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Sovereign's Prize

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Sovereign's Prize
SportShooting
CompetitionImperial Meeting
DisciplineFullbore target rifle
LocationBisley Camp
Country United Kingdom
Presented byNational Rifle Association
History
First award1860
Editions154
First winnerEdward CR Ross
Most wins
3 times
Most recentDC Luckman

The Sovereign's Prize is a British fullbore target rifle shooting competition. It is the climax of the National Rifle Association's annual Imperial Meeting and is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious prizes in the sport globally.[1] The prize is typically referred to as the Queen's Prize or the King's Prize depending on the incumbent British monarch.

The Prize was first contested in 1860, with the winner receiving a gold medal and £250. Strictly, the "Queen's Prize" refers to the £250 cash prize, which was originally the personal gift of Queen Victoria. The gold medal is awarded by the Association.[2] As of 2024, the Prize has been contested 155 times, breaking only for the World Wars. Although contested on an open basis, it has only been won three times by women (in 1930, 2000 and 2022). Six people have won it three times.

Course of fire

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As of 2022, the Prize is contested in three stages.[3] Standard NRA targets are used, with scoring rings offering a maximum score of five points, plus a "v-bull" within the 5-ring (used for tie-breaking). Since the move to the National Shooting Centre at Bisley, the first and second stages have been contested on the 600yard range Century Range, whilst the final is contested on Stickledown Range (which can support shooting up to 1200yards).

Stages II and III are sometimes known as a "Queen's Prize" match. A "Queen's Prize" is used as the standard course of fire for fullbore rifle matches at the Commonwealth Games, although all competitors shoot all distances without elimination.

King's I

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Stage one is an open elimination round consisting of three "2+7" matches (2 sighters with 7 shots to count) at 300, 500 and 600yards. This gives a highest possible score of 105 with 21 V-bulls (rendered as 105.21v).

The top three hundred competitors progress to the second stage, which typically includes scores of ~101 or better.

King's II

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Stage two consists of 2+10 matches at the same distances as the first stage. Qualification is on a "start from zero" basis, meaning that scores from the first stage are not carried forward and top qualifiers have no advantage over those with poorer scores in the first stage. The highest possible score is 150 with 30 v-bulls (150.30v).

The top one hundred competitors progress to the third and final stage. The "King's Hundred" each receive an NRA '100' Badge. The top scorer in the second stage is awarded an NRA Silver Medal for winning the "short range" portion of the competition, regardless of how they perform in the final.

King's III (King's Final)

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Newspaper illustration of Arthur Fulton being chaired after winning the 1912 Kings Prize.

Stage three moves to longer distances, consisting of 2+15 matches at 900 and 1000yards. Scores are carried forward from the second stage, giving a highest possible score of 300.60v. Winning scores better than 298 are common, indicating the shooter has only dropped one or two shots across five distances and sixty shots.

The winner receives a gold medal and £250, with the runners up receiving silver and bronze badges respectively. The winner is then "chaired" off the range on an open sedan chair borne by other competitors.[4] By tradition they are carried to the NRA offices to receive their prize, followed by a tour of the clubhouses on camp.

Winners

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Marjorie Foster

Notable winners include the three female winners – Marjorie Foster (1930);[5][6][7][8] Joanna Hossack (2000)[9] and Alice Good (2022).[10] A road on Bisley Camp is named Marjorie Foster Way.

Fulton's Gun Shop, National Shooting Centre

The Fulton family have the unique distinction of having three generations of winners. George Fulton used the proceeds of his 1888 win to found Fulton's Gun Shop on Bisley Camp, which still stands today. His son Arthur won a record-breaking three times in 1912, 1926 and 1931. Arthur's son Robin won in 1958.

Arthur Fulton's record was only matched in 1996. There are now six shooters who have won the Prize three times:[11]

W. T. Ward, winner in 1897 and 1900

Also notable is PA Bennison's 1998 shoot, where he became the first person to score a "possible" with 300.40v. Canadian shooter James Paton matched this in 2005 with another 300.40v.

