The Old Elizabethan Association

To find out more about the Old Elizabethan Rifle Club, contact the Secretary, Mike Martel.

Riflemen from over the world have been packing their shooting gear at Bisley and returning to their homes with memories of their successes or otherwise of the previous ten days. Nick Mace (pictured above) had an exceptional time, and tied for first place in the Grand Aggregate (the total scores for the main competitions) with Chief Petty Officer Nigel Ball and Flt Lt. David Calvert. Nigel counted Nick into second place by virtue of eleven central bulls with Calvert taking third place seven “V”s behind Nick.

Picture shows the Guernsey Kolapore Team - six of the eight were OEs with one current Elizabethan.

No one will forget Bisley 2007 in a hurry. It was the wettest anybody can remember with torrential rain dumping itself on competitors on an hourly basis.

Happily, the schools got through Ashburton Day unscathed with the College putting up a fine set of scores to finish fifth overall. (Epsom College were the winners with an exceptional score.) The Veterans match, too, was dry.

Prior to the PS Veterans, the Club held its AGM, at the London and Middlesex RA Club House.

There were seven members in attendance, and apologies were received from a further eight others.

The minutes of the previous Meeting together with the Accounts and Report were approved with two minor amendments to the scores in the PS Veterans 2006.

Under Any Other Business a discussion was held on the refurbishment of the Musgrave Rifle. The Secretary promised to cost the exercise.

After the PS Veterans thirty two O.E.’s and boys sat down to a splendid meal in the London & Middlesex dining room.

After the meal there were a number of speeches and Nick Argent Principal and Rob Waters Captain received the Haines Shield from Richard Benest of Victoria College. Nick Mace as captain of the OERC received the Elizabethan trophy from Richard as Elizabeth’s combined scores in the Ashburton and Veterans had triumphed over the Victorian total.

A number of O.E.s went on tour with the Channel Islands’ Team to Ottawa to compete in the Canadian, World Individual and Team Long Range championships.

In the Canadian Championships out of over 530 competitors from nine countries Nick Mace finished in 129th place with six highest possible scores (HPS), Richard Perkins was 139th eight HPS, Peter Jory 156th six HPS, Rob Waters 296th five HPS, Mike Martel 299th three HPS, Nick Branch 399th one HPS and Alan Le Page who unfortunately had to withdraw from one or two events.

The Centenary Celebrations continued at Bisley and over fifty boys and members sat down to a splendid dinner at the London & Middlesex. Peter Girard was invited to become a Vice President of the Club and was presented with the ClubTie.

The AGM held earlier that day, was attended by the two Past Presidents, and all the Vice Presidents "a full house" commented Bruce Parker who chaired the Meeting of twenty five members

The Bisley Centenary celebrations got off to a cracking start with a Vin d'Honneur for Old Elizabethans who'd represented the College in shooting teams. Geoff Martel (who was to be the OE Dinner Guest of Honour on the following day) and John Ross had travelled over from New Zealand especially for the event.

A number of past College shooters had also made the trip from the mainland.

Read Bruce Parker's article in our Memory Lane section.

Brian Paul Stuart Yeadon - "Danny" to everyone - died in Ireland in the early part of 2006 after a long illness. Although he had not shot recently at Bisley, Danny had been the stalwart of OE and Guernsey teams for many years. His enthusiasm for the sport was infectious and he encouraged many people to Fort le Marchant and Bisley.