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Muzzle Loaders Association of Great Britain

Mid & Long Range National Rifle Championships 2004

Bisley, Surrey, UK: March - May 2004

200 yards

There was a good turn out for the first of the National Rifle Championship meetings at Bisley on 13 March. Shooters enjoyed the early spring sunshine on Short Siberia range shooting free and military rifles. Each entrant is allocated a morning and afternoon detail for shooting and may enter one or both events. If only competing in one match (which must be shot first) the second detail is available for training. The 200 yard NRA targets, with their 3.5" diameter bull's eye, are quite a challenge for today's muzzle loader.

The free rifle match for the Jacques Cup was a close run affair. Mick Nash set the seasons lead winning with a score of 39.1, but right behind were three shooters scoring 38. Bill Burrows with his two V-bulls took the silver medal, while Count back had to be used to separate Brian Olding and Dennis Chambers, who both score 38.1. In the end Brian was awarded the bronze medal. The military rifle match had a clear winner, David Minshall, who made the notable score of 38.1. This is quite an achievement with the open sighted Enfield, and would have been challenging for the medals in the free rifle class! David's outstanding performance gave him a very comfortable six points lead over second placed John Hollis who scored 32. Association Secretary, Charles Higginbottom, was 3rd.

Shooters at the 200yd firing point on Short Siberia Range, Bisley

300 yards

Sunday 4 April saw a wind swept group of muzzle loaders assemble on Bisley's Century Range for the National 300 yard rifle Championships. Despite the spring sunshine there was chill to the air, but the constant up and down from the firing point to load and shoot does tend to keep the rifleman warmer than those watching!

As with the 200 yard free rifle event, the 300 yard match was a close run affair. V-bulls had to be used to seperate the top two shooters who both scored 39, and first place went to Dennis Chambers (perhaps due reward to Dennis having lost out of the medals at 200 yards on countback). Veteran marksman Barry Custance-Baker was second, while GB Long Range team captain, Mike Mott, was third scoring 38. There was no doubt at all about the military rifle match winner. John Hollis scored 38, fourteen points ahead of second place! This was excellent shooting and certainly shows the accuracy an Enfield is capable of when the rifleman has developed the right load and gets his bit right... Second place was a close run affair with Ken Watson and John Woollard tieing on 24 points; Ken's single v-bull was enough to gain him the silver medal.

L-R: Mick Nash, Malcolm Seller,
Mike Hall, Dan Conti

500 yards

Despite a somewhat mixed bag of weather forecasts in the few days leading up the to 500 yard rifle championships, Sunday 2 May turned out to be a bright clear spring day at Bisley. The changeable direction of the wind, with occassional strong gusts for good measure, made for some entertaining shooting, and those holding 'inners' did well. With lapses in attention to the wind, shooters would find shots drifting out to 'magpies' or lower scores.

As now seems to be the pattern with the free rifle matches, competition for the medals was extremely close. Three shooters, Martin Tebbs, David Pearce and David Minshall all scored 41. Martin took the top place with his three v-bulls, while David Pearce beat David Minshall for second place on count back. John Hollis continues to set the pace in the Enfield rifle matches, winning with a score of 33. John Whittaker was close behind with 32, while Mike Mott beat Charles Higgionbottom by one v-bull for third place, scoring 30.1.

It was heartening to see the increasing numbers of shooters entering these matches; many travelling long distances from the north of England, the midlands and the south west. Ranges over 300m on the Continent being somewhat scarce, two MLAGB members from France also took the opportunity to compete.

L-R: John Maddieson, John Whittaker,
Mike Mott, Jerry Womble

600 yards

In all forty-eight riflemen were to compete in the MLAGB's National 600 yard Championships, held on Friday 28 May as part of the Schutzenfest weeknd. There were two events to be competed in; free rifle and military rifle. Each match comprises 3 convertible sighters, and 15 match shots for a maximum score of 75.

Conditions did not look to be particularly taxing on first glance. Visibility was clear, and a gently wind wafted over the shoulders of the riflemen. As the shooting progressed it became evident that conditions were not as stable as they first appeared. The wind flicked about between 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock, and although for the most part gentle did have a tendency to pick up now and again to catch the unwary.

David Minshall set the lead during the first detail in the 600 yard free rifle match for the Sir Henry Halford Cup. His score of 62.3 proved quite elusive to beat, and David emerged the eventual winner. Mike Mott, the GB Long Range Team Captain, finished in second place scoring 58.4, and third place went to veteran marksman Barry Custance-Baker with a score of 51.3. David's win at 600 yards was also enough to give him first place for the Malet Mid-Range Cup; this is awarded for the best aggregate score in the MLAGB National Rifle Match series fired at 200, 300, 500 and 600 yards.

John Hollis, a newcomer to the MLAGB mid-range matches this year, has been making a name for himself as a notable marksman with the Enfield rifle. Starting the season in 2nd place in the 200 yard Championship, John went on to later win both the 300 and 500 yard matches. True to form, and shooting for the ECR Ross Cup in the 600 yard Championship match, John scored a very respectable 43.2 for first place (a score that beat quite a number of match rifle shooters!). Laurent Leheup of France came second with a score of 39, and Mike Mott gained his second medal of the day with third place on 36 points. Unsurprisingly the Mid-Range Enfield Aggregate for matches fired at 200, 300, 500 and 600 yards was won quite convincingly be John Hollis.

600 yard firing point on Bisley's Century Range

900 and 1000 yards

Held on Stickledown Range on Sunday 30 May was the MLAGB's National 900 and 1,000 yard Rifle Championship matches. Conditions for the match were entertaining, and progressively more so as the day passed by! The 900 yard match took place in the morning, with bright spells, changeable winds and a splash of rain thrown in for good measure. This is really where experience in long range shooting counts, and competing in other disciplines including full-bore and service rifle matches all helps to develop the necessary skills. Charles Higginbottom was the match winner, scoring 58 and closely followed by G. Huehelman on 57.4.

While the 900 yard conditions were tricky, the afternoons shooting at 1,000 yards was difficult. The first detail started in sunshine and ended in showers, while the second started with the showers and ended with sunshine! Wind changes were rapid and dramatic; strong gusts, lulls and 180 degree wind direction changes created sufficient problems for some that they abandoned the shoot, not getting on target. There were 37 score cards returned for the 900 yard match and this reduced to 26 for the 1,000 yard match. Yes, long range muzzle loading is a challenge, can be trying, but is ultimately extremely rewarding.

Charles Higginbottom was again match winner, scoring 47.1, and this time ten points clear of second placed Mike Mott. Charles' win at 900 yards for the Malet Cup and at 1,000 yards for the Captain Heaton Trophy, also secured him a comfortable win for the Malet Memorial Long Range Aggregate.

Firing at 900 yards

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