Year Gold Medal Gold Medal Score Silver Medal[note 1] Silver Medal Score
1860 ECR Ross 24 Cpl F Sharp 17
1861 Pte JM Jopling 18 Sgt J Dougan 23
1862 S Pixley 41 Ens H Walton 46
1863 J Roberts 65 Cpl W Wisker 49
1864 J Wyatt 60 Pte J Haward 47
1865 J Sharman[13] 64 ECR Ross[13] 47
1866 A Cameron 69 Pte A James 48
1867 H Lane 57 Capt W Wright 52
1868 JB Carslake 65 D/Maj SG Hutchinson 51
1869 A Cameron 71 T Kirk 46
1870 W Humphries 66 Cpl H Young 49
1871 AP Humphrey 68 Pte TH Mayfield 51
1872 W Michie 65 Capt A Cortis 52
1873 AD Menzies 60 Cpl R Willows 74
1874 WC Atkinson 64 Cpl H Young 87
1875 G Pearse 73 Pte A Innes 90
1876 R Pullman 74 Pte RB Burgess 86
1877 G Jamieson 70 Cpl Betts 92
1878 P Rae 78 Pte C Lowe 47
1879 G Taylor 83 QM JC Macdonald 96
1880 A Ferguson 74 Cpl Scott 102
1881 T Beck 86 Cpl W Ingram 96
1882 A Lawrance 65 Sgt WHO Smith 174
1883 Col-Sgt R Mackay 79 Capt JH Young 183
1884 D Gallant 110 Sgt JH Taylor 105
1885 W Bulmer 307 Col-Sgt Simonds 104
1886 CH Jackson 265 Capt A Cortis 110
1887 RO Warren 274 Armr-Sgt Hill 104
1888 Armr-Sgt GE Fulton 280 LCpl Noakes 108
1889 Sgt D Reid 281 Pte CW Wattleworth 205
1890 H Bates 278 Pte J Murray 107
1891 D Dear 269 Sgt A Milner 113
1892 Major J Pollock 277 Major J Pollock 108
1893 Sgt WT Davies[14] 274 Pte A Stocks 96
1894 Pte MS Rennie 283 Capt H Bateman 113
1895 TH Hayhurst 279 LSgt W Hogg 114
1896 JL Thomson 273 Capt R Foster 105
1897 WT Ward 304 Armr-Sgt JH Scott 117
1898 D Yates 327 Lieut EL Fletcher 119
1899 WA Priaulx 336 Col-Sgt HWM Matthews 120
1900 WT Ward 341 Col-Sgt H Comery 116
1901 Cpl ANVH Ommundsen 310 Armr-Sgt AJ Comber 93
1902 Lt ED Johnson[15] 307 Cpl TH Kerr 94
1903 Col-Sgt WT Davies[14] 311 Pte W Gray 85
1904 SJ Perry 321 Chap CJ Ferguson-Davie 93
1905 AJ Comber 315 SSgt G Souter 119
1906 RfF Davies 324 Sgt ANVH Ommundsen 94
1907 WC Addison 318 Pte EA Buckley 99
1908 G Gray 325 Gnr DR Paterson 94
1909 HG Burr 324 Lieut JW Beatty 93
1910 FR Radice 340 FR Radice 94
1911 WJ Clifford 319 Pte AG Garrod 95
1912 AG Fulton 335 RSIM GH Harvey 96
1913 WA Hawkins 330 Sgt ANVH Ommundsen 92
1914 JL Dewar 309 AG Fulton 94
1919 L Loveday 253 Pte RW Lockwood 129
1920 FH Morgan 281 Capt WH Hoey 144
1921 J Cunningham 226 CR Crowe 95
1922 AF Marchment 230 RSM S Green 94
1923 EH Robinson 232 J Elgood 97
1924 DT Burke 230 CSM JL Dewar 95
1925 A Smith 226 Fl Off G Richardson 98
1926 AG Fulton 286 FH Kelly 146
1927 Capt, Dr CH Vernon 292 AG Fulton 148
1928 AC Hale 283 Lieut AE Martin 145
1929 RM Blair 283 Pte PRT Garnett 141
1930 Marjorie Foster[16] 280 Lieut AJ Andrews 147
1931 AG Fulton 285 AG Fulton 145
1932 CFH Bayly 289 JW Houlden 146
1933 DE Woods[17] 287 Fl Off C Bunch 145
1934 JA Barlow 288 CSM WR Clarke 146
1935 Armr-Sgt FS French 289 CA Sutherland 148
1936 LD Busschau 272 Sgt JE Johnson 146
1937 DL Birney 283 O/Cdt DL Birney 143
1938 JA Barlow 287 RD Greig 147
1939 Capt TS Smith 282 Lieut A Eccles 146
1946 CC Willott 280 Capt RJ Middlemas 144
1947 WO R Bennett 279 WO R Bennett 146
1948 PA Pavey 283 Cpl RJ Kerslake 146
1949 Capt EWH Brookes 278 AG Fox 146
1950 Capt RD Greig 277 J Draper 144
