The 2023 Cheshunt Open Cheshunt RPC will again be holding a one day Open competition on their indoor range on the 11th February 2023. On offer will be a T&P 1, T&P3, MT, WA48, 1020,[...]
The 2023 Spring Target Shotgun Festival @ Bisley The format for this increasingly popular weekend competition is: Saturday morning – T&P1 and Multi-Target (all classes), NRA Embassy Cup. Sunday, all day – Practical Shotgun. To[...]
The 2023 Spring Action Weekend The first of three newly revamped Gallery Rifle Action weekends held at Bisley throughout 2023 to encourage Gallery Rifle action shooting to include Centrefire and Smallbore, Long Barrelled Pistol and[...]
Joint Services Pistol Club 2023 Spring Open Shorts Championships Fully classified Matches for Timed & Precision 1 Multi – Target Phoenix A CentreFire and Small Bore Gallery Rifle and Long Barrelled Revolver and Pistol matches[...]
Budleigh Farm Speed Steel Challenge Falling plate target shooting competitions held at the Budleigh Farm Shooting ground in the glorious rolling hills of the Dartmoor National park in Devon. The last two years have been a[...]
The Army Target Shooting Club Open Meeting The Army Target Shooting (ATSC) Club’s annual Club Championships and Open Meeting is at a mid April timeslot for 2023. The meeting contains a mixture Gallery Rifle and[...]
The MATTERSEY Gallery Rifle OPEN Competitions for T&P and MT for LBR, LBP, GRCF, GRSB and Target Shotgun including Classic. 1500 for LBR, LBP, GRCF and GRSB. Enter now Online Paper Forms also available |[...]
The 2023 Basildon Open Another three days for again 2023 – however a week later than the Early May Bank Holiday weekend. Basildon put on an excellent shoot with plenty of space to camp overnight[...]
The FDPC Rimfire Festival A Rimfire Festival held at FDPC’s Shepton Mallet range complex. Five matches – T&P1, Multi-Target, The Granet Match, The America Match and a 1020. Appropriate matches above will be classified. Entries[...]
The 2023 Phoenix Meeting Something for everybody at the Phoenix. The 2023 Phoenix meeting is its 26th anniversary The meeting will be held across its traditional long weekend slot, 25th – 28th May. Entry forms [...]
The 142nd Aberdeen Wapinschaw PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF DATE General Meeting Details and Full details of match specific Rules & Regulations are now available Please be invited to the Wapinschaw competition which is[...]
The 2023 Derby Open 1500 and Shorts Entry Forms here and via the Derby Website Entry Form Share this:Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in[...]
A two day competition will be held instead in Bracken Projectile Club which is open to any participants The 2023 NASRPC Irish Open and IGRF Gallery Rifle Open CF Lever Action Rifle + SB Gallery[...]
Scottish open Gallery Rifle Championships The 2023 Scottish Gallery Rifle and Pistol Championship will be held on the 7-9th July at JSPC Ranges near Galashiels where a series of short events will be held. The[...]
NRA Imperial Historic Arms Meeting. Original or spirit of the original welcome at this meeting. A plethora of events for Rifle, Pistol and Gallery Rifle. Don’t think this meeting is just for the historians and[...]
The Gallery Rifle and Pistol meeting at the Imperial. The meeting contains a mixture of squadded trophy matches and unlimited entry events. The meeting will run from Thursday to Sunday. Unlimited entry events will run throughout the meeting with[...]
The Welsh Open 1500 and Shorts Championships To be held at Haverfordwest Target Shooting Club – Pembrokeshire’s finest shooting ground. 4th – 6th August 2023 This year we’re happy to get back to hosting a[...]
The Cottesloe Practical Shotgun Challenge The Cottesloe Heath Challenge (Bisley) will also be a round of the 2023 NRA Shotgun League. This match can be shot on either Saturday or Sunday with some places on[...]
The Derby Handgun Challenge The Club is pleased to announce that for 2023 the DERBY HANDGUN CHALLENGE will be held on Saturday and Sunday August 19/20. This Open event will be for LBPs and LBRs[...]
The 2023 Gallery Rifle National OPEN Championships A weekend to compete and be crowned a National Champion. This event is predominantly for Gallery Rifles, (Centrefire and Smallbore) and Long Barrelled Revolvers and Pistols. Competitions available[...]
The 2023 Police Meeting @ Bisley A plethora of shooting events on offer for this meeting. To include On Melville Ranges – Advancing Target, T&P1, Multi target for both GRCF, GRSB, LBP and LBR Black[...]
