Bedfordshire Smallbore Shooting Association

There was good turnout for the second BSSA outdoor open of 2026. Though a number of regulars could not make it there were a number of first timers to make a field of 28 prone and 3 benchrest competitors.

Occasionally the Grand Prix coincides with the perfect spring day: warm, a gentle breeze and sunshine; 2026 was not one of those occasions. A chilly north wind kept the temperature in the low-teens, the wind was changeable in both direction and strength and the sky was mainly overcast, though toward the end of the afternoon there were brief periods of sunshine.

The wind proved a challenge for most competitors, though there were periods of calm but when the wind came, it came rapidly. A flag that was limp when the brain said fire, could be horizontal by the time the shot left the barrel (with the supposedly upwind flags still hanging limp). Only two possibles were achieved in the 50m shoot, both by A Class competitors (C Brown and S Betts). Similarly in the 100yds competition perfect scores were achieved by G Haley (X-Class) and C Brown (A Class).

Despite the wind, the competition was close, with several of the winning position having to be settled by countback.

English Match prize winners were:

The Benchrest competition was won by A Campbell, who recorded a score of 591 with 10x; second was K Sheead (589 7x’s).

The blind pairs competition high score was won by the pairing of K Sheead and C Hunter, with a aggregate score of 1177, whilst the low score prizes went to B Parker and Mrs S Day who had an aggregate score of 1046.

Optional 40 Shot Competition prize winners were:

Full results for both competitions may be found here.

The next BSSA Open Meeting is the BSSA Grand Slam, 60 shots at 100 yards (Scottish Match) with optional 40 shots at 50 metres, to be held on the Sunday 21st June.

This event will also include the Bedfordshire Long Range County Championship.

There was an excellent turnout for the first BSSA outdoor open of the year, with 44 competitors taking part.

A nice spring day for the first BSSA open-air shoot of 2026. The weather was almost ideal, mild and sunny, if only the wind had been a been lighter; 6-10 mph gusting to 15. Mainly a left to right cross-wind, but enough variability to kept competitors on their toes.

Thanks to the wind, there were only three possibles recorded in the prone competition. Two in the English Match and one in the Optional match. All the  possibles were achieved by X-class shooters..

English Match prize winners were:

The  Junior prize was won by Miss L Spinks with a score of 549. In the pairs competition  the high score prize was won by the pairing of K Sheead and C Hunter, with an aggregate score of 1177; whilst the pairing of pairing of P Harrison and N Roznowski, scoring 946,  received the prize for the lowest score.

Optional 40 Shot Competition prize winners were:

Full results for both competitions may be found here.

The next BSSA Open Meeting is the BSSA Grand Prix: 60 shots at 50m with an optional 40 shots at 100yds, to be held on the Sunday 10th May.

English Match
60 SHOTS @ 50 metres, plus optional 40 SHOTS also @ 50 metres.
Junior and Blind Pairs competitions are also available, concurrent with the 60 shot prone match.

A 60 shot at 50m Benchrest competition is also available.

Date:  Sunday 15th March 2026

Venue: Bedford Range, Clapham Road, Bedford. MK41 6EN

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Closing date for entries: 13th March. Late entries may be accepted if space permits.

For further details of the BSSA English Match and Benchrest competition, please refer to the information sheet and entryform.

There was no frost for the sixth, and final, round  of 2024/25 Frostbite League; but it was cold (3°), the rain was persistent and it was dull; at least the wind was mainly light, but the odd gust across the firing point had a decidedly chill feeling.

Results for the day’s competition were:

League Result
The overall league position in each class is determined by the aggregate handicap score from the competitors best five rounds. The Class winners, who received a BSSA Gold Medal and will hold the trophy for a year, were:

Full results, including the league standings, may be found here.

The next BSSA Open meeting is the English Match (60 shots at 50m) competition for prone and benchrest rifle to be held on the 15th March 2026. Details of this competition, including entry forms,  are available here.

A  mild, dull, damp but windless morning for the 5th round of the BSAA Frostbite League. The conditions obviously suited the Beadle pairing, who managed to mop up most of the prizes. Results were:

Competition 1 places decided on countback.

Full results may be found here.

The final round (100yds) of the Frostbite League will take place on the 15th February. There may be couple of spare spaces on the firing point, so if you would like to participate please contact Steve Beadle, OpenShoots@BedsSSA.org.uk or 07429 326669.

