Category: Competition News

2025 National Meeting

by Web Teamin Competition News

Wales was present again at the NSRA National Meeting at Bisley this year with a tent and teams contesting the Home Countries matches.

The Weekend Aggregate saw Richard Hemingway place 19th in X-Class, whilst RM Davies took 12th in A-Class. Chris Nunan placed 4th in C. In the Grand Aggregate, Fred Brown won the WH Watkins Challenge Cup for Leading Welsh Competitor.

A group of smiling people pose for a group photograph on a shooting range. The three at the front are seated. They wear tops bearing the emblem of the Welsh Target Shooting Federation.

Wales contested the Home Countries International Mixed Team of 10 and Men’s Team of 5, placing third in both matches. Congratulations to Chris Nunan, Colin Pearce and Dave Parfitt who all received their first cap for Wales in the process.

Competitor50M100Ydaggregatemen’s team of 5
R Hemingway193189382Y
F Brown190187377Y
C Nunan189186375Y
J Holmes190183373
L Webster188183371Y
E Jones189180369
C Pearce181185366Y
R Beard183183366
D Parfitt186180366
S Day181180361
Team Totals37061871

In the British Long-Range Prone Championship (the Earl Roberts), four Welsh shooters qualified to the second stage – Richard Hemingway, Fred Brown, Chris Nunan and Judith Holmes. In the second stage, Richard qualified for the Final where he placed 10th and earned the Western Mail & Echo Cup as leading Welsh competitor.

Two smiling men stand in a tent, one is holding a medal they have been awarded. It bears a red welsh dragon and the words "Welsh Shooting".
David receives his first Welsh cap
Two smiling men stand in a tent, one is holding a medal they have been awarded. It bears a red welsh dragon and the words "Welsh Shooting".
Chris receives his first Welsh cap
Two smiling men stand in a tent, one is holding a medal they have been awarded. It bears a red welsh dragon and the words "Welsh Shooting".
Colin receives his first Welsh cap
A group of smiling men pose for a group photograph on a shooting range. The three at the front are seated. They wear tops bearing the emblem of the Welsh Target Shooting Federation.
A man kneels next to a plotting board on a shooting range. He is holding an unloaded target rifle and wearing a red and green shooting jacket. The board is titled "Earl Roberts Final" and the shots on the target have been marked by a spotter along with estimated scores for the benefit of spectators.
Richard with plotting board after the Roberts Championship
Two smiling men stand holding silver trophies. One is in a casual white shirt and black jacket. The other is suited with a red and green tie and a black blazer bearing a red and green badge. The badge reads "Welsh Target Shooting Federation" and is embroidered with the Prince of Wales Feathers. They stand in front of a table covered in a blue cloth, on which stands a huge silver trophy. Behind the table the Union flag and other flags are hung.
Fred & Richard – leading Welsh competitors in the Aggregate and Roberts

Dave guides GB to historic win

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David Phelps of Llantristant and Cardiff Target Shooting Club guided Britain to a historic win on Friday as Coach to the GB Roberts Match Team.

Bringing to a close 12 months of selection trials and training camps, Dave fulfilled his final duties leading the wind coaches on Century as GB fought USA for the Earl Roberts Trophy. Britain had pride to regain, having lost at home in 2017 when the Roberts was last contested, and also losing the 2013 and 2021 editions of the reciprocal Pershing Match in the USA.

Friday 15th August was a scorching day. Starting out calm in the early morning, the wind picked up slightly to give light but unstable conditions for the 1pm match start, with temperatures touching 30C with punishing humidity. It was reassuring that the Americans also found it uncomfortable!

A man sits on a plastic chair on a shooting range firing point. He looks over this right shoulder to see the behaviour of wind flags behind him and any incoming gusts. A scope is mounted in front of him on a tripod, allowing him to watch the movement of mirage. Blurred red and yellow wind flags are visible in the distance.

Starting at 50metres, American Sarah Beard set the individual pace, with an outstanding 199/200. 197 was the highest GB score from Adam Fowler, Lina Jones and Lenny Thomson, matched by Nick Mowrer and Mike Carter of the US. At the halfway mark, the score was 1937 to 1947 in favour of Britain.

At 100yards, the wind picked up and Dave’s calm recitation of conditions and incoming gusts proved it’s worth as the majority of the GB team kept above 190. Sarah Beard again had the best of it with a score of 197/200, but scores across the remainder of the US team tumbled dramatically.

By the end, GB had dropped 84 points at the longer distance, but the US had dropped 116.

The final result was a definitive GB win, with a 42 point lead being one of the largest margins in recent matches.

