The Great Britain Under 19 Team to South Africa
The Council for Cadet Rifle Shooting (CCRS), which is a charity, is based in Derby Lodge at Bisley. It acts as a central body, supported by the Ministry of Defence, which can speak with authority and give advice on cadet shooting matters.
The Council's responsibilities include, liaison between other representative shooting authorities and units of the pre-Service cadet organisations; the dissemination of information on shooting matters affecting cadets; arranging and administering rifle meetings, postal shooting competitions, coaching courses and other shooting events for cadets at schools and units in the Commonwealth. The Council also provides administrative support for cadet teams selected to represent Great Britain in National and International Matches, both at home and overseas. In addition it hosts overseas cadet and youth teams competing in the United Kingdom.
CCRS administers the Ffennell Trust, a fund established to further shooting skills amongst the youth of the Commonwealth. In 1995 we instituted the Ffennell Scholarship which provided funds to help a Commonwealth cadet / youth to come and shoot the Imperial Meeting at Bisley. The first scholar was Werner Putter from South Africa. Due to evolving circumstances we have now ended the individual scholarship and instead the Trust supports a South African Junior Team.
In 1997 Christo Lauterbach brought 13 young South African shooters to Bisley on a highly successful visit. This was followed in 1998 by the first UK cadet team tour in modern times to South Africa. The CCRS Youth Team to South Africa (CCRSYTSA) visit proved a great success. As a result of these trips a regular exchange has been instituted with a South African Under 19, now Junior, Team (SA J) coming to the UK every other year whilst the Great Britain Under 19 Team (GB U19) will go to the South African Open ‘Bisley’ Championships annually.
The 1999 tours by both teams produced very exciting matches, narrowly won by the home teams. In 2000 the GB U19 achieved its first victory in South Africa; in 2001 the home teams won, in 2002 the SA U19 retained the Trophy and in 2003 home teams again came out on top although the GB U19 convincingly won the Long Range match. In 2004 GB U19 won both matches and in 2005 the SAJ won both then came to Bisley and won for the first time. The SA J won both matches at Bloemfontein in 2006, in 2007 it was one match each, in 2008 GBU19 won both and in 2009 GBU19 won the 80th Anniversary Match and SA J the RSA Junior International and Junior Protea matches. In 2010, 2011 & 2012 GB U19 won both matches. The Team brochure will celebrate the fifteenth official GB U19 tour, which takes place in March/April 2013.
Tour Reports & Photos 2013
