Targets

The highest possible score is 5 points, if the shot is in the inner-most ring, it is called a 'V-Bull'. The number of 'V-Bulls' are counted up separately and shown after a score. So for example, a ten-shot competition has a highest possible score (HPS) of 50.10.

Hit 1 Point	Outer 2 Points	Magpie 3 Points	Inner 4 Points	Bull 5 Points	V-Bull

Marking

Whilst the shooters and coaches on the firing point are concentrating on the shooting, they could not compete without the markers at the far end of the range. In the USA, the shooters take it in turns to go down to the butts and mark the targets, however in Canada and the UK we rely on professional paid markers.

Markers stand in a long concrete gallery, some 8 feet below ground level, open to the elements on one side but covered by a concrete parapet. They hear the crack of the bullet passing overhead and see the splash in the sandbank opposite. Looking up, (hopefully), a tiny shot hole has appeared in the paper target. The target is then pulled down and a small spotting disk inserted into the hole. Along the bottom of the target, the scoring panel indicates the value of the shot. (See the targets page to understand the scoring system). The old hole is patched up and the target is raised for the next shot. Those back on the firing point can then see where the shot has gone on the target.

When necessary, messages are sent down to the butts from the firing point by radio. If you watch on the firing point, you will often hear the shouting of cryptic messages - below we have included a list to help you understand the most common ones:

Ammunition

There's ammunition...then there's Ammunition

First a little history. Target Rifle shooting has experienced a lot of change over the last 30 years, and, as with most sports, seen an ever-increasing standard at all levels. Scores that seemed superhuman then are now commonplace. Several factors have contributed to this, the first step change in standard came with the development of rifles specifically designed for Target Rifle shooting. Most notably the early 70s saw the advent of the 4 lug front locking bolt, the Swing or SIN action, designed by George Swenson. Variants of this design are now used by 95% of top level shooters in the country.

Probably more significant has been the improvement in ammunition. Until fairly recently all major competition in UK was shot using factory loaded ammunition, almost exclusively from Radway Green (RG), using a 144 grain bullet. However, ammunition quality was variable and often not good enough to allow consistent accurate shooting at the longest range - 1000 yards. Many of us remember having a 'compensating' Enfield No.4 rifle specifically for long range to reduce the effect of this variation. The quality of RG improve after incorporating a new design using a bullet of 155 grains about a decade ago. Other premium quality loads also became available and it is now possible, in reasonable weather, to shoot bull sized groups at 1200 yards with a target rifle, unheard of 20 years ago. The most recent development is the move to Swiss made RUAG ammunition at the Imperial Meeting, Target Rifle's premier championships at Bisley.  Using a 155 grain Sierra bullet, this ammunition is even more consistent. However, in the majority of overseas championships hand-loading is allowed.  In the UK this was the preserve of a few mavericks as it is largely not permitted in competition, but allows the most accurate bullet.

This then poses a quandary for any GB teams competing abroad. What ammunition to use when the majority of the team's domestic shooting experience comes from the use of factory-loaded ammunition. In a team of 20 there may be only 3 or 4 who have the knowledge and experience of developing and loading ammunition. Whilst they may be able to manufacture enough for their own needs while away, it is not a practical proposition for them to load for the whole team. A quick calculation of the time required to make the requirement of about 20,000 needed for a team gives a figure of about 150 hours, or 4 working weeks. Difficult unless you happen to be clinically unhinged!

H.M. The Queen's Prize

The Queen's Prize is generally regarded as the most coverted prize in the shooting world. It was first shot for in 1860 when the Sovereign (Queen Victoria) gave a prize of £250 for the winner. This amount has remained unchanged to this day although in the original days, it was a considerable sum. The winner earns the right to have the initials 'GM' after his or her name (as you may notice in our team list). As detailed in the section below, there are three stages to the competition, the winners of the second stage earn the initials 'SM'.

The final stage is shot on the last Saturday of the NRA Imperial meeting held in July. As the climax of the week, it is the most popular day with spectators as shooting becomes a spectator sport. Each of the 100 finalists has a board behind them showing where their shots have gone. A large score board at the top of Stickledown range keeps everyone up to date with the leader as the competitors shoot through the afternoon. After the winner is presened with the Gold badge (pictured below), he or she is chaired off by fellow team mates to the tune of 'See the Conquering Hero comes' following a military band and the range officials.

Match Conditions

The Queen's Prize has three stages with only the top going through to the subsequent one. In most years well over 1000 competitors start off shooting 2 sighters and seven to count at 3, 5 and 600 yards. The top 300 qualify for the Second stage where they shoot 2 sighters and 10 rounds to count. From these 300, only 100 make the final stage. In the final stage, the shooters scores from the second stage are added to the scores they make shooting 2 sighters and fifteen to count at each 900 and 1000 yards. 

