Whittlesey Rifle Club

Members of the WRC turned out to support our club President during his Paralympic competition.

Unfortunately Matt didn’t win a medal, but we still had a great turnout.

BBC Radio Cambridgeshire and Greatest Hits Radio also did interviews and the Mayor posed for photos.

Being elected for a Fifth Paralympic Games is a massive achievement and Matt’s successes deserve recognition and the fitting of the blue plaque at the club, will be the icing on the cake.

Well done Matt! You are truly an inspiration to the Whittlesey Town and an ambassador for the sport of shooting that all abilities can enjoy.

Our President has Paris Paralympic gold in his sights!

The Whittlesey Rifle Club is asking everyone to join us cheering on our Club President, Matt Skelhon, as he aims for Paralympic Gold in the Paris games this week.

Matt, aged 39, learned to shoot at the Whittlesey Rifle Club before famously winning a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, followed by silver and bronze at London 2012. After a tough few year with no medals at the subsequent games, he has fought his way back to form. His last competition is on Thursday September 5th he will be taking part in the outdoor R6 50m rifle prone competition, where he is both European and world champion, which also helped secure his Paralympic team selection.

Matts last competition is being televised, so club is holding a Community Event with Free tea and coffee. It an open invitation, A chance to the town to come together.

Community Event: –

Next Thursday morning on 5th Sept at the Straw Bear pub, 09:30-12:00 (the final is taking place around 10:45am).

The Straw Bear Pub and Accommodation can be found on Drybread Road Whittlesey, and on the internet at https://www.thestrawbear.co.uk

Please come for some “Flag waving and fun” to support our own Whittlesey World Champion Target Sports Shooter!

Whittlesey Rifle Club has appointed a new disability officer.

Actor/writer David Proud has been a member of the club for a while. He has now joined the club’s committee and accepted the role of disability officer. David has been shooting for five years and said that he liked the sport as it forces him to relax. He added that the facilities at Whittlesey were really well laid out for wheelchair users and it was also a great social hub.

Club chairman Andy Surtees said: “We are really pleased David has accepted the role. He brings a wealth of experience and will help us do even more to promote the club and its facilities.’’

Andy also thanked the previous disability officer, Barry Plumb, who has been forced to step down for health reasons, saying everyone at the club was grateful for his contribution and wished him the best for the future.

The announcements came at the town’s Big Bash, where the club was running another of its successful free family open days to support the event. David was one of the volunteers on hand to meet the guests and show people around the club with the opportunity to try target shooting.

Members also celebrated winning a prestigious High Sheriff award for its volunteer community work. The High Sheriff, David Way, visited the club after the ceremony alongside Whittlesey Town Mayor, Alex Miscandlon.

After the outside of the range has been improved considerably by a new lick of paint, it is now the turn of the inside to undergo a repaint.

As you can see our club members are volunteering their time to range maintenance, to give all our members a better and more pleasurable shooting experience.

The club will therefore remain closed until this work has been completed and the paint has had time to dry.

Hopefully we will be open again on or shortly after the 17-Jun-2024. When we do open, make sure you wipe your feet at the entrance!

We would like to congratulate our Club President, Matt Skelhon on winning a Gold medal in the R6 – Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH1 at the Granada 2024 WSPS European Championships!

We do hope that this secures you a place on Team GB for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris!

You can follow Matt on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mattskelhonshooter/

If you wish to listen to the Radio interview with Mike Buchan and Andy Surtees on 09-May-2024, then click on the links below.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

You can listen to Fenland Youth Radio online at https://www.fenlandyouthradio.com

Please note that the range will be closed for maintenance from and including 09-Jun-2024 to 16-Jun-2024.

Members Mike Buchan and Andy Surtees are on Fenland Youth Radio this Thursday morning (9th May 2024).

They are going to chat about how the Club plays a part in bringing the community together whilst teaching discipline with fun for the youth in our community.

Listen in at https://www.fenlandyouthradio.com/our-schedule

Club members have been collecting food goods for the local food bank and we are pleased to say another delivery has been made!

Thank you to all our members who have donated, and we ask that you do keep giving.

People are still struggling to put food on their table. If you are more fortunate, please consider donating to our box at the club.

Thanks again and well done.

Whittlesey Rifle Club members serving our local community.