Great Britain – 3863 – 3821 – United States

The Roberts and Pershing matches feature teams of ten shooters, each firing twenty shots at 50metres and 100yards. The only difference between the two being that local targets are used. American targets have a larger ten-ring than the British, meaning it is not uncommon for top-flight shooters to go clean, and for ranking to be done by counting back inner-bulls. Each match takes place once every 8 years, on a 4-year offset. GB will travel to the US in 2029 to compete the Pershing Trophy once again.

Three smiling men stand on a shooting range. They wear black caps with the word "Eley" on it, and hold a box of Eley Tenex match ammunition. They wear shirts bwith the words "Roberts Match GB 2025" on.
Dave with GB Team Captain Mike Arnstein and Adjutant Chris Hunter

Aidan & Brinley score at Junior International

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Aidan Healy and Brinley Rose both shot strongly at the GB Junior International, held in Surrey prior to the NSRA National Meeting.

In the Prone, Brinley put in strong and improving scores of 561 in the Grand Prix and 564 in the Championship match.

Aidan won the 50M Mixed 3×20 with an excellent score of 565, which we believe to be a Welsh Junior Men’s Record.

Challenging conditions at Welsh 50M Open

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This weekend saw competitors sweat it out in 29degree temperatures at the Welsh 50M Championships, held at Tondu Target Shooting Club.

Saturday morning saw uncommonly calm conditions for Tondu, leaving the firing point hot and humid. Competitors contested one of three elimination details with the top qualifers of each squad progressing to the Open Final on Saturday afternoon, and the top 15 WSRA members progressing to the Confined Final on Sunday morning.

Paris Paralympic Games medallist Tim Jeffrey managed the highest qualifying score to win X-Class with 623.7. He was closely followed by Alan Bain on 622.4. Chris Hunter also cracked the 620 mark with 620.3. In the Pairs, Rob Morgan and Alan Ainge of Torfaen took the B/C Pairs, whilst the Open Pairs saw a tie-break – Chris Hunter and Simon Green lost the countback to Tim Jeffrey and Alun Evans. Aidan Healy was top Welsh Junior whilst Chris Brown was top Veteran.

A welcome breeze picked up for the Open Final, where Tim improved on the moning with a score of 624.1 to become the 2025 Welsh Open Champion. Matt Dixon took silver and Chris Hunter bronze.

Sunday morning dawned with welcome drizzle and a fresher breeze. Liam Webster made the best of it to become Welsh Confined Champion with 610.1. Defending champion Richard Hemingway placed second, with Martin Newman in third. Liam became the first recipient of the DWF Phelps Welsh Outdoor Championship Trophy. In previous years prizes have been awarded for the confined championship, but the Association has now acquired a trophy for annual competition, which has been named to honour double Commonwealth Games gold medallist David Phelps.

Sunday also saw the Open Three-Position match, by which time the wind was back to “Tondu Standard”. Olivia Beech of Rugeley RC and Wigan TSC made the best of the difficult conditions with 564/600, closely followed by Alun Evans on 562 and Louis Norman on 558. A special mention to Neil Sinclair who suffered a non-allowable malfunction with his sights (meaning no extra time was granted) but managed to complete the match, finishing his entire Standing phase in the last 10 minutes with a 90 and 91, which got him to fourth place.

Enormous thanks go to organisers Dave Phelps, Rob Warnes and Niall Evans who brought the targetry to the site, ran the range and kept the event running smoothly. Thanks also go to Tondu TSC for the generous use of their range.

