The OM Rifle Club’s Veteran’s Match this year, held at Bisley on Thursday 13th July, was a unique occasion as it coincided with the 40th Anniversary of Malvern’s Shooting Team winning the prestigious Ashburton Shield, the most important match in the school shooting calendar.
Even more remarkable was that all twelve of the original squad from 1983 enthusiastically came along to shoot, followed by a most enjoyable dinner with other regular OM Rifle Club members and family, in the historic North London Rifle Club (NLRC) Dining Room.
The OMRC was able to enter three teams of five in the Veteran’s match which, although very breezy and with heavy showers forecast, they managed to make it through to the end, remaining dry and even enjoying some late sunshine. Over 90 teams from schools all over the country competed, with around 450 individual competitors in all – quite a spectacle!
Frank Harriss (Teacher of Chemistry at Malvern College from 1967 – 2005) very kindly offered to resurrect his former supervisory role as Officer in charge of the teams and produced as ever a meticulous order of fire ‘squadding’ plan. With everyone arriving in good time the plan was executed to perfection (very unusual!) enabling OM competitors to get through the shoot in good time, with all three teams completing their shoot successfully.
Despite some OMs not having shot with the club for very many years some good scores ensued, with some very respectable placings in the results tables: the A Team finished 13th out of 44, the B Team 10th out of 26 and the C Team 13th of 21.
Following the match there was a rapid relocation from the range to the NLRC Bar where OMs were able to enjoy appropriate refreshment before a team photo shoot organised by Edmund Blok (8.80-85), where, very amusingly, the team was able to re-enact the same photo from 40 years previously, less CCF kit and silverware!
An enjoyable carvery dinner for 21 followed in the NLRC dining room which was an excellent gathering, with OMs, wives and family spanning six decades – quite an achievement!
Frank Harriss our Club President and former Master i/c Shooting and Mentor, Andy Symonds (5.78-83) Club Secretary, and Tom Harrison (6.80-84) Club Treasurer, were all presented with some beautiful, engraved glassware by fellow OMRC members, in recognition of their services to the Club for the last 40 years. It was a very fitting conclusion to the day’s events and ended the 2023 Veteran’s reunion with some surprising emotion and enthusiastic talk of looking forward to a 50 year anniversary in 2033!
Words by Andy Symonds (5.78-83)
