Shooting Club in Somerset this weekend, where he faced off against some of the UK’s top Benchrest shooters, including Trevor Eling – who recently ran a workshop at Rugeley. Shooting at 50metres, the matches were shot to International WRABF rather than NSRA rules, allowing the use of a rear rest under the butt of the rifle, in addition to the front rest.

In the “Light” Air Rifle (<10.5lb) event on Saturday, Ed fought tricky conditions to finish 38th of 40. On Sunday, Ed rallied in the “Heavy” Air Rifle (<15lb) to place 14th/35, edging Trevor into 15th place by three points!

Letter from the Lord Lieutenant

by RichHin Club News

Thankyou to Ian Dudson CBE, Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire for his kind words on the announcement of the club’s receipt of the King’s Award for Voluntary Service. We very much look forward to the formal presentation with the Lord Lieutenant in the New Year.

Royal Honours for Rugeley Rifle Club

by RichHin Club News

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 2019
Vysions paint a mural at Rugeley
A group of four youth volunteers pose with air pistol targets on an indoor shooting range
Young volunteers enjoy learning air pistol

In 2019, the club fundraised for a Public Access Defibrillator, which saw the adoption of Rugeley and District Community First Responders (RADCFR) as a supported charity and the more recent installation of an emergency Bleed Control Kit. RADCFR themselves were honoured with the Queen’s Award in 2018.

British Schools Championship Finals

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 supporting match administration during the competition. British Shooting have returned to Cannock every year since. The Club has also supported the BS Target Sprint Series, the West Midlands leg being hosted at Burntwood Target Sprint.

A group of adults stand in hi-vis jackets at the British Shooting Schools Rifle & Pistol Championships. They are volunteers from a local shooting club helping to run the event.
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:

A medal for the Great Britain Shooting Team with two date bars inscribed for 2018 and 2014. Next to it is an embroidered blazer badge with the word's "Great Britain" and "Dewar".
A young woman aims an air rifle in competition.
A team of smiling junior athletes stand in a group with a Union Flag in front of them at the Nordic Championships.

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.”

Press Release

Media Kit

Champion shooter delivers masterclass to Rugeley benchresters

by RichHin Club News

by John Passey

On Saturday 9th November Rugeley Rifle Club held its first ever 1-day Benchrest Workshop, presented by Trevor Eling from Driffield Rifle Club in East Yorkshire.

Trevor is a renowned International Benchrest shooter and has this year, successfully, competed for the UK BR teams in both Spain and Germany.

Trevor has been shooting BR since 2010 and has represented the UK BR teams over the last 14 years in the Czech Republic; Australia; South Africa and the USA.

The Workshop was attended by 9 of our Club members, with the youngest being 12 and the most senior member being in their mid 70’s. 

The content, of the day, was designed by Trevor and he provided each participant with a welcome pack.  This pack was filled with a variety of interesting and useful information, which included target samples. He clearly, presented an excellent balance of theory and practical information in a relaxed and comfortable manner.

Areas which he covered included:

● Benchrest Equipment 

● Shooting Process

● Outdoor shooting 

● National & International Shooting Federations

Following on from the Equipment and Shooting Processes, Trevor gave a demonstration of his experienced shooting skills and techniques. 

Teams of 3 groups, then, put into practice, what they had learned and observed. Initially, this was in the indoor 25yds range and then, later repeated in the outdoor 50m range.

In addition to the NSRA 25yds shooting practice, we had the opportunity to try out a new electronic scoring system, which is currently under development by Eley with RRC support on our 25yds range.

The Workshop finished with a round of applause for Trevor from the group. I think it is fair to say that everyone really enjoyed the day and are all hoping for a return visit very soon. Trevor expressed how much he enjoyed meeting the group, how impressed he was with the club and the facilities that our property team have built up, and sharing his experience with an attentive squad of BR shooters eager to improve.

A man wearing a grey jumper stands by a table. He is holding a spacialist shooting glove as he addresses a room of shooters attending his workshop.
A man wearing a grey jumper stands by a table of benchrest rifles addressing a diverse group of target shooters
A man is sat at a table with a benchrest rifle. He is speaking and delivering a lesson on benchrest shooting.
A man aims a benchrested rifle on an indoor shooting range. He wears and blue and black shooting jackets, and green ear defenders. A blinder patch covers his left eye to help him focus on the image in the scoped sight.
Three shooters sit an benchrest tables on a covered firing point looking out over an outdoor range.
A man stands by a table of benchrest rifles discussing technique and rifles with two benchrest shooters

Young Guns take aim at Rugeley

by RichHin Club News

Fourteen young shooters took aim at Rugeley Rifle Club’s Young Guns competition this week. With two days of training over Wednesday and Thurday, final practice and competition took place on Friday. Shooting Air Rifle, Air Pistol and .22 Rifle, the young shooters worked through more than two and a half thousand air pellets, and a thousand rounds of .22 ammunition. The competition marks a continuing partnership with Vysions Youth Service.

