Shooting Stars!

Our Scouts on target at the National Scout Air Rifle Championships

Richmond upon Thames can be proud of the conduct and achievements of 38 Scouts, Explorers and Leaders from 1st Twickenham (1st Twick), 1st Hampton Hill (1HH), 3rd Hampton Hill (3HH) and Peake ESU who took part in the Bisley National Scout Rifle Championships this October, the first competition since 2019. The weekend brought over 550 Scouts, Explorers and Leaders to Bisley with over 130 Groups from as far as Jersey to Cheshire.

Our Scouts returned with armfuls of trophies and medals!

Below is a list of the individual and team results achieving gold, silver, bronze and near misses, where Junior means U14.  Everyone 14 and over is a Senior.

A huge well done to them all and especially Lauren from 1^st Twickenham  and Freddie from 3rd Hampton Hill who did particularly well…

1. The Stock Trophy 2022 (for competitors U14 in smallbore .22 Advanced): Gold – Lauren Mackernan (1^st Twick), also coming 4th overall;
2. Junior Turning Target (semi-automatic .22 rifle bench resting): Gold – Lauren Mackernan (1^st Twick) scoring 98 out of 100;
3. Senior Turning Target (underlever .38 rifle standing): Silver – Thomas Tasso (Peake) missing out on gold by a tie break; and Bronze – Saken Mukan (3HH) just one point behind gold;
4. Senior Target Sprint Beginners: Silver – Sam Barnes (Peake ESU);
5. Junior Target Sprint Beginners: 4^th – Freddie King-Smith (3HH) 9 seconds off Bronze;
6. Senior Field Target: Gold – Paul Fitchett (3HH) out of 267 competitors;
7. Junior Pistol: Gold – Freddie King-Smith (3HH) out of 198;
8. Team Pistol (highest scoring Senior and 3x highest scoring U14’s): Bronze – Jon Holloway, Freddie King-Smith, Matilda Castle & Gabriel St John-Smith (3HH);
9. The Walton Firs Trophy 2022 (awarded for the most improved air rifle performance by a Scout U14 (and over 12): Lauren Mackernan (1st Twick);
10. Junior Air Rifle U14 (and over 12): Silver – Lauren Mackernan (1st Twick);
11. The Ken White trophy (Junior Air Rifle for all scouts U14): Bronze – Lauren Mackernan (1st Twick) out of 204;
12. Team Air Rifle, the Fellowship Trophy (highest scoring Senior and 3x highest scoring U14’s): Silver – Wend Williamson, Freddie King-Smith, Josh Ash & Matilda Castle;
13. The Chief’s Prize (for the overall national U14 champion with an aggregate score comprising rifle, pistol & field target): Gold – Freddie King-Smith (3HH) out of 204;
14. The NSRA Cup (for the best aggregate score comprising rifle, pistol & field target by a shooter aged 14 and over): Tilly Tiffin (3HH) came 10^th out of 304;
15. Junior Connaught Trophy for the overall national U14 champions (team aggregate comprising rifle, pistol & field target): Bronze – Freddie King-Smith, Josh Ash & Evie Mackelworth (3HH);
16. Senior Connaught Trophy for the overall national champions (team aggregate comprising rifle, pistol & field target): Bronze – Arne King-Smith, Tilly Tiffin & Saken Mukan (representing RUT District in a team comprising 2x 3HH and 1x Peake);
17. Jeff Smith and Elaine Davies (both 1HH) came first in the .22 Smallbore Class B and gained an Honorable Mention.

DID YOU KNOW: Shooting is a very popular activity with our Scouts and Explorers. 1st Hampton Hill Sea Scout Group, 3rd Hampton Hill Scout Group and 1st Whitton Scout Group all operate their own air rifle shooting ranges. The District organises an annual competition and many Groups and Units take full advantage of the Twickenham Rifle & Pistol Club