News
June Training
Featured Team Members
Derek Lowe
Derek began fullbore shooting in the cadet force at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, moving on to the Athelings in 1991, Oxford University and the Surrey county team through the 1990s. He has been fortunate enough to represent England or Great Britain in various guises in Australia, Canada, Jersey, Kenya, Namibia, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
This tour will be Derek’s sixth to South Africa, and fourth as Adjutant. Keenest at long range and in a team environment, he also spends a lot of time in Match Rifle. Aside from coaching and shooting (usually in that order), Derek sits on various committees in order to delay the inevitable moments when he has to leave Bisley. He is an experienced charity trustee both in shooting circles and at the church he attends in central London, and works in corporate management for a shuttle tanker fleet.
Hannah Cook
Hannah’s introduction to shooting sure isn’t the norm. At the tender age of 7, she could be found shooting tin cans in the garden, but was finally taken to a ‘real club’ at the age of 11. At the age of 14, she got the ‘bug’ for international shooting, and competed at the 2006 World Championships in both 50m prone (Junior Women’s), and 300m (Senior Women’s). While studying at Wellington College, she began her Target Rifle career, breaking her Tyro at the first attempt. With one cap under her belt, she is looking forward to achieving two personal goals in 2024; competing at a World Championships in all disciplines she has shot, and being a part of the winning Palma team!
Off the range, Hannah can be found donning her professional uniform as a Physiotherapist working on a respiratory ward.
Under 25s
Tom Shaw
Tom is a self-employed architectural designer, specialising in residential development and contemporary design. The majority of Tom’s work is based in Oxfordshire and Berkshire, but he has plans to move into residential property development in the near future.
He began shooting at the Oratory School and is now Captain of the school’s alumni team, known as the Cardinals. This will be his third overseas tour in two years, having visited Kenya and South Africa with England, and Canada as his first full GB cap, both in 2023.
Tom is very proud to be part of such a strong U25 team and is honoured to have been appointed Vice-Captain. There is no doubt about the talent in the team and Tom is hopeful that they will be successful in their pursuit of the Word Championship title, even against the fickle Bloemfontein winds.
Under 21s
James Burch
James started shooting fullbore with the Royal Marines Cadets in 2019, joining the UKCRT the following year; a tour that was sadly cancelled due to COVID. He later toured to Jersey with the Athelings in 2021, and Guernsey as Captain of the GB U19 team in 2023, winning the Guernsey Grand Aggregate. Recently, James has represented Somerset in various county matches, and has shot with the GB U25s in non-capped events.
Since all of James’s tours have been affected by travel restrictions, mainly due to COVID, he is really excited to finally have the opportunity to tour outside of Europe for the first time!
Outside of shooting, James enjoys playing guitar, skiing and running. He is currently in his first year of a Physics Degree at the University of Nottingham, where he is hoping to help the university rifle club get underway.
Veterans
Stephen Penrose
Having first discovered the delights of shooting in South Africa as part of the 1993 GB team, Stephen is looking forward to making his 10th return visit. He first started shooting at Rugby School, continuing at Cambridge University where he managed to change course enough times to ensure he got in plenty of practice. Over the years, he has shot in many teams matches, has captained the England team in the National Match and enjoyed the odd highlight individually too – winning the SA Long Range Agg in 1993 and State President prize in 1999.
Stephen is a veterinary surgeon by profession and was a partner in a small-animal practice in Colchester; now managing a small property business. He is a keen skier and, with all three children having flown the nest, he enjoys travelling with his wife Kate.
John Bellringer
GC SB
John learned to shoot at Epsom College and progressed to represent Surrey county 48 years ago, and they still drag him out on occasions. He has been lucky enough to qualify for the Big 5, winning both as a coach and shooter. Whilst he has been fortunate to make the Sovereign’s Final at Bisley 28 times and the top 50 of the Bisley Grand Aggregate 23 times, he now gets more joy chatting with fellow competitors, helping youngsters, and greeting overseas visitors.
John retired as a dental surgeon five years ago, leaving him more time to fly fish and wave his shotgun around with varying degrees of success. Sarah, his wife, enjoys her time at Bisley and they have two grown-up sons: Edward and Alexander who keep him in his place.
He is much looking forward to the SABU meeting and is sure he will leave with more friends.
Tour Information
Captain’s Foreword
