It was a slightly smaller field than last years that assembled at the Bedford Range for the 2026 Queen Elizabeth Ii Memorial Meeting. X-Class in particular was poorly supported, perhaps a result of this year’s delayed Bisley meeting, put back by two weeks from the normal dates, meaning that only two weeks had elapsed.
The weather was changeable, with most competitors experiencing a mixture of rain, overcast and sun within the course of their details, though, for a change, the wind was relatively light throughout.
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 are only allowed on the first detail at each range.
The Queens Age Match (96 shots at 50m, scores ex 960) medal places in each class were:
X Class | A Class | B Class | C Class | |||||
1st | N Day | 936 | Mrs T Beadle | 927 | S Beadle | 922 | Ms L Mackernan | 877 |
2nd | C Garnham | 912 | Mrs S Day | 914 | Mrs J Williams Impey | 879 | ||
The Bench Rest medal winner was K Sheead who recorded a score of 946 with 13 Xs and the Junior medal went to Ms L Mackernan
The high score prize in the Blind Pairs competition was won by Mrs T Beadle and K Sheead, with a combined total of 1871 (ex 1920), whilst the low score prizes went to K Freeman and B Parker who achieved a combined score of 1518.
In the Queens Reign Match (70 shots at 100 yds, scores ex 700) the winner in each class was:
X Class | A Class | B Class | C Class | |||||
1st | R Fowke | 690 | E Haigh | 684 | Mrs S Day | 659 | B Parker | 596 |
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 23rd/24th January 2027. This meeting offers 25 yd Prone, Benchrest, LSR and 10m airgun disciplines.
Also upcoming is the 2026/27 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 1st November and the first match is on the 8th November.