JSPC 2023 Autumn Open Shorts Championships Fully classified Matches for Timed & Precision 1 Multi – Target Phoenix A CentreFire and Small Bore Gallery Rifle and Long Barrelled Revolver and Pistol matches available Details and[...]
The SLG Bisley 1500 and Shorts A return to Melville in late September for some 1500 and shorts matches organized by SLG Bisley. Just a one day event but cheap accommodation should be easily available[...]
The 2023 Autumn Target Shotgun Festival @ Bisley The format for this increasingly popular weekend competition is: Saturday morning – T&P1 and Multi-Target (all classes), NRA Embassy Cup. Sunday, all day – Practical Shotgun. To[...]
Budleigh Farm Rimfire Festival Falling plate target shooting competitions held at the Budleigh Farm Shooting ground in the glorious rolling hills of the Dartmoor National park in Devon. Designed to be both fun and challenging it[...]
The County of Lancaster LSR (GRSB) Open Held at Burnley Rifle Club 25m Precision, 50m Precision, Precision Aggregate, Multi-Target, and Timed & Precision 1 Registered event for National Gallery Rifle Ranking tables 25m Precision 50m[...]
The 2023 Trafalgar Meeting Shooters with a historical inclination will turn towards the Trafalgar Meeting as memories of the Imperial fade. “Spirit of the Original” is the ethos of the meeting so don’t be fooled[...]
The 2023 Autumn Action Weekend This is the last of the years main Gallery Rifle Action Weekends that encourages Gallery Rifle shooting for the Gallery Rifle community who visit Bisley. This meeting includes competitions for[...]
The IGRF Gallery Rifle Championships (and 2023 German Open) Held at the Leitmar Range Complex in Germany. Also including Shorts and 1500 matches. Share this:Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to[...]
After another successful tour to the Leitmar ranges near Marsberg in Germany by British and Irish teams the reactions of all who attended overwhelmingly declared the event another very enjoyable and competitive weekend of Gallery Rifle shooting.
The indoor range complex and very comfortable clubroom surroundings of Leitmar offer worthy facilities to visitors and, for many, the final competitive shoot of the GR&P season is one firmly cemented into the calendar.
Individual, team and International shooting opportunities are available at the event. In 2015 the IGRF World Cup was held at Leitmar with touring Great Britain teams taking both the Smallbore and Centrefire trophies.
In 2022 it was shown to be a very exciting and productive few days in Germany for GB shooters. The Great Britain GR Team are again triumphant and finished the season by completing the double again in this 2022 German Open.
The GRSB Match was decisive with GB scoring 5877 (327), followed by Germany 5854 (332) and Ireland 5783 (279).
The GBCF Match however was a real nail biter with GB scoring 5938 (344), followed by Germany 5937 (392) and Ireland 5888 (335). It just goes to show that every point really does count!
Full results for the Open can be seen at the links below and more generally over on the on the results page.
After two relatively full seasons in the position GB Gallery Rifle captain (spanning a 3 year period – we all know why) Gary Bowden will be standing down at the end of 2022. Gary’s last tour will be to the German Gallery Rifle Open to compete against German and Irish opposition on the indoor range complex at Leitmar, near Marsberg
The new GB Captain for 2023 will be Morné van Dalen – a well known and respected shooter who has competed with and supported the team and Gallery Rifle in general, for many years. Morné has previously captained the England GR team, from 2015 to 2017. In his new role, he will be working with the GB GR Team Committee to review shooter performances over the past years and name a new squad for 2023. If anyone feels they have the track record of capability, consistency and commitment in GR 1500 events and want to be considered for the squad, contact Morné or the Gallery Rifle rep Ash Dagger.
The 25th Phoenix meeting, held over the long weekend of the 26th – 29th May at the National Shooting Centre, Bisley, also hosted the fifth iteration of the IGRF World Championships. This biennial event welcomes shooters from all IGRF nations to compete for the title of IGRF World Champions or Champion. Originated in 2013 for Gallery Rifle Small Bore (GRSB) and Gallery Rifle Centrefire (GRCF) team events, the championships were widened in 2017 to include individual championship opportunities for GRSB and GRCF gun types in aggregates spread across four discrete competitions. There were both team events and individual events included in 2022.
