NRA Journal - Spring 2007 - National Rifle Association

NRA Annual Meeting Handbooks, Reports, CouncilMeeting Minutes, and other Documents andRecords.AcknowledgementsI would like to record my thanks to all those whoassisted in compiling this article, especially TedMolyneux, Curator of the NRA Museum, for hisassistance and allowing me full access to the NRArecords.All photographs, unless otherwise acknowledged, arereproduced from NRA Museum sources.‘The Last Tram’ from ‘Humours of Bisley’THE HISTORY OF THE HOMEGUARD DIAMOND JUBILEE COMPETITIONby Stephen DonaldsonOn Saturday 8 May 2004 the inaugural HomeguardDiamond Jubilee competition was held at Bisley. Theidea for the competition came from Thomas Bodmin,a member of Newport Isle of Wight and DistrictRifle Club. Entry was open to all rifle clubs formedfrom Homeguard units; David Atkin (club secretary)contacted clubs that qualified, and the competitionwas born.Unfortunately, the weather on 8 May was not verypleasant; in fact it rained all day. However, this didnot dampen anyone’s enthusiasm; there were threeclasses to enter - Service Rifle, Target Rifle and FClass. The course of fire was two convertible sightersand ten to count at 300, 500 and 600 yards. 300 and500 yards to be shot in the morning, and 600 yards inthe afternoon after a break for lunch and some muchneeded hot drinks!There were thirty-six entries from ten clubs. Althoughthe weather was far from perfect by raining all day,some very good scores were achieved. Service Riflewas won by J Hinchliffe with a score of 73.0 (NewportIsle of Wight), Target Rifle was won by Ian Luckmanwith a score of 145.13 (9 th Somerset Homeguard) andF Class was won by Anthony Donnachie with a scoreof 150.19 (101 Rifle Club). Medals were awarded forthe top three positions.After the 2004 awards presentation David Atkin askedif another club would like to run the competition thefollowing year; the 101 Rifle Club volunteered to runthe competition in 2005.It was soon time for Stephen Donaldson (Secretary 101Rifle Club) to start organizing the 2005 competitionwith greatly appreciated help from David Atkin. HG61 was run again at Bisley on 7 May 2005 - it was abeautiful sunny day which was quite a contrast tothe previous year. The weather conditions possiblyhelped because the winning scores improved: ServiceRifle was won by William McIntyre with a score of111.3 (101 Rifle Club), Target Rifle was also won byWilliam McIntyre with a score of 142.12 and F Classwas won by Adam Bagnall with a score of 149.22 (101Rifle Club). Due to the competition now being a yearlyevent, and the finances allowing it, medals and glassawards were given to the winning competitors withrunners up receiving medals.All the competitors enjoyed the day and stated thatthey were looking forward to the competition nextyear. It was decided the competition would be runjointly by the 101 Rifle Club, and Newport Isle ofWight and District Rifle Club in the future.It was decided that a new class would be introducedinto the competition for the year 2006, the F Classentrants from the previous years were polled and theyagreed. Hence Target Rifle F Class was born.We found suitable rules for this division on theAmerican National Rifle Association website. Thereason for the new class is so that competitors witha normal sporting rifles in 7.62 x 51mm/0.308 and5.56/0.223 can compete in their own class, rather thancompeting against 6.5 x 284s (benchrest calibres)andthe like. The rules are your rifle must be 0.308 or 0.223calibre, the front of the rifle can be supported but witha bipod only (front rests not allowed), a rear sand bagand reloaded ammunition is allowed as long as it iswithin the National Rifle Association rules.HG 62 was run on Saturday 6 May 2006, the weatherwas sunny with occasional patches of rain. Theweather forecast stated heavy rain all day, luckily, as44