Charles Dickenson
Charles first encountered fullbore rifles (and the team’s captain) at Cambridge University way back in 1973 and rapidly became hooked, both on shooting and wind coaching. He broke his Tyro status in style on his first TR competition in his first Imperial Meeting, with 3rd place in the Clock Tower (now Admiral Hutton) at 800 yds.
Further early success (two top 25 Grand Agg places and two top 12 Queen’s Final places in two years) resulted in his first GB tour – also to Canada – with the 1982 GB Palma team. Shooting subsequently took a lower profile (wife Sue is not convinced) as a growing family and work (Royal Navy until 1993, then BAE Systems) took priority. Since his son and daughter left home, his shooting and coaching have been in resurgence, with a number of selections for NRA, England and GB teams both as shooter and coach, including another GB team tour to Canada in 2010. His tally of Queen’s Final appearances has now reached 11, and he has a substantial number of county championships to his name, both with Dorset and, since 1993, with Berkshire.
Charles also shoots smallbore (county champion in 2014) and, having now taken early retirement, has recently resumed Match Rifle after a 40 year gap, enjoying the challenge of reading the wind at ranges up to 1200 yds. When not shooting, organising shooting, thinking about shooting, coaching less experienced shooters or acting as Treasurer to shooting organisations (just 2 at present), most of his time seems to be spent walking the dog, keeping a rampant garden under some sort of control and finding excuses to avoid the ever-growing list of DIY jobs that need doing round the house. He’d like to find the time to do more travelling, and maybe even take up golf . . .