Ben Stubbins Leads Winning Team

28.08.2025

Shacklocks LLP member Ben Stubbins has recently competed in the annual National Smallbore Rifle meeting held at Bisley.

Originally founded as the Society of Working Men’s Rifle Club in 1903 it became the National Smallbore Rifle Association in 1947.

Formed at a time when there was concern about the capability of the Army to defend against invasion and in the face of the superior marksmanship of the Boer’s in the Boer War it was an organisation meant to encourage the civilian population to learn how to shoot and be able to defend the country should the need arise.

The modern competitions involve shooting .22 calibre rifles at targets - mainly outside at distances up to 100 yards, although Derbyshire has long run an annual competition called the Turbutt - shooting at distances up to 500 yards at Thorpe Cloud. 

In order to score well, you must not only be able to aim well but also to judge and adjust for the wind direction and speed which can affect the trajectory of the bullet. 

The sport of target rifle shooting gained in popularity and many larger work places had their own rifle clubs and teams, examples in Derbyshire being Staveley Works, Rolls Royce, Amber Dye Works to name but a few. Some of these clubs are still active today. The sport attracts a range of competitors shooting side by side irrespective of age or gender. 

Ben captained a team from Derbyshire to compete in various inter county competitions including the Astor Cup and the team reached final of the Queen Alexandra cup which competition includes shooting ten targets in just 90 seconds - not easy with a single shot rifle. 

Ben also did well in several individual competitions winning the weekend aggregate in class A.

This year also saw the “Roberts” competition - named after Field Marshall Roberts who was instrumental in the establishment of the organisation. This competition saw the Great Britain shooting team beat the visiting American shooting team in a match which takes place every four years - alternating between Bisley in the UK and in America. 

The picture shows Ben being presented with the South Africa Challenge Trophy by the captain of the American team who kindly presented the associations historic silverware to the various winners.