The Grand Aggregate

Competition Background

The Grand Aggregate is a competition that can only be won by consistent shooting. The competition takes place during the Imperial Meeting in July at Bisley and spans a week. The winner and runner up both earn the right to the initials GC (Gold Cross) or SC (Silver Cross) after their names as well as receiving the appropriate medals. Those who make the top 50 win a bronze cross and this also qualifies them to shoot in the NRA's 'X' Class classification.

Jimmy Spaight is the only person to have won this competition 4 times. Of those who have finished in the top 50 of the Grand on more than 5 occassions, Simon Belither currently has the greatest number (22), there are 11 members of the our team in the list.

Match Conditions

The Grand Aggregate is made up of 13 competitions (3 of which are the H.M. Queen's Prize first stage). There are 3 shoots at 300 yards (160 points), 3 at 500 (185 points), 4 at 600 (210 points), 2 at 900 (100 points) and 1 at 1000 yards (50 points). These give a total maximum score of 705.  

Palma Match

The Trophy

The original trophy, (a replica of a Roman SPQR standard) stood at 7 foot 6 inches high, and was made of steel inlaid with gold and silver and enriched with elaborate mountings of copper. The word Palma (Latin for victory or valour) replaced the letters SPQR on the standard, and so the competition became known as the Palma Match. 

This original trophy was last seen in the Pentagon in Washington DC, prior to the Second World War. A replacement trophy was presented in April 1988 by an American benefactor, Herbert Macgregor Aiken (this trophy is still large but about half the original size).

Match Background

The first recorded International Long Range Rifle match was fired on Creedmoor Range in the USA in 1873 between teams from Ireland and the USA, resulting in a win (by three points only) for the USA. The match conditions were 15 shots at each of 800 yards and 900 yards, and 20 shots at 1000 yards. A return match was held in 1874 at Dollymount Range in Ireland and again the USA won, this time by a margin of 39 points. The American team then travelled to Wimbledon, the original home of the NRA, to enter the Elcho Shield match for long range shooting, but were not allowed to enter since the match conditions at the time only allowed teams from England and Scotland. 

The two matches in the USA and Ireland, and the visit of the Americans to Wimbledon, caused the (then) Board of Directors of the NRA of America in 1875 to consider putting International competition onto a "regular" footing. The records of this meeting record that "The prize will be a handsome Trophy presented by the citizens of the United States". The match conditions were to be 30 shots at each of 800 yards, 900 yards and 1000 yards, but were to be for teams of 8 firers. 

The Palma Trophy Match was first fired in 1876 between teams from Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Australia and the USA, and was followed by a return match in 1877. For some unknown reason no teams answered the challenge in 1878, and the match lapsed until it was revived in 1901 with two teams only, from the USA and Canada, competing. The match was held a total of six times in the period leading up to the Great War, when it again lapsed. The match was held again in 1928 against a Cuban team only, and then again lapsed until 1966.

Since 1966 the competition has been held a total of 17 times in different countries, and is now entitled "The World Championship for Long Range Rifle Shooting". 

Match Conditions

The Palma Match is shot over 2 days, each team consisting of 16 firers and 4 coaches with a main coach. The course of fire is 2 sighters and 15 shots to count at 800, 900 and 1000 yards on each of the 2 days.

2011 saw the adoption of new a new scoring system with each bulls-eye scoring 5 points, not 10 as in previous years. The highest possible score is 7200 with 1440 v-bulls per team (450 with 90 v-bulls per person).  A new record score of 7027 with 651 v-bulls was achieved by Great Britain in 2011. The highest individual score is 446 with 53 v-bulls (adjusted to the new scoring system) set by Gillian Webb-Enslin of Australia in 2007.

Previous Winners

Australia Match

The History

Great Britain received a cordial invitation in 1906 from the Rifle Association of Australia, to send a Team in 1907 to compete in an "Imperial Match".

On learning of the intended tour, the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association gave a very pressing invitation to arrange for the team to visit Canada en route, and take part in the match for the Palma Trophy in Ottawa.

The seventeen men of the Great Britain Rifle Team to Canada and Australia, 1907, were led by Major P.W. Richardson and sailed from Liverpool on 9th August.

Having shot in the Palma match, they sailed onto Sydney, Australia and shot for three days in Queensland. The first Imperial Match was shot over the two following days later, it was renamed the Empire Match. In 1988 it was once again renamed to the Australia Match.

A splendid silver trophy was presented for the competition. Mounted on black marble, it weighs more than 2 cwt. (Perhaps one of the reasons it does not leave Australia when other nations win the competition).