1951 Lt GS Boa 285 Flt Lt H Gill 144
1952 Major AB Kinnier-Wilson 277 WH Magnay[18] 146
1953 Major NW McCaw 273 RL Saunders 145
1954 Major GE Twine[19] 278 Major GE Twine 145
1955 LR Fenwick 286 Lt Col OA Watts 146
1956 Major GE Twine[19] 283 Capt AF Bromley 142
1957 JRC Love 283 Lt Col F Adams 147
1958 Major RA Fulton 281 Lord Swansea 145
1959 Lt LW Mallabar 276 M Hook (later Hook-Sinclair) 146
1960 Sgt G Westling 280 Lt Col DE Elford 146
1961 WO2 NL Beckett 284 NL Beckett 148
1962 Flt Lt PWM Hall 280 PO RS Boyman 147
1963 KM Pilcher[20] 283 Dr KM Pilcher 148
1964 AD Harris[21] 281 LEM PEM Tarrant 147
1965 Capt JA Allen 284 Lt Col HJ Orpen-Smellie 147
1966 Maj RW Hampton[22] 280 Lieut RJ Cade 146
1967 JG Powell 280 Major GE Twine 147
1968 Capt AA Parks 285 Lord Swansea 146
1969 FG Little 284 CERA D Fox 145
1970 GF Arnold 281 EGJ Hayes 146
1971 RM Stevens 292 MJ Brister 150
1972 RP Rosling 293.34 TPB Garnett 148.19
1973 KM Pilcher[20] 293.39 KO Pugh 149.23
1974 FO Harriss 283 JR Killian 148
1975 CMY Trotter 284 GF Arnold 148
1976 WH Magnay[18] 287 E Felton 149
1977 DA Friend 283 JMA Thompson 149
1978 GR Graham 285 PG Kent 148
1979 Andrew Tucker[23] 290 JH Carmichael 150
1980 A Marion[12] 294 RWH Stafford 150
1981 GM Ayling 291 SA Thomas 150
1982 LM Peden 295 AG Harrison 150
1983 A Marion[12] 289 A Marion 150
1984 DFP Richards 284 Flt Lt C Fitzpatrick 149
1985 JPS Bloomfield 290 S Belither 149
1986 G Cox 289 PG Kent 148
1987 Andrew Tucker[23] 290 J Pugsley 150
1988 J Pugsley 290 C Mallett 148
1989 JMA Thompson 288 RE Hind 149.12
1990 JPS Bloomfield 293 HA Tomlinson 150.22
1991 Flt Lt C Fitzpatrick 293 GR Robilliard[24] 150.21
1992 TA Ringer 287.37 AD Le Cheminant[25] 148.11
1993 CA Brook 295.29 CA Brook 150.20
1994 ML Millar 291.34 JS Collings 149.24
1995 AJ Luckman[26] 289.30 DGM Coleman 149.22
1996 A Marion[12][27] 298.51 PB Bromley 150.27
1997 TA Ringer 299.44 PG Kent 150.26
1998 PA Bennison 300.40 Chief Tech B Jones 150.23
1999 DGM Coleman 294.37 TA Ringer 150.22
2000 JF Hossack 294.29 GC Childs 150.20
2001 TA Ringer 295.41 JMA Thompson 150.26
2002 Dr GCD Barnett 297.38 Flt Lt IW Robertson 150.28
2003 Dr GCD Barnett[28] 297.34 Lt NJ Ball 150.27
2004 HRT Jeens 291.25 AJ Woodward 149.18
2005 JAM Paton 300.40 J Corbett 150.23
2006 JC Underwood 297.42 JC Underwood 150.23
2007 James WE Lewis[29] 293.26 DC Luckman 150.23
2008 Zainal Abidin Md Zain 294.36 Zainal Abidin Md Zain 150.24
2009 CN Tremlett 298.44 TA Ringer 150.23
2010 Wg Cdr DP Calvert[30] 297.37 J C Underwood 150.26
2011 ES Compton 297.35 D E Nuthall 150.24
2012 Dr JD Warburton 298.34 G E Morris 150.25
2013 J Corbett 297.46 SKC Hunter 150.19
2014 RCT Jeens 297.44 J Corbett 150.24
2015 Wg Cdr DP Calvert 294.29 J P Tapster 149.20
2016 Wg Cdr DP Calvert 297.41 HJ Golaszewski 150.28
2017 PM Patel 297.37 PM Patel 149.18
2018 DC Luckman 281.29 SJ Whitby 150.13
2019 GCD Barnett 299.47 WCP Richards 150.26
2020 DC Luckman 297.40 BJ Le Cheminant 150.24
2021 RSF Shouler 298.35 RL Furniss 150.21
2022 AP Good 293.37 Wg Cdr DP Calvert 150.28
2023 CJ Watson 297.34 CP Weeden 150.22
2024 DC Luckman 298.42 DC Luckman 150.25

