Ryan Cockbill has won three medals in three days at the WSPS (World Shooting Para Sport) Grand Prix in Novi Sad, Serbia.
In the Mixed 10m Air Rifle Standing SH2 (R4) on Thursday, he qualified second in a competitive field, and maintained his composure to hold his place in the final. No sooner had he finished the R4 final and he was called to the line for Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH2 (R5). Qualifying second again – close behind the Italian who had also led R4 qualifying, Ryan finished third to collect a Bronze medal.
After a day off, he came back to the 50metre range on Saturday for the Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH2 (R9), qualifying second again behind Austrian Josef Pacher. After his first string of 5 shots he was joint second, but after the second string had taken a 0.5 point lead, which he held for the remainder of the final, finishing on 248.7 – a full 2.2 points ahead of silver medallist Gianluca Iacus of Italy.
Rugeley collected a table of silverware at the Staffordshire Smallbore Rifle Association’s Championships on Sunday.
Richard Hemingway retained his title as County Long Range Champion, winning the double dewar match by four points thanks to an excellent set of 100yard cards. Dave Glover was second, and claimed the County 50Metre Championship, pipping Richard at the shorter distance.
Paul Baron became Staffordshire C-Class Champion. Phoebe Haughton – Rugeley’s 2024 Young Gun champion – was Staffordshire Junior Champion and also Staffordshire Ladies Championship.
Steve Rowe of City of Stoke RC was Staffordshire Veteran Champion, whilst Olivia Kirkland of Altrincham Rifle Club was Open Ladies Champion.
Martyn Buttery and Dave Glover won the Pairs competition. Rugeley’s team won the Astor Tankard for best club team.
At the start of the prizegiving, Richard – Staffordshire’s County Captain and representative to NSRA Shooting Council – presented a special service award to County Treasurer Judith Simcock of Market Drayton Rifle Club. Judith has served on her club committee for over 15 years and became Treasurer to the County in 2010, which makes this year her 15th anniversary in post. In addition to committee duties, Judith has been the supervising scorer at the County Championship for 8 years.
Alex Buttery and Izzy Ward both earned spots as reserves for the main mixed Drew team of 10, earning GB colours. Alex was also selected as a reserve for the men’s team of 3. Both earn their GB Colours.
Two selections is growth from 2024 when Helen Robinson was selected as reserve to the Women’s team of 3. They will shoot their cards later in the year, after which scores will be shared with the US, Australian and New Zealand teams.
Shooting in the Welsh Confined Prone Championship on Sunday 22nd June, Richard took second, following friend of Rugeley Liam Webster who became Welsh Confined 50Metre Champion for the first time.
The afternoon saw the wind pick up in time for the Three-Position match where Olivia was pitted against a number of GB Pathway athletes. Maintaining a steady shoot in difficult conditions, Olivia finished with a score of 564, edging out Alun Evans on 562 and Louis Norman on 558.
Congratulations to Rugeley’s Competition Secretary Dave Glover, who has been appointed Adjutant to the GB Wakefield Match Team. The two year appointment will run for the 2025 and 2026 years, and normally leads to a two year appointment as Captain.
The Lord Wakefield Monument Trophy Match is an international postal match held in September, originally between Great Britain and Sweden. In 1985 Sweden was unable to raise a team and the match went in abeyance until 1991 when it resumed with a new field of competitors including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA. The course of fire is an “English Match” – 60 shots at 50metres on NSRA/ISSF targets, using integer scoring. Competitors shoot on their home ranges, under supervision of a qualified witness.
Five of the ten team members are selected based on performance at the NSRA National Meeting at Bisley, with the other 5 taken from the top individuals in NSRA Comp 103 and 303 (10-metre postal leagues).
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!
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.
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 members represented at the NSRA’s National Smallbore Meeting this year, winning County and Home Country selections.
Six members shot the Weekend Aggregate, spanning Classes X to D.
Richard Hemingway – X, 20th
Alex Buttery – C, 21st
Ian Abbotts – C, 33rd
Liz Garner – C, 35th
Brian Parker – C, 43rd
Deb Truman – D, 20th
Martyn Buttery finished 42nd in the X-Class Grand Aggregate and represented Hampshire. Martyn won Silver with the County Sextette, and Bronze in the County 50Metre match.
Richard Hemingway was selected for Wales, placing third in the Home Countries International.
Richard and Liz both qualified for the Eley Postal Final, with Richard placing 17th in A, and Liz taking 3rd in E.
Paul Watkiss placed 9th in A-Class in the Benchrest Weekend Aggregate. John Passey placed 11th.
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.
Paul Watkiss receives his trophy from Staffordshire County Association President Mike Willcox.Vic Tyne receives his trophy from Staffordshire County Association President Mike Willcox.Richard Hemingway receives a trophy from Staffordshire County Association President Mike Willcox.Dave Glover receives his trophy from Staffordshire County Association President Mike Willcox.Graham Delaney receives his trophy from Staffordshire County Association President Mike Willcox.