A busy weekend at the Bedford Rifle Club range as the BSSA held their indoor meeting. Competitors in the 25 yard rimfire range were offered an eighty shot course for prone, benchrest or lightweight sport rifle (standing), whilst the 10  metre air range offered a sixty or one hundred and twenty shot course of fire for air rifle and pistol; a thirty or sixty shot course for supported rifle or pistol; and a forty shot course for Sporter rifle.

Medal winners in the 80 shot 25 yard competitions were:

K Sheead won the Bench Rest competition with a score of 800 with 27 Xs.

The Ladies prize was won by Mrs W Foith and the Junior by Miss I Heer with a score of 702.

The Blind Pairs competition was won by K Bowley and E Haigh with a combined score of 1579.

The Lightweight Sport Rile contest was won by N Pratt with a score of 669, with Mrs T Beadle second with a score of 642.

Full results may be found here.

In the Airgun competition prize winners were:

 60 Shot Air Pistol  – Class A: S Haynes             556
– Class B: J Clow                  533
– Class C: C Delahoy            492

120 Shot Air Pistol – Class A: S Haynes           1088
– Class B: J Clow                1043
– Class C: D McColl             970

            30 Shot Supported Pistol   : S Cordery            287

60 Shot Supported Pistol   : S Cordery            572

60 Shot Air Rifle  – Class A: C Richards          564

120 Shot Air Rifle  – Class A: C Richards        1140

30 Shot Supported Rifle    : M Parson            275

60 Shot Supported Rifle    : M Parson            551

40 Shot Sporter Rifle          : H Charters         259

The full results may be found here.

The winter sun was shining as the competitors assembled for Round 4 of the 2025/26 Frostbite League. Unfortunately the field for this match was diminished by winter bugs, the cold and one a competitor who, obviously having overdone the New Year revelries, simply forgot.

A  sharp, -4°C, overnight frost left the ground hard and the grass  crispy. By the time the first shots were fired the  winter sun had raised the temperature to around the 2°C mark, luckily the wind was generally light so the cold was bearable.

Results were:

Full results may be found here.

Round 5 (50m) of the Frostbite League will take place on the 1st February. There may be couple of spare spaces on the firing point, so if you would like to participate please contact Steve Beadle, OpenShoots@BedsSSA.org.uk or 07429 326669.

The next BSSA Open meeting is the Indoor Meeting, offering competitions for prone rifle, benchrest rifle, light-weight sport rifle and airgun (pistol & rifle) to be held on the 17/18th January 2026. Details of this competition, including entry forms,  are available here.

A mild, dry and sunny morning for Round 3 of 2025/26 Frostbite League.

As usual, Round 3 incorporates the Christmas shoot, five shots in two minutes, with the aim being to miss the elves (-25 points) who are busy decorating the Christmas tree and, if you’re feeling lucky, hit the star (+25 points).  For the benchrest competitors the challenge was greater, as they had to shoot at a reversed target. This year the Elves exercised their magical power of attracting lead, with the result that only 4 competitors achieved positive scores. The scores ranged from +12 to -71, so last year’s record scores, +102 and -94,  remain.

Results for the day’s serious competition were:

Round 3 also sees the Half-Way prizes in each class, these are based on the best two 0f the three rounds shot thus far. Winners were:

Full results may be found here.

Round 4 (100yds) of the Frostbite League will take place on the 4th January.
There may be 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, offering competitions for prone rifle, benchrest rifle, light-weight sport rifle and airgun (pistol & rifle) to be held on the 17/18th January 2026.

The winter sun was shining as the competitors assembled for Round 2 of the 2025/26 Frostbite League. The temperature was around the 4°C mark and a light frost remained on the bits of the range that were not in the sun, luckily the wind was generally light so the cold was bearable.

Results were:

Full results may be found here.

Round 3 (50m) of the Frostbite League will take place on the 14th December. The current forecast suggests that this will be a damp but mild (ish) day with a gentle breeze. Round 3 is the Christmas shoot, so competitors are asked to bring a wrapped prize, to a rough value of £5, for the ‘bran tub’. 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 17/18th January 2026, offering competitions for prone rifle, benchrest rifle and light weight sport rifle (standing) plus the usual airgun (precision pistol & rifle, plus sporter rifle). The entry forms for this competition will be available shortly.