National Clay Target Shooting Championships
The Clay Target Shooting competition was founded in 2007 with the intention of offering all UK cadets an opportunity to compete in a sport that has full Olympic recognition, in the hope that one day the cadet movement will produce someone with the talent to represent Great Britain at the Olympics (or their home country at the Commonwealth Games).
The CCRS Clay Target Shooting Committee was chaired by Oliver Shepard, an experienced shot, and benefits greatly from the considerable experience, enthusiasm and knowledge of George Garman, the chief organiser of the annual competition and with effect 24th June 2012 the new Chairman.
History: Competitions so far:
2007 – Larkhill Shooting Ground, Wiltshire
2008 – Larkhill Shooting Ground, Wiltshire
2009 – Fareham Shooting Ground, Hampshire
2010 - Marne Barracks Ground, Catterick
2011 - Marne Barracks Ground, Catterick
2012 - Marne Barracks Ground, Catterick
CCRS CLAY SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012
The championship was successfully completed over the weekend 22 – 24 June 2012 at the Marne Clay Target Club’s Marne Barracks Shooting Ground, Catterick, in windy showery but finally sunny conditions that produced an excellent challenge to all the competitors.
Air Vice-Marshal Martin Routledge, The Air CCFA Vice President, kindly attended and presented the prizes after competing in the VIP Team firing in the Flush against a team from the Adults, who won 22 to 19.
The capacity entry was raised to 48 teams. We had 51 teams apply to compete, six withdrew, and three came incomplete, so we had 43 teams plus three composite ones competing. Judging by the enthusiasm and enjoyment displayed by all the cadets and their adults the meeting was a great success. The accommodation in Wathgill Camp was excellent as was the catering, both of which provided an ideal base to enhance the enjoyment on the range.
Competition was fierce and we had to have tie shoots to separate the Adults as well as Ampleforth and The Oratory for first place in the Flush and Ampleforth and 141 (Boston) Sqn for third place in Down the Line in addition to seperating Cdt C Stevens, (The Oratory) and Cpl J Cuddigan (Ampleforth) for the third place in the individual DTL. Cleveland ACF won the sporting, Nottinghamshire ACF won the DTL, Ampleforth won the Flush and the overall High Team was Tonbridge School. The Inter-Services Competition for the Cadet Force 150th Anniversary Cup was won by the CCF. Sgt S King from 1st (Northern Ireland) Bn ACF, was the Individual High Gun. SSI J Parsons, Tonbridge, won the Adult Sporting after the four way tie shoot.
The Chairman and Committee thank all those involved in planning, organising and executing the programme, the Marne Clay Target Club’s Chairman, Committee members and helpers who did stirling work preparing and maintaining the ground, and all who took part whether as enablers or competitors for supporting the Championships.
At the end of prize giving we acknowledged the contribution to our Clay Target endeavours made by Maj Oliver Shepard, who retired that day as Chairman of the Clay Target Shooting Committee, by presenting him with a dozen engraved wine glasses
We look forward to 2013 Championships to be held on the last weekend of June in East Anglia if we can secure accommodation.
Next Competition:
The 2013 competition will now be over the weekend 15th - 16th June at the Cambridge Gun Club's Shooting Ground, Cottenham, Cambridge CB24 8AH