Legacy
The IGRF is the International Gallery Rifle Federation. It was founded by Great Britain, Ireland and Germany as the European Gallery Rifle Federation in 2006, and became International in 2010 with the addition of South Africa. Australia (2013) and Zimbabwe (2018) joined later
The inaugural World Championship event was held in 2013 at Bisley, with the GRSB honours going to Great Britain and the GRCF winners being Ireland. In 2015 Great Britain Gallery Rifle Teams travelled to Leitmar in Germany where both trophies were brought back by the touring British teams. In 2017 Ireland hosted the event at the Midlands National Shooting Centre. On home territory the Irish swept the board winning both GRSB and GRCF team trophies, beating Great Britain, Germany, South Africa and Australia. They also took both of the inaugural individual World Championships with Ray Holohan winning the GRSB class and Jeff Kehoe winning in GRCF.
The last IGRF World Championships were held in South Africa in 2019 at the Excalibur Shooting ranges near Welkom with GB, Ireland, Germany and Australia competing with the hosts. Home turf again proved to be the dominating factor as South Africa won both the GRSB and GRCF team events. Great Britain, however, claimed the very respectable runner-up slots for both calibres. Individual World Championships were taken by Australian shooter David McCarthy for GRCF Standard and Classic and Nico Roets (SA) for GRSB and GRCF Open. Anna Marie van Tonder (also SA) took GRSB and GRCF Standard top lady shooter and Anita Roets was the top GRCF Open division lady shooter.
IGRF World Championships 2022
The global COVID pandemic interrupted the planned return of the Championships to Bisley in 2021. The IGRF Council decided to defer for a year in the hope that International travel would be resumed. Although not all countries were able to attend, we were able to welcome Germany, Ireland and South Africa to compete in 2022.
Despite the rivalry, there is a strong community spirit across all the international teams and the crew, as they come together to enjoy the very best of our shared sport.
The team matches are shot shoulder to shoulder with specifically allocated range time. These were shot in Melville on the Sunday morning with the Great Britain, Ireland, Germany and South Africa teams, their supporters and a specially selected Range Crew, led by Ashley Dagger. The NRA provided the results on a large on-range screen for the first time and spectators were able to watch and be inspired. The atmosphere was excellent.
The Individual Championships were shot concurrently with Phoenix events, whereby competitor’s individual scores are also utilised for the aggregate IGRF trophies. For 2022, individual competitions were held for GSRB, GRCF Standard and GRCF Classic gun types. The benefit of this approach is that everybody who entered the full set of aggregate events in the Phoenix was also competing for the Individual World Championships.
The individual aggregates were agreed by the IGRF Council in 2017 and were carefully chosen to include a balance of gallery rifle marksmanship skills. They include the most popular GR events: Timed and Precision 1 (T&P1) and Mult-Target (M-T). The 1500 and the 50m Precision events were included to increase the challenge and thus justify the ultimate title of World Champion.
Results
Great Britain teams and individual shooters did exceptionally well. Yet again home range advantage seemed to play out as the dominant force. So much so that all five headline trophies, Team and Individual, were presented to GB shooters this year – with the Individual trophies being spread uncannily fairly across the three mainland nations!
Individual World Champions
The GRSB World Champion is Jake Mossom from GB and England who topped the listings immediately ahead of three of his GB teammates. Dropping only 28 points from a possible 2220 across the four aggregate events, this was an impressive win in, arguably, the most challenging calibre. Top Under 25 shooter was Robert L.Tonner from Scotland and top lady shooter Anna-Marie van Tonder from South Africa.
The GRCF Standard World Champion is GB and Scotland shooter Jonny Cormie. GRCF Standard is the centre fire gun type of the International Team shoots so competition is intense. Top lady shooter was again Anna-Marie van Tonder from South Africa but unfortunately no junior shooter entered this gun type.
The GRCF Classic World Champion is Rob Wheeler from GB and Wales. He shot an outstanding 1500 score – a new British record with 1493 (just 7 points lost from 1500) and 107X, which was 15 points and 20x’s more than his closest rival in that event. This was outstanding shooting overall with iron sights. There were no U25 or lady shooters in this event; something to work on for the future.
Team World Championships
For the headline Team matches Great Britain Captain Gary Bowden chose exceptionally strong teams. All three Individual World Champions were members of the teams and all seemed to be well and truly on form.
GB were successful in reclaiming both GRSB and GRCF trophies, the first time they have both been held by GB since 2015. The smallbore match was close with South Africa only 19 points behind out of a possible 6000 maximum score. Germany and Ireland finished 3rd and 4th respectively. The centrefire match was close after the first three practices, but Great Britain eased ahead to a comfortable victory for the home nation. Germany finished as runners up with South Africa and Ireland in 3rd and 4th respectively.