Each discipline competition saw the top 3 shoot a final to establish medal placings. Medallists received a Rugeley Rifle Club patch, along with gold and silver medals and a patch for third. The Overall competition was a close-run fight, with only 27 points separating the top 5 shooters and a tie for the lead between Phoebe Haughton and James Hallam, which had to be broken on countback of Air Rifle scores, with James gracious in defeat. Connie O’Brien placed third, having had a mishap in the Air Rifle shoot which cost her as many as 17 points – enough to have put her in the lead overall.

Air PistolAir RifleSmallbore RifleOverall
1James HallamAiden CoghlanConnie O’BrienPhoebe Haughton
2Phoebe HaughtonPhoebe HaughtonJames HallamJames Hallam
3Joel SherrattConnie O’BrienPhoebe HaughtonBogdan Dubita

Congratulations to overall champion Phoebe, who wins a years free membership, along with free ammunition and targets.

Four young women stand in an airgun range aiming target air rifles at paper targets.
Four young women stand in an airgun range aiming target air rifles at paper targets. An adult range officer supervises the firing point.
Four young people stand in an airgun range aiming target air rifles. An adult range officer supervises the firing point.
Four young men stand in an airgun range aiming target air pistols at paper targets.
Young people on an airgun range aiming target air pistols at paper targets. An adult range officer supervises.
A group of young shooters aim rimfire target rifles on an indoor range. The rifles are supported at the front by stands. A coach kneels by one shooter to help them.
A group of young shooters aim rimfire target rifles on an indoor range. The rifles are supported at the front by stands.
A group of young shooters aim rimfire target rifles on an indoor range. The rifles are supported at the front by stands.
A group of young shooters stand in a clubroom with medals and prizes at the conclusion of a competition.

Alex gains place on University Talented Athlete Scheme

by RichHin Club News

Rugeley Rifle Club member Alex Buttery has gained a place on the Talented Athlete Scheme at Staffordshire University. Following in the footsteps of dad Martyn, Alex has developed at the club as a junior, representing the County at Junior level, before progressing to the senior inter-county team. He narrowly missed selection to the GB Drew Junior Team this year.

Aside from access to fitness suites, a place on Staffordshire’s TAS scheme gains Alex access to performance coaching for strength & conditioning as well as sport psychology, which will help him take his shooting to the next level.

GB officership for Martyn

by RichHin Club News

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.

Rugeley dominate County Championships

by RichHin Club News, Competitions

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.

Two men stand on a veranda, the one on the right receives a trophy from the suited gentleman on the left. They are smiling and shaking hands.
Paul Watkiss receives his trophy from Staffordshire County Association President Mike Willcox.
Two men stand on a veranda, the one on the right receives a trophy from the suited gentleman on the left. They are smiling and shaking hands.
Vic Tyne receives his trophy from Staffordshire County Association President Mike Willcox.
Two men stand on a veranda, the one on the right receives a trophy from the suited gentleman on the left. They are smiling and shaking hands.
Richard Hemingway receives a trophy from Staffordshire County Association President Mike Willcox.
Two men stand on a veranda, the one on the right receives a trophy from the suited gentleman on the left. They are smiling and shaking hands.
Dave Glover receives his trophy from Staffordshire County Association President Mike Willcox.
Two men stand on a veranda, the one on the right receives a trophy from the suited gentleman on the left. They are smiling and shaking hands.
Graham Delaney receives his trophy from Staffordshire County Association President Mike Willcox.

Bleed Kit Unveiled

by RichHin Club News

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.

Three volunteer first responders stand with a new bleed kit mounted on the exterior of a building.
RADCFR volunteers with the new bleed kit
A man and a woman stand in front of a wall on which are mounted two boxes. The yellow box contains an Automatic Emergency Defibrillator. The red box contains an Emergency Bleed Control Kit
Club Chair Martyn Buttery and Club President Councillor Olivia Lyons unveil the new bleed control kit at Rugeley Rifle Club.
Two boxes are mounted on a wall. The yellow box contains an Automatic Emergency Defibrillator. The red box contains an Emergency Bleed Control Kit