From 2010 the match has been shot on ICFRA targets. The Great Britain team won the match that year, scoring 1972 with 207 v-bulls (out of a possible 2000 with 400 v-bulls), thereby setting a new record score. Tom Rylands (Great Britain, 2010) and Bryan Litz (USA, 2011) hold the highest individual score of 200 with 26 v-bulls. The previous team record was held by Australia, scoring 1977 with 217 v-bulls at Brisbane in 2005.

Match Conditions

The Australia Match is shot for by a team of 10 firers. Each shooter fires 2 sighters and 10 shots to count at 300, 600, 900 and 1000 yards. The Match can be held in any country when the NRA of Australia decrees.

Previous Winners

The Kolapore Match

The Trophy

In 1870 the Rajah of Kolapore presented £100 to the NRA as a prize. He had also sent his £10 subscription, but died suddenly some months before the Wimbledon meeting of 1871. The NRA Council decided that the whole amount should be invested in a trophy, a pair of silver challenge vases, to be called after the Rajah and to be competed for by teams from India, the Colonies and one United Team from the Mother Country.

Match Background

The first match was held in 1872 between teams of 20 from Canada and the Mother Country. Canada won the first match. In 1872 the number of firers in each team was reduced from 20 to 8.

India have competed since 1874. In 1876 the Mother Country team had to be selected from those who had taken part in the National Match and had to include the 2 lowest scorers. Jersey and Guernsey entered for the first time in 1882. The Australian states of Victoria and Queensland entered in 1897 as well as New Zealand and Natal of South Africa. Australia entered as a country for the first time in 1902 and won the match. West Indies entered in 1908 as West India. South Africa entered as a country for the first time in 1910.

The Match record is held by Great Britain with a score of 1199 with 201 v-bulls, out of 1200 with 240 v-bulls, achieved by Nick Tremlett's team in 2012.  The highest individual score is 150 with 29 v-bulls by Paul Kent (Great Britain) in the same year.

Match Conditions

Up to 1908 the match conditions were 7 shots at 200, 500 and 600 yards. From 1908 to 1914, it changed to 7 shots at 300, 500 and 600 yards. In 1919 the number of shots increased to 1 sighter and 10 shots at 300, 500 and 600 yards and this has remained in place to this day. The match is shot at Bisley during the annual Imperial meeting. The Mother Country was renamed Great Britain in 1982.  

Previous Winners

The Mackinnon Match

The Trophy

The Mackinnon was first shot in 1891 for a purse of £20 donated by Colonel W. Mackinnon, Secretary of the NRA. The following year Colonel Mackinnon presented the present trophy.

Match Background

First shot in 1891, the match was originally open to teams of "Efficient Volunteers" from England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, India, Canada and several colonies, firing five directed volleys at 400 yards.

In 1902 the match conditions were changed to teams of 12, shooting 10 shots each at 900 and 1000 yards. These are the same conditions used today.

The highest possible score is 1200 with 240 v-bulls. The record score is 1176 with 139 v-bulls, achieved by John Warburton's England team in 2012. The highest individual score is 100 with 17 v-bulls, shot by Ed Jeens (Wales) in 2010 and Peter Jory (Guernsey) in 2001.

Previous Winners

The National Match

The History

In 1864, a "Rifle Conference" was held in London under much publicity. One of the outcomes of the conference was the establishment of what was originally known as the International Enfield Match for teams of English and Scottish volunteers. The first match was shot at Wimbledon in July 1864. After this occasion, invitations to design a trophy resulted in 22 entries. The winning design (shown opposite) was submitted by Messrs Elkington & Co. designed by their artist Mr Auguste Wilms.

England have monopolised the competition over the past 40 years but in 2002, Ireland won the match, 5 points ahead of England. As entitled, Ireland announced that the 2003 Match would be held at Ballykinler ranges in May. On this occasion, England won with a score of 2071, 29 points ahead of Ireland with Scotland in third place one point behind them. Glyn Barnett had the top score of 105.19.

The record score for the match is held by England in 1999 who scored 2082.293 (out of 2100). The highest individual score is 105 with 21 v-bulls by David Luckman (Great Britain) in 2010.

Match Conditions

The National match is shot for by a team from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales each with 20 firers on 5 targets. Each shooter fires 1 sighter and 7 shots to count at 300, 500 and 600 yards. As mentioned above, the match is now held at Bisley but a winning team captain is entitled to hold the match in their own country as Ireland did in 2003.

Previous Winners

America Match

The Trophy

The trophy was presented in 2002 on the occasion of the first match. It was made possible by the fund-raising effort of Precision Shooting Magazine. The two figures depicted in the sculpture are the Canadian Jim Thompson, and Alan Warner (standing) of the United States. George Chase a member of the DCRA from New Brunswick was commissioned to design and make the trophy.

