Sovereign's Prize

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.[2] The prize is typically referred to as the Queen's Prize or the King's Prize depending on the incumbent British monarch, although in colloquial use "the Queen's" has predominated due to the long reigns of Queen Victoria and Elizabeth II.

Sovereign's Prize
SportShooting sports
CompetitionImperial Meeting
DisciplineFullbore target rifle
LocationNational Shooting Centre, Bisley
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented byNational Rifle Association
History
First award1860
Editions153
Final award2022
First winnerEdward CR Ross
Most wins
3 times
Most recentChris Watson [1]

The Prize was first contested in 1860, with the winner receiving a gold medal and £250. Strictly speaking, the "Queen's Prize" refers to the £250 cash prize, which was originally the personal gift of Queen Victoria. As of 2022, the Prize has been contested 153 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). Five people have won it three times.

Course of Fire

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.

Queen's I

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.

Queen's II

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 "Queen'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.

Queen's III (Queen's Final)

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

Marjorie Foster

Notable winners include the three female winners – Marjorie Foster (1930);[5][6][7][8] JF 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 Fulton's son Robin won in 1958.

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

  • Arthur Fulton (1912, 1926, 1931)
  • Alain Marion (1980, 1983, 1996)[12]
  • TA Ringer (1992, 1997, 2001)
  • David Calvert (2010, 2015, 2016)
  • GCD Barnett (2002, 2003, 2019)

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.

