1000 yard Championships 2022

The Branch 1000 yard Championships is fired over two details (morning and afternoon) with a 30 shot course of fire. The bright sunshine on Bisley’s Stickledown Range on Saturday 11 June was from time to time broken by cloud, giving quite a varied sight picture. Additional variety was provided by the playful wind – gusting, dropping off, changing direction. On a positive side it remained dry! Long range muzzle loading is all about learning, and the day gave plenty of opportunity for that. Master of the class was John Whittaker with a convincing win, followed by Alan Beck and David Minshall.

It was good to see our friends from France, the Netherlands, Jersey and throughout the UK.

Link: 1000 yard Championship Results

Volunteer Trophy and B.C. Baker Cup 2022

Friday 6 May was the Branch competition for the Volunteer Trophy. The match comprises 15 shoots fired at 600 yards with a muzzle loading military target rifle. A military two point sling is the only permitted support. The match is a rare opportunity to compete using these rifles in their original form with open sights - many have later fitted aperture rear sights, but under the match conditions such sights not permitted. Original and reproduction rifles were used.

Stickledown Range at Bisley was the venue for the Branch 900 yard Championship for the B.C. Baker Cup on Saturday 7 May. The match comprised 15 shots with target rifles. Original rifles seen were Gibbs-Metford and Rigby muzzle loading match rifles. Reproductions were a mix of custom built rifles and the popular Pedersoli Gibbs. A slightly dull day, with bright spells and a shower as the first and second details were swapping around. The wind was variable enough to keep shooters entertained!

Link: Volunteer Trophy and B.C. Baker Cup 2022 Results

Asquith Cup 2022

A strong and bitingly cold wind greeted shooters at Bisley on 1 April for the Asquith Cup. The match comprises 15 shots at each distance, 600 & 800 yards, with and .577 military percussion muzzle loading rifle. All shooting is prone with a two-point military sling the only permitted support.

Link: Asquith Cup Results

2021 Match Reports and Results

Asquith Cup
Rifle: Any .577 military percussion rifle. Distance: 600 and 800 yards. Aggregate of 15 shots at each distance	No Competition
Volunteer Trophy
Rifle: Percussion military match and military rifles. Distance: 600 yards. 15 shots	5 August 2021
Rigby Cup
Rifle: Any muzzle loading rifle. Distance: 600 yards. 15 shots	30 October 2021
Whitworth Cup
Rifle: Any Whitworth hexagonally bored muzzle loading rifle. Distance: 600 yards. 15 shots	30 October 2021
Barry Custance-Baker Cup (900 yard Championship)
Rifle: Any muzzle loading rifle. Distance 900 yards. 15 shots	11 June 2021
1000 yard Championship
Rifle: Any muzzle loading rifle. Distance: 1,000 yards. 30 shots	12 June 2021
Metford Trophy
Rifle: Any muzzle loading rifle Distance: 1,000, 1,100 and 1,200 yards. Aggregate of 15 shots at each distance	7/8 August 2021
The Hepsworth Medal
Rifle: Any muzzle loading rifle Distance: 1,200 yards. 15 shots (Fired concurrently with the Metford Trophy)	8 August 2021

900 and 1000 yard Championship Matches

The Branch shooting programme earlier in the year had been cancelled, so as Bisley range access restrictions eased opportunity was taken to arrange for 5 days of shooting in June. Recognising that some members had little or no shooting opportunity in 2020, Wednesday 9 June and Thursday 10 June were booked as practice days

The Branch 900 yard Championship for the Barry Custance-Baker Cup was held on Friday 11 June, and the following day shooters returned to Stickledown Range for the 1000 yard Championship. 

Due to COVID associated range restrictions and limitation on the number of shooters per firing point, event timings and course of fire were adjusted to maximise the number of entries available. The 900 yard Championship was reduced from 15 to 10 shots and the 1000 yard Championship reduced from 30 shots to 20 shots.

The shooting conditions were characterised by dry weather, increasing temperatures and changeable winds.  David Minshall took advantage of the more stable conditions on Friday to win the 900 yard Championship. John Whittaker showed his mastery of difficult wind conditions on Saturday to win the 1000 yard Championship. Alan Beck and Paul Wolpe shot consistently well to finish second and third respectively on both days.

Entries for this first event of the year were understandably lower then normal, but it was good to see some semblance of  normality returning and members able to make use of Bisley Camp accommodation and Club House hospitality. Given the prevailing travel limitations our members from France and Holland were unable to attend, and their presence was missed. 

The weekend's shooting was concluded with the MLAGB National 600 yard Rifle Championship on Sunday 13 June.

900 and 1000 yard Championship Match Results