General news
86th CSSC Target Rifle Championships
An impassive grey sky lasted all day for this year's meeting, accompanied by light rain. Fortunately, it wasn't too cold though and there were no problems with fog which sometimes delays shooting at this time of the year.
There was also virtually no wind, particularly at short range which made the level of scoring so high that every prize in the morning at 300, 500, and 600 yards was won with no dropped points! With several of the usual participants absent shooting with teams elsewhere firing was conducted in pairs, giving plenty of time for each detail.
The First Trophy
At 300 yards there were three scores of 50 and five at 500, including a fine 50 with 10 V bulls from Howard Gray (linked member). The first trophy, the Hopkins Tankard (300 and 500 yd aggregate) went to Rob Lygoe (FCO) with 100.15.
Five more scores of 50 followed at 600 yards with another 50-10, this time from Eric Stuart-Bamford (DIRE). The Corliss Cup for the 500 and 600 yd aggregate went to Howard Gray with 100.17 and the short-range aggregate for the Goodman Plaque was won by Rob Lygoe with 150.24.
At 900 yards in the afternoon, there were HPS scores from Rob Lygoe and Ian Ashworth. Highest score at the 1,000-yard distance was 75.10 obtained by Rob Lygoe to win the ROF Trophy and also the Captain’s Cup for the Long Range aggregate with 150.18.
The Duke of Connaught Cup and Allcomer's Tankard
The Duke of Connaught Cup and the Allcomer’s Tankard for the Grand Aggregate and Overall Championship went to Rob Lygoe with an unprecedented score of 300 ex 300 with 42 V bulls, the 8th win for him since 1998! (The nearest was David Calvert in 1994 with 250 ex 250, the 500-yard shoot being cancelled.)
Ian Ashworth (linked member) was second with 298.37 and Jon Taylor (BT) was third with 297.38. Howard Gray won the Veteran’s Medal with 294.34.
Interdepartmental Victory Challenge Shield
Two teams were assembled for the Interdepartmental Victory Challenge Shield, the winners being a strong team from Communications (A. Haley, R.Lygoe, J.Taylor) with a very strong 448.56, ahead of MoD (E.Stuart-Bamford, R.Roalf, P.Waldron) with 418.36 in the Short Range Aggregate.
There appeared to be just three entries for the magnificent Privett Cup, awarded for the highest combined score from the .22” Spring Postal Competition and this meeting, with Rob Lygoe as the winner with 590. However, it transpired that Ian Ashworth had not put his small-bore score of 294 on the entry form, giving him a total of 592. With the agreement of both parties, the Committee gave him the award.
Finally, reflecting the high scoring, three of the coveted Silver HPS crosses for three or more scores of 50 were awarded: to Lygoe, Ashworth, and Taylor (all for 300, 500, and 600 yds) Short-range bronze crosses went to Gray (500), Haley (500), Brook (600) and Stuart-Bamford (600). Long-range bronze crosses went to Lygoe (900 and 1000) and Ashworth (900 yds)
The Awards Ceremony
The squadding and stats organiser Nigel Thomas presented the prizes in the verandah room of the ARA clubhouse and thanked the participants, in particular CSSC TSA Secretary Roger North for producing and engraving the medals, Eric Stuart-Bamford for organising the ammunition, Howard Gray of Bullet Lodge Rifle Club for organising the targets and markers, and TSA Treasurer Dick Roalf for compiling and sending out the programmes and entry forms and dealing with the expenses.
A particular acknowledgement and a presentation were given to Ken Charman of Bullet Lodge for standing in the rain all day as Range Officer!
Once again the need for all CSSC Target Rifle shooters to support the meeting and bring fellow club members was emphasised. Thanks are also due to the Army Rifle Association for providing the venue, and the CSSC for their generous sponsorship of the meeting.
Targets and markers have been booked for the 2020 Championships, scheduled for Saturday 10th October so please make a note in your diaries.
N.J.C.T. 18-10-19
