Volunteer Trophy & BC Baker Cup, 2024

Friday 3 May – Sunday 5 May saw three days of training and competition shooting at Bisley. Ranges booked were 500, 600, 900 and 1000 yards. After a disappointing start, with shooting on Friday morning rained-off, shooting proceeded as planned for the rest of the weekend. Some good sunny spells made for pleasant conditions; the playful wind offered good opportunity for training!

The Volunteer Trophy (600 yards) is fired with open sighted muzzle loading rifles, and will usually see a mix of .451 military target rifles and .577 Enfield rifles. Alan Beck won the match, ahead of Ben Greftenuis and John Whittaker in 2nd and 3rd place respectively. Ben’s fine shooting was with a borrowed original Whitworth military target rifle.

The Sunday afternoon match for the B.C. Baker Cup (900 yards) was fired in dull conditions. The initial testing wind gave way to calmer winds but some light rain spells. Alan Beck set the pace in the first detail, but was pushed into third place by Chris Goed and John Whittaker. Just 2 points separated the top three places.

Link: Volunteer Trophy & BC Baker Cup Results

Asquith Cup 2024

The ‘Asquith Cup’ is the first match of the season and was fired at Bisley on Friday 5 April 2024. Rules for this percussion military muzzle loading rifle competition are for 15 shots at each distance, 600 & 800 yards. Even in calm conditions this is a testing match! This year however there were extremely strong winds forecast (gusts over 40mph), and partial closures were already in place on Stickledown range. Rather than risk cancellation, at least in part, the whole match (30 shots) was fired at 600 yards on Century range. 

Only a small number of Branch members competed this year, and it is hoped that there will be wider participation next year. Some took opportunity to use the range time for training in breezy conditions with their muzzle loading match rifles.

Alan Beck’s consistency won out in the day, and he took first place with a three point lead. John Whittaker was second, just one point ahead of Mike Hall, while Mike’s score of 33 in the afternoon was the highest score of the two details that each competitor fired.

Link: Asquith Cup Results

Spring 2024 News!

Once again, we have a programme of competition and practice days booked at Bisley, all coordinated with the MLAGB series of mid and long range National Rifle Championship matches. These combined bookings generally provide up to three days of shooting.

The first match of the season is the Asquith Cup on Friday 5 April – this is a challenging aggregate of 15 shots at each distance, 600 and 800 yards, with the .577 military percussion rifle. The weekend will also see members shooting in the MLAGB 300 and 500 yard National Rifle Championship matches.

In May distances are extended somewhat with a 1,000 yard practice day on Friday the 3rd. The weekend includes the Volunteer Trophy match at 600 yards and the B.C. Baker Cup at 900 yards. The Volunteer Trophy is fired with open sighted military target rifles. Members will also be able to enjoy practice sessions at 500 and 600 yards.

June 7th – 9th is a weekend primarily of competition. On the Friday morning is the MLAGB National 900 yard Championships. Saturday is the 30 shot Branch 1,000 yard Championship, and Sunday the MLAGB National 600 yard Championships. Some members will be involved with / competing in the Entente Cordiale on Friday afternoon, while for others there is opportunity for 900 yard practice.

Further events are held in August and October and the full programme can be found on the Branch calendar. 

Bisley range availability this year meant some reprogramming of events. Sadly, it has not been possible to book either the 1,100 or 1,200 yards ranges this year, the Metford Trophy match cannot therefore be held. For this year the following arrangements are in place:

• The Karl Bailey Trophy and the Hepsworth Medal will be competed for concurrently with the Branch 1,000 yard Championship (30 shots fired) on 8 June. Scores achieved will not be eligible for Branch records, the events not being fired at their usual distances (1,100 and 1,200 yards respectively).
• The Karl Bailey Trophy will be awarded for the highest score achieved in shots 1 – 15 of the Championship.
• The Hepsworth Medal will be awarded for the highest score achieved in shots 16 – 30 of the Championship.

See you at Bisley!

Rigby and Whitworth Cup matches - Metford Trophy final results

Sharp rain showers punctuated the days shooting, changing to a longer spell of torrential rain towards the end of the day. Despite conditions almost everyone got to shoot. The winners of the Rigby Cup and Whitworth Cup, John Whittaker and Henrie van Koot respectively, each shot outstanding scores and achieved their win by a comfortable margin. 

On Friday 27 October the MLAGB held their 900 and 1000 yard Championships, postponed in August. This enabled the Branch to complete the Metford Trophy match, the 1000 yard scores being shot concurrently with the MLAGB Championship.

Link: Rigby Cup, Whitworth Cup, Metford Trophy results

For Branch competition results and record scores see the 'Competitions' page

Metford Trophy 2023 (interim results)

Storm Antoni hit the UK on Saturday 5 August, with strong winds and heavy rain throughout the day. This resulted in the MLAGB 900 and 1000 yard matches being postponed. The 1000 yard stage of the Metford Trophy is fired concurrently with the MLAGB match. LRR have therefore made their Friday 27 October practice day available to the MLAGB, and the 900 and 1000 yard matches will be re-scheduled for then.

Rain abated on Sunday 6 August, and the day was generally bright and clear. The fresh headwind continued in a playful manner though, making for some testing conditions. Two shooters showed some mastery of the wind and tussled for top placing at both 1100 and 1200 yards. John Whittaker in the end just managing to finish ahead of Mike Hall at each distance. The interim results for the Metford Trophy follow, and will be concluded on 27 October with the 1000 yard stage.

Entries this year were down a little, in part due to clash of this match with the MLAIC European Championships, in which some members from the UK, France and Netherlands were competing.

Link: Metford Trophy (interim results)