Having won the Ashburton Shield at the Schools Meeting in 2022 the team’s goal was to relax and enjoy the meeting, aiming for another strong finish. Nine of the 11 Cadets featured in the Top 100 with Roanna (M) placing eighth. Despite improving on their 2022 score the team finished third, winning bronze medals. Amelie (M) shot the top score on Ashburton day and was awarded the Simon Dixon Memorial Tankard.
The Imperial Meeting immediately followed and for the first time the College fielded nine shots. Four Tyros made their debut as the team accumulated valuable experience and a Grand Aggregate score that would hopefully allow for an application for UKCRT or BCRT or GBU19 in 2024. There were outstanding performers with Rory and Keisha shooting in the winning team for the Gary Jones trophy alongside Will and Maya.
Individually, Keisha won numerous trophies and medals including the notable Young Rifleman’s Aggregate which saw her win a fullbore shell shooting jacket as well. Rory made the final of the St George’s and the HM The Kings Prize. In poor weather conditions, he rose to the challenge finishing 15th overall and winning the Top Cadet Trophy as well as a trophy from the North London Rifle Club, of which Bradfield shots are all members, as a top finishing U25 member. Rory has now received a call up for GBU21 to go to South Africa and Keisha has been given a place on the England Lions for 2023/24.
Maya, Bella and Steve departed for Canada in August to shoot in the Dominion of Canada RA Championships. Later that month Will and Amelie travelled to Jersey to shoot in the JRA Open and in the annual match against the Channel Island Cadets. Maya was in a team of four that won the 1000 yard match on the final day of the Ontario Open. Bella was one of the coaches in the first ever BCRT to compete in the Commonwealth match, doing a sterling job. Amelie and Will both shot well and the UKCRT were victorious in the match vs the CI.
The final run out for the team was in the Quadrangular match at Bisley at the end of the summer. The College team’s 388&36vs ex 400 was enough to secure victory while the OBs shot the same score but with 42vs, a fitting way for Bradfield shooting community to finish the 2023 season.