Presentation and Reception
The last NRA Journal (Summer 2022) reported on the joint IGRF and ITSF (International Target Shotgun Federation) reception held at the Pavilion which was attended by all visiting teams and guests. Apart from conveying thanks again to the NRA for assisting in organizing this well received event, there is nothing further to add.
Prizegiving for the Phoenix meeting was held as usual late on the Sunday afternoon. Due to the revised weekend schedule, it meant all prizes could be awarded at this single presentation, the popularity of which was demonstrated by the number of people who attended – so many that extra chairs had to be brought in at the last minute!
The Club was pleased to announce that for 2022 there will be a new event in the Gallery Rifle calendar, the DERBY HANDGUN CHALLENGE, was held on Saturday and Sunday August 20/21.
This Open event was held for LBPs and LBRs and offered eight events plus a Practical Shoot run by Team Smoothy.
The events were: TP1, TP2, TP3, Multi-Target, Phoenix A, WA48, 1020, 1500.
Competition meetings such as the Nationals can’t run without the dedicated and friendly support of volunteer ROs and Range Crew.
For these competitions people are required for roles such as operating target controls, supervising safety and ensuring the competitors have a safe and enjoyable experience, along with wider non-range based support across the event.
In return for volunteering for a day or more we offer:
Hot breakfast and lunch buffet
On site accommodation
Up to £115 mileage reimbursement
Exclusive RO Shooting day on Friday 2 Sept
If you don’t need meals or accommodation? We’ll issue you credits towards future competition entries in place of those perks, up to £20 credit per day volunteered! You do not need to be a qualified RCO as support is offered by experienced, qualified NRA RCOs, making this an excellent opportunity for you to gain experience supporting a competition range.
The very popular 2022 Derby Open took place over the weekend of 25-26 June at Derby RPC. Results are posted.
A Home Countries England-Scotland-Wales National match also took place. Provisional sores for the match are included in the final results. England were proud recipients of the Brownells trophy for the rifle match whilst Scotland came out top in the pistol/revolver matches.
During the weekend £170 in donations were received for the Air Ambulance service at the BBQ table run by Mick and Pam and assisted by Rupert and Hillary. Additionally £155 was raised from Alison and Mick’s Pizza evening on Friday night for the Edale Mountain Rescue and Royal British Legion.
The Derby Open sorely missed our friend and shooting colleague Dave Holt who for many years officiated the 1500 and 1020 competitions (and probably anything else thrown at him) over on range C. Among other things Dave kept everyone bombed up and shooting to the busy schedule the meeting always offers. Many thanks go to Kerri at Rogers Masonry, Nantwich for donating a memorial plaque for us to remember him by. Proudly displayed on the wall of the club – farewell Dave.
The 25th Phoenix meeting, held over the long weekend of the 26th – 29th May at the National Shooting Centre, Bisley, also hosted the IGRF Word Cup. This biennial event welcomes shooters from all IGRF nations to compete for the title of World Champion or Champions. There were both team events and individual events for these championships.
Back Row: K.Kilvington R.Wheeler K.Cox C.West J.Mossom Front Row: G.Bowden (Capt.) J.Cormie M.Beard A.Summers
For the team events smallbore (GRSB) and centrefire (GRCF) teams shoot head to head for the respective crowns. For the individual events the concurrent method of scoring is used whereby competitors individual scores are also utilized for the aggregate World Trophy events of GRSB, GRCF and GRCF Classic.
GB teams and shooters did exceptionally well – in fact all five trophies were presented to GB shooters – with the individuals being spread rather fairly across the three mainland nations.
The GRSB World Champion is Jake Mossom from England
The GRCF World Champion is Jonny Cormie from Scotland
The GRCF Classic World Champion is Rob Wheeler from Wales
For the team events GB captain Gary Bowden chose exceptionally strong teams
The GRSB Word Champions are Team GB – comprising of Keith Cox; Keith Kilvington; Chris West; Jonny Cormie and Jake Mossom
The GRCF World Champions are Team GB – comprising of Rob Wheeler; Johnny Cormie, Keith Cox, Chris West and Gary Bowden (overall teams captain)
Trophies presented to the World Champion shooters by IGRF President Daniel Blagojevic
GRCF Classic
GRCF
GRSB
World Champion – Rob Wheeler
World Champion – Jonny Cormie
World Champion – Jake Mossom
GB GRCF Team
GB GRSB Team
World Champions R.Wheeler J.Cormie K.Cox G.Bowden(Capt) C.West
World Champions K.Cox K.Kilvington C.West J Cormie J.Mossom
Results for the above matches and all of the 25th Phoenix meeting can be found elsewhere in the usual places.