YearGold MedalGold Medal ScoreSilver Medal[note 1]Silver Medal Score
1860ECR Ross24Cpl F Sharp17
1861Pte JM Jopling18Sgt J Dougan23
1862S Pixley41Ens H Walton46
1863J Roberts65Cpl W Wisker49
1864J Wyatt60Pte J Haward47
1865J Sharman64ECR Ross47
1866A Cameron69Pte A James48
1867H Lane57Capt W Wright52
1868JB Carslake65D/Maj SG Hutchinson51
1869A Cameron71T Kirk46
1870W Humphries66Cpl H Young49
1871AP Humphrey68Pte TH Mayfield51
1872W Michie65Capt A Cortis52
1873AD Menzies60Cpl R Willows74
1874WC Atkinson64Cpl H Young87
1875G Pearse73Pte A Innes90
1876R Pullman74Pte RB Burgess86
1877G Jamieson70Cpl Betts92
1878P Rae78Pte C Lowe47
1879G Taylor83QM JC Macdonald96
1880A Ferguson74Cpl Scott102
1881T Beck86Cpl W Ingram96
1882A Lawrance65Sgt WHO Smith174
1883Col-Sgt R Mackay79Capt JH Young183
1884D Gallant110Sgt JH Taylor105
1885W Bulmer307Col-Sgt Simonds104
1886CH Jackson265Capt A Cortis110
1887RO Warren274Armr-Sgt Hill104
1888Armr-Sgt GE Fulton280LCpl Noakes108
1889Sgt D Reid281Pte CW Wattleworth205
1890H Bates278Pte J Murray107
1891D Dear269Sgt A Milner113
1892Major J Pollock277Major J Pollock108
1893Sgt WT Davies274Pte A Stocks96
1894Pte MS Rennie283Capt H Bateman113
1895TH Hayhurst279LSgt W Hogg114
1896JL Thomson273Capt R Foster105
1897WT Ward304Armr-Sgt JH Scott117
1898D Yates327Lieut EL Fletcher119
1899WA Priaulx336Col-Sgt HWM Matthews120
1900WT Ward341Col-Sgt H Comery116
1901Cpl ANVH Ommundsen310Armr-Sgt AJ Comber93
1902Lt ED Johnson[13]307Cpl TH Kerr94
1903Col-Sgt WT Davies311Pte W Gray85
1904SJ Perry321Chap CJ Ferguson-Davie93
1905AJ Comber315SSgt G Souter119
1906RfF Davies324Sgt ANVH Ommundsen94
1907WC Addison318Pte EA Buckley99
1908G Gray325Gnr DR Paterson94
1909HG Burr324Lieut JW Beatty93
1910FR Radice340FR Radice94
1911WJ Clifford319Pte AG Garrod95
1912AG Fulton335RSIM GH Harvey96
1913WA Hawkins330Sgt ANVH Ommundsen92
1914JL Dewar309AG Fulton94
1919L Loveday253Pte RW Lockwood129
1920FH Morgan281Capt WH Hoey144
1921J Cunningham226CR Crowe95
1922AF Marchment230RSM S Green94
1923EH Robinson232J Elgood97
1924DT Burke230CSM JL Dewar95
1925A Smith226Fl Off G Richardson98
1926AG Fulton286FH Kelly146
1927Capt, Dr CH Vernon292AG Fulton148
1928AC Hale283Lieut AE Martin145
1929RM Blair283Pte PRT Garnett141
1930Marjorie Foster[14]280Lieut AJ Andrews147
1931AG Fulton285AG Fulton145
1932CFH Bayly289JW Houlden146
1933DE Woods287Fl Off C Bunch145
1934JA Barlow288CSM WR Clarke146
1935Armr-Sgt FS French289CA Sutherland148
1936LD Busschau272Sgt JE Johnson146
1937DL Birney283O/Cdt DL Birney143
1938JA Barlow287RD Greig147
1939Capt TS Smith282Lieut A Eccles146
1946CC Willott280Capt RJ Middlemas144
1947WO R Bennett279WO R Bennett146
1948PA Pavey283Cpl RJ Kerslake146
1949Capt EWH Brookes278AG Fox146
1950Capt RD Greig277J Draper144
1951Lt GS Boa285Flt Lt H Gill144
1952Major AB Kinnier-Wilson277WH Magnay[15]146
1953Major NW McCaw273RL Saunders145
1954Major GE Twine278Major GE Twine145
1955LR Fenwick286Lt Col OA Watts146
1956Major GE Twine283Capt AF Bromley142
1957JRC Love283Lt Col F Adams147
1958Major RA Fulton281Lord Swansea145
1959Lt LW Mallabar276M Hook (later Hook-Sinclair)146
1960Sgt G Westling280Lt Col DE Elford146
1961WO2 NL Beckett284NL Beckett148
1962Flt Lt PWM Hall280PO RS Boyman147
1963KM Pilcher[16]283Dr KM Pilcher148
1964AD Harris[17]281LEM PEM Tarrant147
1965Capt JA Allen284Lt Col HJ Orpen-Smellie147
1966Maj RW Hampton[18]280Lieut RJ Cade146
1967JG Powell280Major GE Twine147
1968Capt AA Parks285Lord Swansea146
1969FG Little284CERA D Fox145
1970GF Arnold281EGJ Hayes146
1971RM Stevens292MJ Brister150
1972RP Rosling293.34TPB Garnett148.19
1973KM Pilcher[16]293.39KO Pugh149.23
1974FO Harriss283JR Killian148
1975CMY Trotter284GF Arnold148
1976WH Magnay[15]287E Felton149
1977DA Friend283JMA Thompson149
1978GR Graham285PG Kent148
1979Andrew Tucker[19]290JH Carmichael150
1980A Marion[12]294RWH Stafford150
1981GM Ayling291SA Thomas150
1982LM Peden295AG Harrison150
1983A Marion[12]289A Marion150
1984DFP Richards284Flt Lt C Fitzpatrick149
1985JPS Bloomfield290S Belither149
1986G Cox289PG Kent148
1987Andrew Tucker[19]290J Pugsley150
1988J Pugsley290C Mallett148
1989JMA Thompson288RE Hind149.12
1990JPS Bloomfield293HA Tomlinson150.22
1991Flt Lt C Fitzpatrick293GR Robilliard150.21
1992TA Ringer287.37AD Le Cheminant148.11
1993CA Brook295.29CA Brook150.20
1994ML Millar291.34JS Collings149.24
1995AJ Luckman289.30DGM Coleman149.22
1996A Marion[12]298.51PB Bromley150.27
1997TA Ringer299.44PG Kent150.26
1998PA Bennison300.40Chief Tech B Jones150.23
1999DGM Coleman294.37TA Ringer150.22
2000JF Hossack294.29GC Childs150.20
2001TA Ringer295.41JMA Thompson150.26
2002Dr GCD Barnett297.38Flt Lt IW Robertson150.28
2003Dr GCD Barnett[20]297.34Lt NJ Ball150.27
2004HRT Jeens291.25AJ Woodward149.18
2005JAM Paton300.40J Corbett150.23
2006JC Underwood297.42JC Underwood150.23
2007James WE Lewis[21]293.26DC Luckman150.23
2008Zainal Abidin Md Zain294.36Zainal Abidin Md Zain150.24
2009CN Tremlett298.44TA Ringer150.23
2010Wg Cdr DP Calvert[22]297.37J C Underwood150.26
2011ES Compton297.35D E Nuthall150.24
2012Dr JD Warburton298.34G E Morris150.25
2013J Corbett297.46SKC Hunter150.19
2014RCT Jeens297.44J Corbett150.24
2015Wg Cdr DP Calvert294.29J P Tapster149.20
2016Wg Cdr DP Calvert297.41HJ Golaszewski150.28
2017PM Patel297.37PM Patel149.18
2018DC Luckman281.29SJ Whitby150.13
2019GCD Barnett299.47WCP Richards150.26
2020DC Luckman297.40BJ Le Cheminant150.24
2021RSF Shouler298.35RL Furniss150.21
2022AP Good293.37Wg Cdr DP Calvert150.28
2023CJ Watson297.34CP Weeden150.22

See also

Notes

  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

  1. "H.M. King's Prize, Stage III (2023)" (PDF). National Rifle Association. 24 July 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  2. "H.M. The Queen's Prize". GB Rifle Team. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  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. "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. "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.
  14. 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.)
  15. "Walter Magnay". The Times. Times Media. 4 May 2013. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.(subscription required)
  16. "Keith Pilcher". The Times. Times Media. 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.
  17. "BISLEY - THE QUEEN'S PRIZE" (Video). Movietone News. British MovieTone News. 23 July 1964. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  18. "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.
  19. "Andrew Tucker". The Times. Times Media. 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)
  20. "Sport in Brief". The Times. Times Media. 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.
  21. Dominic Walsh (14 March 2017). "Shard Capital's hot shots go in all guns blazing". The Times. Times Media. 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)
  22. 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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