Small-bore target rifle shooting has long been a popular activity at the College and, every year, a small number of Marlburians show sufficient promise to progress to full-bore shooting in which the College enjoys much success at national level. Several Marlburians have shot for GB Cadets and U19s during their time here, and there is a very active Old Marlburian Rifle Club.
Around sixty boys and girls from all year groups shoot small-bore each week; ten or so shoot full-bore in the summer.
Facilities Matches, Competition and Events
In the Michaelmas and Lent terms, we use our own six-lane twenty five yard indoor small-bore (.22) rifle range. This was completely rebuilt in 2004 with state-of-the-art heating, ventilation and lighting systems, making it one of the best in the country.
In the summer we travel to nearby Bulford Ranges and the National Shooting Centre in Bisley, Surrey, to shoot full-bore (7.62mm). We own a number of small-bore and full-bore rifles and have recently invested in a SCATT computerised training system (as used by the GB team).
The small-bore VIII competes against schools such as Wellington, Harrow and Winchester, and against the Old Marlburians. We also enter teams and individuals into the BSSRA Leagues, Individual Championships and International matches.
Our full-bore VIII competes in all the major CCF and School competitions at Bisley, including the Schools Meeting at the beginning of the Summer holidays. Advanced shooters also compete in the Imperial Meeting.
We hold pre-season training for full-bore at Bisley in the Easter holidays, but may move this to Guernsey in future years.
In the last three years, the fullbore VIII has achieved 2nd, 3rd, and 4th places in the Ashburton Challenge Shield against schools from all over the country. In the summer of 2004, Tom Lilley represented the GB Cadet Rifle Team ‘The Athelings’ in Canada and was selected for the GB Under 19 Shooting Team against South Africa. In Michaelmas 2005, Ed Dickson represented the British Schools' Small-bore Rifle Association in a Postal Match against New Zealand.