Nominations are sought for the role of “Captain of the Great Britain Gallery Rifle Team”, for next season. Appointments run annually, from Jan to Dec, although traditionally the appointments can last for two (or more) years, subject to re-endorsement by the NRA Council, on the recommendation of the GR&P Working Group.
It is recognized that the selection and appointment of the captain for a Great Britain team is a highly important decision. To be appointed captain is a great honour but it is also a great responsibility. The ability to create a winning team is not the only criterion needed for a successful captain. The manner in which the team conducts itself, both on and off the ranges, will affect the standing of the NRA, target shooting and indeed the country. It is therefore vital that the person selected should have the appropriate personality and skills to carry out all aspects of the task in the appropriate manner. The selection process, while being transparent and fair, should result in the appointment of someone who meets these requirements.
The criteria for selection along with appropriate Nomination forms and Shooter CV forms can be found over on the NRA website.
With the lead up to the 25th Phoenix Meeting more than underway – less than two weeks at time of publication – the early part of the 2022 season has got off to a flawless start. Compared to 2022 and 2021 it could be argued that this was perhaps inevitable but even whilst the schedule was being compiled in late 2021 it was still by no means clear what was going to happen. COVID has also not gone away – a fact that has to be remembered.
Quite a few calendared GR&P competitions are held in the immediate weeks before the Phoenix. Since the JSPC hosted event in Scotland results have been posted for the following events: (All 2022 results are published over on the 2022 Results page.)
All will have contributed to rankings and classifications. It should be noted that the Ranking Tables have now caught up with themselves and are showing a rolling season listing which for all events are now showing a full calendar year of shooting. Not all meetings offer all events so the number of events available will vary for all the gun types.
The 2022 JSPC Spring meeting was successfully held over the weekend of the 9-10 April at it’s traditional location – the Colmsliehill Range near Lauder.
The JSPC Website details the full match report, results and photos. As part of the weekend an official Home Countries Scotland v England rifle match was hosted as well as an informal LBP/LBR match. England managed to take 6 fully versatile shooters North to be able to compete in all gun types for all matches.
Results are below and over on the JSPC site. Many thanks to the JSPC for hosting the match – it was enjoyed by all.
The Gallery Rifle & Pistol Imperial Meeting will take place at Bisley from Thursday 14th July to Sunday 17th July 2022 with some slight modifications to its format.
The meeting will run four days (Thursday to Sunday) rather than the traditional 5 days (Wednesday to Sunday) of previous years.
Medal matches now require just a single score to count rather than two.
Prizes for medal matches will be awarded down to bronze in accordance with prize list D main Bisley bible.
Muzzle loading events reduced to three events – Advancing, Scott and Granet.
The format of the meeting and details of all competitions is defined in the 2022 GR&P handbook
Apart from the above modifications the the meeting is largely to its usual format and comprises of two general types of matches:
Unlimited Medal matches: These competitions are based on many of the events run at GR&P events throughout the year comprising of Advancing Target, America Match, 25m Precision (Scott), Grannet, Imperial Silhouette,T&P1 and Multi-Target. They can be entered as many times as you like between Thursday to Sunday, your best score will count for medal qualifications.
Squadded trophy matches: These competitions take place at squaddded times on the Saturday and Sunday of the meeting, and mostly mirror the unlimited events. NRA medals and numerous traditional trophies are awarded for these events.
Alongside these individual events, there are also the usual variety of aggregates and concurrent team matches to get involved with.
25th Phoenix Meeting: Thursday 26th – Sunday May 29th
Packed full of competitions for GR&P, Target Shotgun, Civilian Service Rifle, as well as F Class, Sporting Rifle, and Muzzle Loading Firearms
The World Championships: In addition to being the 25th Phoenix Meeting, the National Shooting Centre will also be hosting the IGRF and ITSF World Championships! Awards will be presented to both Individuals and Teams
After another successful tour to the Leitmar ranges near Marsberg in Germany by British and Irish teams the reactions of all who attended overwhelmingly declared the event another very enjoyable and competitive weekend of Gallery Rifle shooting.
The GRSB Match was decisive with GB scoring 5877 (327), followed by Germany 5854 (332) and Ireland 5783 (279).
The Great Britain teams for the IGRF World championships to be held at the Phoenix 25 meeting, (May 26th-29th 2022) have been announced.