Full Results

  • A target shooter aims on a shooting range. They wear a red hat and a special blue and white jacket shooting which has the name "Jeffery" stitched onto the back of it.
  • Two people stand on a shooting range holding a trophy
  • Two people stand in front of a projection screen. The man wearing a formal jacket and tie presents prize to an athlete.
  • Two people stand in front of a projection screen. The man wearing a formal jacket and tie presents prize to an athlete.
  • Two people stand in front of a projection screen. The man wearing a formal jacket and tie presents prize to an athlete.
  • Three people stand in front of a projection screen. The man wearing a formal jacket and tie presents prizes to two athletes.
  • Two people stand in front of a projection screen. The man wearing a formal jacket and tie presents prize to an athlete.
  • Two people stand in front of a projection screen. The man wearing a formal jacket and tie presents prize to an athlete.
  • Two people stand in front of a projection screen. The man wearing a formal jacket and tie presents prize to an athlete.
  • Two people stand in front of a projection screen. The man wearing a formal jacket and tie presents prize to an athlete.
  • Two people stand in front of a projection screen. The man wearing a formal jacket and tie presents prize to an athlete.
  • Two people stand in front of a projection screen. The man wearing a formal jacket and tie presents prize to an athlete.
  • Two people stand in front of a projection screen. The man wearing a formal jacket and tie presents prize to an athlete.
  • Two people stand in front of a projection screen. The man wearing a formal jacket and tie presents a prize to an athlete.
  • Two people stand in front of a projection screen. The man wearing a formal jacket and tie presents a medal to an athlete.
  • Two people stand in front of a projection screen. The man wearing a formal jacket and tie presents a medal to an athlete.
  • Two people stand in front of a projection screen. The man wearing a formal jacket and tie presents a medal to an athlete.
  • Two people stand in front of a projection screen. The man wearing a formal jacket and tie presents a medal to an athlete.
  • Two people stand in front of a projection screen. The man wearing a formal jacket and tie presents a medal to an athlete.
  • Two people stand in front of a projection screen. The man wearing a formal jacket and tie presents a medal to an athlete.
  • Two people stand in front of a projection screen. The man in a red, white and green top presents a prize to an athlete.
  • Two people stand in front of a projection screen. The man in a red, white and green top presents a prize to an athlete.
  • Three people pose in front of a projection screen. The man in a red, white and green top presents a prize to an athlete wearing black who is seated in a wheelchair.
  • Two people stand in front of a projection screen. The man in a red, white and green top presents a prize to an athlete.
  • A male Para athlete aims a target rifle from the "kneeling" position. As he is in a wheelchair, this means he allowed to rest his left elbow but the right elbow must be unsupported in free space. He wears visor bearing the Welsh dragon and a red and green shooting jacket.
  • A female athlete loads a round into a smallbore target rifle The rearsight is mounted on tall sight raising blocks. The silver chassis bears the Walther logo.

Welsh Indoor Championships Results

by Web Teamin Competition News

Liam Webster of Penrhiwpal was crowned Welsh Short Range Prone Champion this weekend at the WSRA Indoor Championships at Penarth Rifle Club, winning the Open and Confined events. Martin Newman was Runner Up. Dave Love of Penarth won the Confined Benchrest, with Russ Jackson of Chepstow winning the Open Benchrest. Tom Szemeti of Swansea University was top student, and the Swansea Univeristy team led the Cardiff Uni team.

Huge thanks go to Dave Love and Corinne Spiers who ran and scored the event.

WSRA INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS 2025Download

2024 National Meeting Report

by Web Teamin Competition News

Wales was well represented at Bisley 2024, with a Welsh tent for competitors and a strong Welsh entry to the Aggregates and Earl Roberts Championship.

Notable results include the Weekend Aggregate where Sian Corish placed second in X-Class, and Andrew Tyler placed third in D-Class. In the Grand Aggregate, Judith Holmes placed third in C-Class.

In the Earl Roberts Championship, Sian Corish qualified for the Final, from 8 Welsh shooters who made it to the Second Stage.

Wales was represented in the Home Countries by a Mixed Team of 10, and Men’s and Women’s Teams of 5. All three teams finished third.

Full Results at the NSRA Website

A group of smiling people pose for a group photograph on a shooting range, with a Welsh Flag held by those sitting.
Welsh Men’s Team of 5, with Captain and Adjutant
A woman poses in front of a plotting board with her target rifle and young child. The board reads "Earl Roberts Final"
Sian and Emma after the Earl Roberts Final
A group of smiling people pose for a group photograph on a shooting range, with a Welsh Flag held by those sitting.
Welsh Women’s Team of 5, with Captain and Adjutant
A group of smiling people pose for a group photograph on a shooting range, with a Welsh Flag held by those sitting.
The Welsh Mixed Team of 10

GB Caps for Hemingway and Corish

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Welsh shooters Sian Corish and Richard Hemingway were selected to shoot for Great Britain on Saturday after excellent performances in the Dewar Match Trials held at Appleton Rifle Club.

Scoring 789/800, Richard finished top of his squad to qualify for the team. Sian placed fourth in the same squad. The top five from each of four squads made up the team of twenty.

The Dewar Match is an International Postal against the United States, with South Africa and Australia also entering in some years. Following the Trials, the team shot their cards – the scores of which are embargoed until the other teams have shot their end of the match. Liam Webster also qualified for the trials, but missed selection from his squad after a difficult shoot at 100yards.

Gold for Team Wales at British 50Metre Championships

by Web Teamin Competition News

The WSRA team won the Home Countries 3-Position Rifle Match at the NSRA British 50Metre Championships this weekend, pipping England by just three points – 1655 to 1652. Congratulations to team members Richie Bray, Alun Evans and Aidan Healy.

The team honours were matched with individual success – Alun won Silver and Richie took Bronze in the NSRA British Mixed 3P Championship.

