The Horners were represented in “The Glorious Twelfth”, an Inter-Livery Rifle shooting competition on 29thMay 2026, held at The National Shooting Centre, Bisley, Surrey. The team consisted of John Roll Pickering (Captain), Jason Bone and Ralph McNeil. We were delighted that the Master came to support us and tried his hand and eye at each of the five disciplines shot.
The day began with breakfast in the RAF Rifle Club’s pavilion and a general safety briefing. Our first competition was the “McQueen” where targets appear for short exposures in the windows of a castle, 300 yards from the firing point. Then it was on to the 1,000 yard firing point to shoot Match Rifles. Before lunch we took part in a fun air rifle shoot trying to ring a bell when hitting the target exactly in the centre.
After a two course lunch and a glass of non-alcoholic bucks fizz, we returned to the ranges, shooting either the Running Boar at 50 yards or the Running Deer at 100 yards. This was followed by Gallery Rifles where we sought to achieve a high score on a dart board, following some strict rules.
Finally, we shot replica US Civil War era Black Powder Pistols, which produced great quantities of noise and smoke. Held at arm’s length and so having nothing to absorb the considerable recoil, we wondered how the west was ever won!
At the end of the day we returned to the Pavilion for tea, with sandwiches and cakes, and the prize giving.