Bedford Rifle Club History

The club was formed on March 20^th 1929 as Bedford Miniature Rifle Club, with 12 members paying a subscription of five shillings. The club first used a range under the town hall.

Brian Hall shot in the first perishing match against the USA in 1931. Brian Hall also won the grand aggregate at the Scottish National meeting at Largs.

In 1940 the club changed its name to Bedford Rifle Club. The club introduced a club badge in 1953

In 1965 the club won its first Bisley team competition.

Bisley competition (City of London Cup). The club also won the National Short Range league for the first time and the national team of 8 knock out competition (Mackworth Pread) and the team of 4 knock out competition (Borough of Watts) in 1966.

Bedford Rifle Club built a 100 yard range in 1967, and the club won the Aster for the first time (British Championship Team). John Flynn won the British long range championship (Earl Roberts).

Frank Balcombe a long standing club member represented England in the 1974 Commonwealth Games.

Bedford Rifle club joined forces with BCR & PA in 1978 to build a 10 point 25 yard indoor range and added a 6 point Air weapons range and 10 point 50 metre range in 1988.

In 1994 Bedford Rifle Club had 3 representatives competing in the Commonwealth Games held in Victoria. With Chris Hector winning

Gold in the individual and pairs Air Rifle competition, and Bronze in the 50 metre 3 positional pairs competition. In 1998 Bedford had 2 representatives at the Malaysian Commonwealth Games. With Chris Hector winning Gold in the individual and pairs Air Rifle competition, and Neil Day winning a silver medal in the 50 metre pairs prone competition. Neil Day represented England in the 2002 commonwealth Games in Manchester and won a Gold in the prone pairs competition.

Neil Day won the Grand Aggregate at Bisley with a score of 2753 out 0f 2800. Neil also won 11 national trophies in 2002.