Tag: Rifle

Welsh Indoor Open & Confined Championships

by adminin Competition News

The 2026 Championships held at the Penarth Rifle Range played host to competitors from eight clubs ranging from Altrincham in the north, Penrhiwpal in West Wales, and Ross-on Wye and Chepstow in the east, as well as the local Tondu, Torfaen, Llantrisant & Cardiff and Penarth clubs being represented.

Originally purely for prone shooters, the competition now includes both benchrest and new this year, sporting rifle (LSR) disciplines.

Although the inaugural LSR competition did not attract as much interest as hoped, it was a fast-fire event enjoyed by the shooters and won by Penarth’s Pennie Burton.

The confined prone competition was won by Sian Corish (Tondu) just pipping Penarth’s John Moore on countback. The Open C-Class was also hotly contested by two talented junior shooters with Penrhiwpal’s Chloe John-Driscoll only losing on countback to Brin Rose who enjoyed home-range advantage.

The benchrest competition was well-attended again this year with our long-distance travellers making their trips worthwhile by winning their respective classes – Keith Pyecroft from Altrincham winning the Open competition, Ross-on-Wye’s Rob Parkinson winning B-Class, and Steve Brace from Chepstow winning C-Class.

Pennie Burton added to her LSR win by becoming the confined benchrest champion. Our thanks to the Penarth members who helped organise and run the competition and the use of their range.

The WSRA also run short-range local-scoring postal summer and winter leagues for both prone (Wales and Monmouthshire) and benchrest shooters. There are leagues for individuals and teams of three split into divisions of 5 to 8 shooters/teams by average. Each competition is 10 rounds, ex100: team competitions may be shot concurrently. Thanks to the NSRA Club Finder we have so far attracted shooters from as far afield as Whitby, Anglesey and Ashford. And …. this winter season, we had our first benchrest HPS score of 1000 with 42 X’s: several other competitors were close on the winner’s heels.

Prone
Sian CorishA Class Winner & Confined Champion
John MooreB Class Winner
Brinley RoseC Class Winner
John MorrisTyro Winner
Benchrest
Keith PyecroftA Class Winner
Pennie BurtonConfined Champion
Rob ParkinsonB Class Winner
Steve BraceC Class Winner
Lightweight Sport Rifle
Pennie BurtonWinner & Confined Champion

Welsh shooters keep English honest at ESSU Championships

by Web Teamin Competition News

Welsh shooters represented at the English Open 50M Championships at NSRA Aldersley this weekend, following in the footsteps of Liam Webster’s Open Championship win last year.

In the 50M Prone, Alun Evans of Tondu and Richard Hemingway of Rugeley qualified 3rd and 4th with 616.5 and 616.2 respectively. Also making it to the Championship shoot were John Moore of Penarth and Adam Gabrys of Torfaen. Steve Gurner and Mick Crook were eliminated in the first stage.

In the Prone Championship match, English competitor Shelbie Marsland ran away with the win, scoring 620.1. Behind her was a six-way battle for the remaining medals, with scores between 615.5 and 616.5. Richard and Alun placed 5th and 7th respectively. John Moore placed 13th and Adam Gabrys 14th.

Top scores in the Prone Medal battle:

COmpetitorscoreposition
Shelbie Marsland620.1Open & Confined Champion
Sean Bett616.5Open & Confined 2nd
Kosta Loukas616.3Open 3rd
Simon Green616.0Open 4th/Confined 3rd
Richard Hemingway615.9Open 5th
Matt Dixon615.7Open 6th
Alun Evans615.5Open 7th

The meeting had further Welsh involvement, being supported by the WTSF through supply and operation of the Megalink target system.

WSPS Bronze for Alun

by Web Teamin Competition News

Congratulations to Alun Evans who has won a Bronze medal at the World Shooting Para Sport Grand Prix in Serbia. Competing in the Men’s 50m 3P Rifle (R7) event, Alun scored 560/600 to find his way into third place with a steady and consistent shoot.

Para Sport “Three-Position” rifle is shot entirely from a seated position. The Prone portion allows the athlete to rest both elbows on a table in a seated version of the prone position. The kneeling segment requires their triggering arm to be unsupported, whilst the standing phase sees them hold the rifle freely in their seated position. The positions all resemble a seated version of the ISSF equivalents.

A man holds a rifle in his hands. He wears a visor bearing a Union Flag motif and a red leather shooting jacket.

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.

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

2023 National Meeting Report

by Web Teamin Competition News

Wales had a great turnout at Bisley this year with a strong performance in the Home Nations. A number of first time shooters braved it onto Century Range and promotions were earned. Dave Phelps won the W H Watkins Trophy (top Welsh competitor in the Aggregate), whilst Sian Corish won the unsquadded Women’s Bisley Championship and placed third in X Class.

For the Home Countries matches, the Tartan Dragon trophy came south. The trophy is a Scottish Quaich which has traditionally been awarded to the highest scoring Welsh competitor in the Aggregate at the NSRA Scottish Meeting. As the Scottish meeting continues to be in abeyance, it has been decided to award the Quaich to the highest scoring athlete in the Welsh team for the Home Countries match. Congratulations to the 2023 top scorer Sian Corish, and to first-time caps David George and Asia Hoile.

Five Welsh athletes qualified for the final of the Earl Roberts Championship (British Prone Championship). Being the Centenary edition of the Roberts Championship, 1923 rules were used, with 40 finalists qualifying rather than the usual 20. Congratulations to all five, who fought through some extremely challenging conditions in what turned out to be a tight final, with a great deal of counting back and just a couple of points separating 6th from 26th.

Wales’ Roberts Finallists were:

  • Dave Phelps – 15th, top Welsh competitor in the Championship
  • Rich Hemingway – 20th
  • Sian Corish – 22nd
  • Liam Webster – 34th
  • Mark Parry – 36th
A target shooter aims from the prone position on an outdoor range. They wear a red and white shooting jacket to help support the rifle. They lie on a red mat on a hard firing point, shooting out over a grassy range.
A smiling man stands on the firing point of a rifle range. He wears a red jacket bearing the logo of Team Wales and the words "Glasgow 2014", referring to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
A tarmac strip runs into the distance under cover of a green awning. Competitors hold targets as they go forward to change targets between details at the NSRA NAtional Smallbore Rifle Championship. On the floor, rifles stand on shooting mats.
Change Targets.
Photo: Richard Hemingway
A group of people pose for a group photo on a shooting range. They are arranged in two rows, with the front row seated and the back row standing. The front row hold a Welsh flag. They all wear red and white team colours.
Welsh Team at Bisley 2023
A group of people pose for a group photo on a shooting range. They are arranged in two rows, with the front row seated and the back row standing. The front row hold a Welsh flag. They all wear red and white team colours.
Welsh Ladies Team at Bisley 2023

All photos credit Eleanor Shorey except where otherwise indicated.