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The Silver Medal is awarded to the highest scorer in the second stage, who has effectively won the "short range" portion of the competition. The overall runner-up in the Final is awarded a silver badge, and is not recorded here.

References

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  1. ^ "H.M. The Queen's Prize". GB Rifle Team. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Aris's Birmingham Gazette, etc. 07 May 1860, page 1". Aris's Birmingham Gazette. 7 May 1860. p. 1. The Queen's prize of 250l., together with the gold medal of the Association, will be shot for by candidates successful in other trials, the ranges being 800, 900 and 1000 yards.
  3. ^ "NRA Handbook – Imperial competitions 2022" (PDF). National Rifle Association. p. 294. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  4. ^ Bruce A R Scott (22 September 2021). "Chairing of Rifle Shooting Champions – The Tradition". National Rifle Association of Australia. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2023. The earliest evidence of the Chairing Ceremony for the sport of long range rifle shooting is recorded in the book titled 'History of the National Rifle Association during its first fifty years 1859 to 1909' by A.P. Humphry and Lieutenant Colonel the Hon T.F. Fremantle, 1914. ... The plate on the original chair reads: 'Presented in 1883 by Sgt GJ Wainwright LRB'. This suggests that the Chairing Ceremony was introduced at the Wimbledon Championship in 1883 and is peculiar to shooting and the King's/Queen's Prize. Since this likely first chairing of the winner, the ceremony has been adopted by many other nations, particularly Commonwealth Countries, where long range rifle shooting is an established and recognised activity.
  5. ^ ""See The Conquering Heroine Comes" Again!". Pathé News. British Pathé. 21 July 1930. Archived from the original (Video) on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Marjorie Foster (1893–1974)". Exploring Surrey's Past. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  7. ^ Imogen Lyons (6 January 2016). "Marjorie Foster: prize-winning rifle shot and poultry farmer". Intriguing People. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Surrey's bygone sporting heroes to be celebrated". BBC News. 19 January 2011. Archived from the original on 24 January 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  9. ^ "First woman to win Bisley in 70 years". The Independent. 23 July 2000. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  10. ^ Callum O'Shea (27 July 2022). "CURA Captain wins highly coveted Queen's Prize!". University of Cambridge Sport. University of Cambridge. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  11. ^ "The King's and Queen's Prize". National Rifle Association. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  12. ^ a b c d "Alain Marion GM3, GC, SM, SB, SC2". NRA News. National Rifle Association. 26 June 2023. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  13. ^ a b "J Sharman". The Standard. London. 26 December 1865. p. 6. The Queen's Prize was won by Private Sharman, or the 4th West York Rifles, ... while Mr. Edward Ross, formerly of the Cambridge University Corps, and now of the London Scottish, the champion for the yea 1860, won the SIlver Medal in the first stage for this prize this year...
  14. ^ a b "A colourful character..." The Glamorgan Gazette. 25 April 1991. p. 5. ISSN 0965-9242. Retrieved 30 December 2023. A crack shot with a rifle, Colour Sgt Davies - a Llanelli man - won scores of medals for shooting, including the Queen's Prize in 1893 and the King's Prize in 1903.
  15. ^ "The Bisley Meeting Leicester Man Wins the King's Prize the Final Stage". Nottingham Evening Post. 28 July 1902. Archived from the original on 20 October 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  16. ^ Kay, Joyce (23 September 2004). "Foster, Marjorie Elaine (1893–1974), rifle shot and poultry farmer". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 1 (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/65174. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  17. ^ "Father's Bisley Prophecy Comes True". The Stapleford and Sandiacre News. 29 July 1933. p. 7. ISSN 1351-993X. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  18. ^ a b "Walter Magnay". The Times. Times Media Group. 4 May 2013. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.(subscription required)
