Bisley Schools week is the most important event in the CCF shooting calendar and the start of the NRA imperial meeting. Cranleigh first entered this in 1920.
In recent years, the recent Cranleigh shooting team has become known as a team to keep an eye on, achieving National success in Air Rifle and Target Sprint.
We started to compete at Bisley again 3 years ago, with teams drawn from the Sixth Form which has been fantastic but problematic to keep reinventing the wheel each year.
This year, a team of very keen Lower Sixth cadets wanted to do more shooting and proved that they had a real talent for it.
With this young team, a 4 year plan was formed around them. Captained by Anise R, we fitted in training when we could. With help from the Old Cranleighans they attended a training weekend in March, entered the South East Cadet meet (which they came 3rd in) and shot against the OC’s at Bisley.
51 teams and 450 Cadets arrived at the famous Century range to shoot throughout the week, building up to Ashburton day on Thursday.
From the start the team took on board all the coaching and improved throughout the week and it soon became apparent that this was not going to be just a training week.
Ashburton day starts with the Scottish Schools parading with bagpipes along the firing which sets the tone for this historic day. We entered the Ashburton IV’s and Cadet pairs and after a shaky start due to nerves the team soon got into the rhythm and were very efficient with their changeovers.
Each firer shoots a 2 & 7, which is two sighters and 7 to count with a hps of 35. Top score went to Monty O getting our highest score with 32.2 meaning only 3 shots were not in the ballseye. All firers achieved a minimum of 30 points.
The final match is the Spencer-Mellish. Each School selects one firer to shoot a 2 & 10 with no coaches. This meant Jack S had to judge wind, plot elevation and shoot all on his own. Nerve racking for the staff and parents to watch but Jack kept his cool and shot an impressive 42.1, the highest score Cranleigh has got in this event.
As the day came to a close word came round that Cranleigh were on the scoreboard in 5th place in the Ashburton IV’s. We estimate this is the first time in 40 years and quite possibly much longer. Cranleigh also came 4th in the East Surrey Bicentenary bowl and 9th in the Cadet pairs.
Full credit must go to the team (Anise R, Jack S, Bella S, Hugo L, James W and Monty O) for all their hard work during the week with some high scores – very impressive when you think, shooting is not a sport option for them and we do not have a range.
Thanks to OC’s Simon and Tim for helping with coaching and Mrs Taylor and Mr Walker for coaching and managing the team.
Huge thanks to the parents who have supported the Cadets all the way. Without your enthusiasm it would not be possible.
