News
June Training
Featured Team Members
Bill Richards
SM SB
This will be Bill’s fifth Palma Match, as well as being his fifth tour to South Africa, but will be his first as the Main Coach. Although coaching has been at the centre of each of these Palma matches, Bill has picked up a few individual shooting medals along the way and has desires to add to these in 2024.
One of the knock-ons from Covid was the rescheduling of the Palma from April into March. As a teacher, this placed both the 2023 and 2024 tours in term-time and Bill is extremely grateful for the understanding shown by Bede’s School in allowing him the time away from school to compete.
One of the things that Bill tells his students, (in jest!), when they have to miss a lesson due to a sports fixture is “don’t bother coming back unless you win!”. What’s good enough for them…
David Luckman
GM2 GC3 SM SB3 SC6
David will be touring South Africa for a ninth time having first visited with the Great Britain team 26 years ago. He is looking forward to catching up with friends, both local and international, and is hoping to compete in his seventh Palma Match.
David’s successes include winning the H.M. Queen’s Prize (twice), Grand Aggregate (3 times), the St George’s (4 times) plus four Gold Medals at the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games. In 2015, he finally managed to shed the title of ‘Oldest ever World Individual Long Range rifle champion’ but his new long-term goal is to one day regain that title.
David started shooting with Sedgemoor Target Shooting Club and represents Somerset county. He is married to Susie and lives in Bristol with their children Thomas and Sophie. When he has time, David is a keen sports player and enjoys cycling, tennis, and swimming.
Under 25s
Alice Good
GM
Alice started shooting at the University of Cambridge where she soon found form in the Varsity matches against Oxford, helping her team to a steady stream of victories. Following steady improvement year after year and not a little frustration at narrowly missing out on top-scoring some of the team matches she was selected for, including being 3 vee-bulls short of top scoring for England in her first National, Alice won the H.M. Queen’s Prize in 2022, becoming only the third ever woman to do so.
Away from Bisley, Alice has just graduated as a veterinary surgeon, and enjoys horse riding when she finds the time. She is looking forward to her first tour and experiencing shooting a target rifle at a range other than Bisley. Rumour has it she’s also the team doctor so, in combination with the human doctor on the team, she trust all medical risks will be covered.
Under 21s
Hayden Thomson
Hayden first began shooting in 2017 at Dollar Academy under the watchful eye of Craig Stewart and was appointed Captain in his final year. He is currently a member of the Exeter University Rifle Club and is in his second year of studying International Relations with the intention of going to Sandhurst after graduating and embarking on a career in the Army.
Having toured to Jersey and Guernsey, with the Athelings and GB U19 teams respectively, he is looking forward to touring further afield with the opportunities for varying shooting conditions and cultures that are to be experienced. A true Scot, he shot for Scotland in this year’s National Match, and West of Scotland in the Inter Counties and is pleased to be representing those north of the border. Following the tour, he hopes to continue shooting for Exeter University and help continue the team’s recent successes.
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.
Charles Dickenson
Charles started shooting at Cambridge University, rapidly becoming hooked on both shooting and wind coaching. Early successes resulted in his first GB tour to Canada with the 1982 Palma team.
Shooting subsequently took a lower profile as a growing family and work (Royal Navy, then BAE Systems) took priority. Since his son and daughter left home in 2003, his shooting has been in resurgence, with a number of selections for NRA, England and GB teams both as a shooter and a coach, including further GB team tours to Canada in 2010 and 2016.
Charles also shoots smallbore and Match Rifle and enjoys giving back to the sport by coaching less experienced shooters. Any remaining time is spent looking after three grandchildren, walking, helping Sue keep the garden under control and doing endless DIY jobs around the house.
Tour Information
Captain’s Foreword
