Immediately after the end of Hilary Term, twenty members descended on Bisley where they enjoyed four days of TR and a further two of MR training. Much coaching and expertise was provided by alumni and friends of the club including Ben Craig, Michael Horrell, Hattie Mansell and several others. The first match of the fullbore season was also upon us on the Saturday of Easter Bisley, the Universities vs LMRA match in which the team was narrowly beaten by the LMRA in less than ideal conditions.
Members competed at Bisley on all but one weekend over Trinity Term. Events included the Stock Exchange, Astor qualifier, RAF vs OURC, English Eight Spring Meeting, King George V, Inter- Counties weekend and finally the North London’s MR Jamboree. Another team TR training session was also conducted on one weekend with the help of Bruce Winney, finishing with a President vs Secretary match at which the captain kept her unbeaten status (“Fix!”). Our thanks to Oxfordshire Rifle Association, particularly James Anderson and Michael Silver, for their support in arranging many of the TR matches, as well as countless members of the MR community who assisted in the build-up to the Imperial Meeting.
The club’s achievements in the year to date were recognised at the University Sports Ball where we were awarded Club of the Year. Initiatives that were commended include OURC’s partnership with the “This Girl Can” campaign to subsidise smallbore taster sessions for women, and the successful bid for shooting equipment for the visually impaired. The club was also shortlisted for the diversity award.