An athlete in a wheelchair receives a medal from a match official in front of a podium and white backdrop.
Richie receives individual 3P Bronze
Three people are on a shooting range holding medals. All wear red and white shirts bearing the logo of the Welsh Target Shooting Federation. The young man in the middle is flanked by two men in wheelchairs.
Richie, Aidan and Alun win Team 3P Gold
An athlete in a wheelchair receives a medal from a match official in front of a podium and white backdrop.
Alun receives individual 3P Silver
Athletes on the firing point at the 2024 British 50Metre Championships. A row of shooters are firing from the kneeling position on a covered firing point looking onto an outdoor range. Photo: Eleanor Shorey, https://www.nsratheshorey.com

Hemingway retains Welsh title at Tondu

by Web Teamin Competition News

Richard Hemingway retained his title at the Welsh 50M Championships this weekend at Tondu Target Shooting Club.

Saturday dawned overcast but calm for the Open. Richard Hemingway topped qualification and X-Class with a score of 618.9, followed by Chris Hunter (617.1) and Joshua Culshaw (616.4). The wind picked up after lunch and in the Open Championship final, scores tumbled and fortunes were turned. Chris Hunter held on to the top spot with 612.8, followed by Sian Corish (612.4) and Liam Webster (610.9).

Anna Maughan was top Open Junior and Aidan Healy was top Welsh Junior. Fred Brown took top Veteran.

Sunday morning dawned flat and drizzly as the Welsh finalists assembled for the Confined Championship. A deceptively gentle start gave way to some tricky wind changes in the last fifteen minutes. After an early lead Richard Hemingway was overtaken by Sian Corish, with the two trading places into the last string. After 60 shots however, the line up was a repeat of 2023 with Richard retaining his title with a score of 617.5. Sian Corish was runner-up on 615.0 and Liam Webster placed third on 614.1.

The Open 3×20 was well attended and closely fought. Sian Corish took the title on 579, with Alan Bain and Alun Evans having to be split on inner-tens having tied on 567.

Our immense thanks goes to Dave Phelps for organising; Rob Warnes for managing the electronics; the volunteers who helped put the range together and pack away on Sunday; and to Tondu TSC for the generous use of their range. We look forward to welcoming you to the 2025 Championship.

Full Results

  • A man in a red and white top presents a trophy to a female athlete in a grey jackets and black tracksuit bottoms. Credit: Niall Evans
  • A man in a red and white top presents a trophy to an athlete in t-shirt and shorts. Credit: Niall Evans
  • A man in a red and white top presents a trophy to an athlete. Credit: Niall Evans
  • A female athlete takes aim in the standing position with a silver target rifle. She wears a red and green shooting jacket, red ear defenders and a blue visor. Credit: Niall Evans
  • A female athlete takes aim in the prone position with a silver target rifle. She wears a black and grey shooting jacket and a red visor. Credit: Niall Evans
  • A wheelchair athlete takes aim with a black target rifle. They wear a red and black shooting jacketand a red visor. A welsh flag is visible on their sleeve. Credit: Niall Evans
  • A female athlete takes aim in the prone position with a silver target rifle. She wears a black and grey shooting jacket and a red visor. Credit: Niall Evans
  • A male athlete takes aim in the prone position with a silver target rifle. He wears a red and green shooting jacket and ablack glove. Credit: Niall Evans
  • Athletes shoot from a covered firing point on an outdoor shooting range. Nearest the camera are two para athletes shooting from wheelchairs. Credit: Richard Hemingway
  • A smiling man with a moustache and wearing a high viz jacket stands on a shooting range supervising a competition. Credit: Richard Hemingway
  • A female target shooter aims her rifle from the kneeling position on an outdoor shooting range. She wears a heavy black and white jacket to steady her aim. Credit: Richard Hemingway
  • A man wearing a black top with red trim is illuminated by the glow from a screen as he administers a target shooting competition. Credit: Richard Hemingway
  • Target shooting competitors take aim on the covered firing point of an outdoor range. In the foreground, a shooter fires lying from the floor. They wear a grey jacket and orange visor. Beyond them, a disabled athlete shoots from a wheelchair. Credit: Richard Hemingway
  • A monitor for an electronic shooting target sits on the firing point of a grassy range. In the distance a bank of targets are visible in front of an earth berm and concrete walll. Credit: Richard Hemingway
  • Competitors fire target rifles from a kneeling position. The range is outdoors but the firing point is covered. They wear stiff, multi-coloured jackets and trousers to help support the rifles. Credit: Richard Hemingway
  • A target shooter reloads their rifle during a Championship match. The small .22lr round is visible in their fingers as they place it in the breech of their bolt action rifle. Credit: Richard Hemingway
  • A male target shooter aims his rifle from the kneeling position on an outdoor shooting range. He wears a heavy black and red jacket to steady their aim. Credit: Richard Hemingway