Match Background

First shot in 2002, the match can only take place when an official US team is present and competing. The intent is to hold the match every two years, with the last one held during the 2012 USA National Matches at Camp Perry range in Ohio, USA. The next match breaks tradition and will be shot at the General de Wet ranges near Bloemfontein in the Free Sate province, South Africa.

In 2002, USA, Canada, Great Britain and Germany competed for the match. On this occassion, Great Britain won the match from Canada with a margin of 48 points with USA a further 9 points behind them. John Pugsley made the top score of the day dropping only 2 points for a 298.30. The following occasion, in Raton, New Mexico, the USA beat Great Britain.

Match Conditions

A team of 8 shooters, two sub-coaches, a main coach, an adjutant, a captain and 2 reserves. Each firer shoots 2 sighters and 15 shots to count at 300, 600, 900 and 1000 yards (or 300, 600 yards and 800 and 900 metres as appropriate to the venue).

The record score is 2392 with 317 v-bulls by Great Britain in 2006 and the highest individual 300.46 by Des Vamplew (Canada) in 2010.

Previous Winners

Canada Match

The Trophy

The Canada Match is a Challenge Cup presented by The Canadian National Railways 1931, for competition between teams representing the Mother Country and Canada at the Annual Prize Meeting of The Dominion of Canada Rifle Association.

The trophy is a Sheffield Sterling Plate Bowl style cup with two handles, a lid on which stands a Victory Figure, a long stem tapering to a tiered and flared base. With the lid in place the trophy stands 657 mm high, 430 mm across the handles, 280 mm in diameter at the top, 178 mm in diameter at the flared base. The Trophy stands on a wooden base which is mahogany in colour and which measures 134 mm high and 330 mm square.

The History

In 1931 Great Britain sent a rifle team to Canada under command of Sir Lionel Fletcher, CBE to compete against Canada's best marksmen at the Annual Prize Meeting of the DCRA. Prior to that year no International team matches were included in the regular schedule of events. It was considered fitting therefore that a short range event following the Traditional Conditions prescribed for "The Kolapore" at Bisley be introduced. The conditions called for teams of 8 marksmen each firing two sighting shots and ten shots for record at each of 300, 500 and 600 yards within a specified time limit. The match was titled "The Canada Match" and with the assistance and generosity of The Canadian National Railways, the Canada Trophy was placed in competition.

Match Conditions

The Canada Match is always shot in Canada, by a team of 8 firers. Each shooter fires 2 sighters and 10 shots to count at 300, 500 and 600 yards. In 2012 Great Britain scored 1200 with 156 v-bulls out of 1200 with 240 v-bulls, breaking the previous record of 1199 set in 2007. This is the first time any team has achieved a maximum score in an international team match. The highest individual score is 150 with 28 v-bulls by David Luckman (Great Britain) in 2007.

Previous Winners

* Current Record (1200.156 ex. 1200.240)

Match results listed are those where a GB or Home Countries team were present.

Commonwealth Match

The Trophy

The Commonwealth Trophy was presented to the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association by The Canadian Pacific Railway Company for annual competition between Empire Teams in 1931.

It is a Sheffield Sterling Bowl with two handles and a prone figure of a marksman mounted on the stem base. The bowl is mounted on a three tier black wooden base upon which the names of winning teams are recorded on small silver shields. Hallmarked M & W, the crown, Lion Passant and year of manufacture symbol. The bowl is 215 mm in height, 420 mm across the handles, 286 mm in diameter at the top and 193 mm in diameter at the base of the stem; the three tier wooden base is not shown in the photo.

The History

In 1931 Great Britain sent a rifle team to Canada under command of Sir Lionel Fletcher, CBE, to compete against Canada's best marksmen at the Annual Prize Meeting of the DCRA. Prior to that year, no international team matches were included in the regular schedule of events. It was considered fitting that a long range event following the traditional conditions of "The Mackinnon" at Bisley be introduced. The conditions called for Teams of 12 marksmen each firing 2 sighting shots and 10 shots for record at each of 900 and 1000 yards within a specified time limit. The match was Titled "The Empire Match" and with the assistance and generosity of The Canadian Pacific Railways Company, the Empire Trophy was placed in competition.

While the general conditions of "The Empire Match" have continued through the years, it was renamed "The Commonwealth Match" following World War II and is currently fired at 800 and 900 meters.

Match Conditions

The Commonwealth Match is always shot in Canada, by a team of 12 firers. Each shooter fires 2 sighters and 10 shots to count at 800m and 900m. The highest individual score is 100 with 17 v-bulls by David Luckman (Great Britain) in 2007 and Parag Patel (Great Britian) in 2002.  The Great Britain Team from 2002 hold the record score of 1189 and 140 v-bulls (Captain: John Bloomfield).

Previous Winners

Match results listed are those where a GB or Home Countries team were present.