Bedfordshire Smallbore Shooting Association

December 1st, the first day of winter: – mild, continuous light rain, dull and a light but variable breeze, just the conditions needed for success at 100 yds. Despite the conditions both Wendy Foith (A Class) and Maria Popham (B Class) successfully risked going ‘All-in’ on one card.

Results were:

Full results may be found here.

Round 3 (50m) of the Frostbite League will take place on the 15th December; this round will include a Christmas novelty shoot. The forecast suggests that this should be a chilly day (5°C) with sunshine and a light breeze, but forecasts can change.
There are a couple of spare spaces on the firing point, so if you would like to participate please contact Steve Beadle, 07720 677456.

The next BSSA Open meeting is the Indoor Meeting,  to be held on the 18/19th January 2025, offering competitions for prone rifle, benchrest rifle and light weight sport rifle (standing), the usual airgun (pistol & rifle) competitions are yet to be confirmed. The entry form for this competition will be available shortly.

A chilly but dry start for the 2024/25 Frostbite League, unfortunately the weak sun could not compensate for the chill from the light breeze. The conditions did not put off the ladies, who took five of the six prizes on offer.

Results were:

Full results may be found here.

Round 2 (100 yards) of the Frostbite League will take place on the 1st December. The forecast suggests that this should be a similar day, cool with sunshine and light winds.
There are a couple of spare spaces on the firing point, so if you would like to participate please contact Steve Beadle, 07720 677456.

The next BSSA Open meeting is the Indoor Meeting,  to be held on the 18/19th January 2025, offering competitions for prone rifle, benchrest rifle and light weight sport rifle (standing), the usual airgun (pistol & rifle) competitions are yet to be confirmed. The entry form for this competition will be available shortly.

It is with great sadness that the BSSA announce the Passing of Don Rathbone at the age of 87. Don was a former Treasurer of the Association and also the Chairman of the Ex-Waterlow Rifle Club until 2015; he was also an active supporter of the airgun section of the Dunstable And District District Disabled Sports organisation.

Don suffered from MS for many years and in later life dementia; Dons wife and carer, Stella, sadly passed away following a road accident last December .

An interesting and unique course of fire to commemorate the late Queen:

The main competition is 96 shots (1 for each year of the Queens life) over eight cards at 50 metres, prone or bench rest.

The optional competition is 70 shots (1 for each year of the Queens reign) over five cards at 100 yards, prone only.

Sighting shots only on the first detail at each range.

As the first detail of the day started, the competitors were treated to rain, thunder and lightning; an ominous start? However, the weather passed through to leave mainly warm sunshine and light winds. Following comments at the first Memorial Meeting, the detail length was increased from 20 to 25 minutes; however, with the (generally) favourable conditions the majority of details were completed well within the original time.

This was the second anniversary of the late Queen’s death and, as a mark of respect, a two-minutes silence was observed at ten-past-three, the time of her death.

The Queens Age Match (96 shots at 50m, scores ex 960) medal winners were:

The Bench Rest medal winner was S Williams who recorded a score of 951 with 10 Xs.
The Ladies prize was won by Mrs W Foith; regrettably no juniors competed.

The Queens Reign Match (70 shots at 100 yds, scores ex 700) winners were:

All prizes for the Queens Reign Match were in bottles of wine.

Full results for both competitions may be found here.

The next BSSA Open Meeting will be the Indoor meeting, at the Bedford Range, on the 18th/19th January 2025. This meeting offers 25 yd prone, benchrest and (possibly) LSR  and 10m airgun disciplines.

Also upcoming is the 2024/25 Frostbite League, six shoulder to shoulder matches, shot on Sunday mornings over the winter months at the Bedford Range. The matches alternate between 50m and 100 yds. Further details and entry form may be found here. Entries close on the 10th November and the first match is on the 17th November.

To mark the second anniversary of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II the BSSA are holding a memorial open meeting.

In honour of the late Queen, two competitions are offered:

The main competition is 96 shots (1 for each year of the Queens life) over eight cards at 50 metres, prone or bench rest.

The optional competition is 70 shots (1 for each year of the Queens reign) over five cards at 100 yards, prone only.

The main competition will consist of three 25 minute details; the optional competition will consist of two 25 minute details. In each case, sighting shot are only allowed on the first detail (Note: following feedback from the inaugural meeting, the duration of each detail have been increased from 20 to 25 minutes).

Venue: BEDFORD RIFLE CLUB RANGES, CLAPHAM ROAD, BEDFORD MK41 6EN .

To be shot in four classes:
CLASS X – National Classification, current and previous three years.
Classes A, B & C according to average.
Bench rest – Single Class

For further details, please refer to the Entry Form.

A warm, pleasant day for the competitors, with the temperature hovering close to the 30°C mark. Luckily, there was a slight breeze which took the edge off the sun’s heat, however it also provided a challenge for the competitors. Despite the overall scores being slightly higher than recorded  last year, there were no ‘possibles’ scored in the main 100 yard competition.

The Scottish Match (60 shots at 100 yards) prize winners were:

The Bench Rest competition winner was K Sheead who recorded a score of 590 with 12 Xs.
The Ladies prize was won by Mrs W Foith and the Junior by W Appleby.

Optional 40 Shot at 50m Competition prize winners were:

All prizes for the 40 shot course were in bottles of wine.

Full results for both competitions may be found here.

The next BSSA Open Meeting is the BSSA Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Shoot on Sunday 8th September, the second anniversary of her death. Please note that this shoot has a unique format: 96 shots at 50m (8 cards, 12 shots on each) with optional 70 shots at 100yds (5 cards, 14 shots on each). Sighters only on the first detail at each range.

The Long Range (50m & 100 yards) element of the Bedfordshire County Championships were held at the Bedford range on Sunday the 9th June. A cold, overcast day with a wind that was variable in both strength and direction.

Since the closure of the Thorn Range in 2016, the Short range element of the Championship has been shot on a ‘postal’ basis at the club’s home  ranges in the month preceding the Long Range match.

Detailed results of the 2024 County Championships are available here.
The winners table is:-