  19. ^ a b "Queen's Prize Win Repeated". The Daily Telegraph and Morning Post. 23 July 1956. p. 9. Major G.E. Twine ... repeated his 1954 success in winning the Queen's Prize of £250 and the National Rifle Association Gold Medal, at Bisley on Saturday.
  20. ^ a b "Keith Pilcher". The Times. Times Media Group. 23 January 2012. Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2023. He held the unique distinction of winning the Queen's Prize blue riband event at Bisley twice, using first, in 1963, the immediate postwar .303 calibre adapted Lee Enfield service rifle and ten years later, in 1973, a bespoke rifle in the 'new' 7.62mm calibre.
  21. ^ "Bisley - The Queen's Prize" (Video). Movietone News. British MovieTone News. 23 July 1964. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  22. ^ "Uk: Canadian Wins Queen's Prize At Bisley Shooting". Pathé News. British Pathé. 16 July 1966. Archived from the original (Video) on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  23. ^ a b "Andrew Tucker". The Times. Times Media Group. 16 July 2003. Archived from the original on 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023. Andrew Tucker won international honours in small-bore and full-bore rifle shooting in 39 consecutive years from the early 1960s. He won the Queen's Prize at Bisley twice, the Bisley Grand Aggregate, the National Smallbore Rifle Association Lord Roberts Trophy and its Grand Aggregate (twice), and Commonwealth Games gold and silver medals.(subscription required)
  24. ^ Leslie Howcroft (27 July 1991). "Robilliard moves up with maximum". The Daily Telegraph. p. 27. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2 January 2024. Graham Robilliard , an actuary who shoots for Ibis Rifle Club, confounded some of Britain's top internationals at Bisley yesterday with the top score in the second stage of the Queen's Prize.
  25. ^ Leslie Howcroft (25 July 1992). "Cheminant wins the silver". The Daily Telegraph. p. 30. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2 January 2024. ANDREW Le Cheminant, from Jersey, won the Queen's Silver Medal at Bisley yesterday with a score of 148 out of 150 for the short-range semi-final round.
  26. ^ Leslie Howcroft (24 July 1995). "Luckman master of the conditions". The Daily Telegraph. p. 41. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 1 January 2024. ANDY LUCKMAN, of Sedgemoor RC, at 23 one of Britain's most outstanding marksmen, won the Queen's Prize at Bisley only one year after winning the Grand Aggregate, the overall championship.
  27. ^ "SHOOTING". The Daily Telegraph. 29 July 1996. p. 45. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 1 January 2024. Queen's Prize: 1. A Marion (Canada) 298.41pts (sic); 2. Sqdn Ldr D Calvert (RAF/Comber) 298.41; 3. A Luckman (Sedgmoor TSC) 297.49.
  28. ^ "Sport in Brief". The Times. Times Media Group. 21 July 2003. Archived from the original on 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023. Shooting: Glyn Barnett's first act after creating history by successfully defending the Queen's Prize at Bisley was to dedicate his win to the memory of Andrew Tucker, one of the finest British riflemen, who died on July 9. 'He was a great friend to all shooters,' Barnett said.
  29. ^ Walsh, Dominic (14 March 2017). "Shard Capital's hot shots go in all guns blazing". The Times. Times Media Group. Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2023. Shard Capital, the brokerage and asset management firm, will be a little light on senior management. Toby Raincock, its chief executive, and James Lewis, its managing partner, are both flying to South Africa to represent the Great Britain rifle team at one of the sport's big events. Who's the better shot? 'James won the highly coveted Queen's Prize at Bisley in 2007, which puts him into an elite club of winners dating back over 150 years,' says Mr Raincock. 'On current form it would be close but perhaps I might just edge him out.'(subscription required)
  30. ^ Tony de Launay (26 July 2010). "David Calvert puts near misses behind him to finally win HM The Queen's Prize at Bisley". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
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