THE ENGLISH EIGHT CLUB
SECRETARY’S REPORT 2022
Introduction
The Club’s objectives continue to be to foster long range rifle shooting in the interest of national defence and in particular to organise the English Team in any international match shot with match rifle. To this end, it has continued to arrange its annual Spring and Autumn meetings, which produce ever higher standards of accurate shooting at long range. Interest in experimentation continues. The Club continues its policy of encouraging new entrants to match rifle shooting. With this particular aim, the Club makes its facilities available to members of Cambridge University Rifle Association and Oxford University Rifle Club and to other young people. It also encourages F Class and TR shooters to enter club meetings, and has seen greater interest from Any Rifle shooters, keen to test themselves at longer distances, as well in the last few years
Results
Sadly, there was no competition held for the Elcho Shield in 2022 (what was scheduled to be the 150[th] staging). That was due to the wild fires that swept across the danger area (and some of the range) just prior to the intended start of the Hopton.
As well as putting paid to the Elcho and the Hopton, that also ensured that there were no Five Nations or FW Jones matches in which the Club could compete in 2022.
The Great Britain Woomera Team to Australia
The Club President, Nick Tremlett, captained the Great Britain team that travelled to Australia in September 2022, to compete for the Woomera Trophy.
A large number of Members and Honorary Members of the Club were selected both for the tour, and also for the team on the day of the Woomera Match. The GB team were triumphant, and posted a record score for the match in the process.
Our congratulations go to Nick and all of his team.
Range Fires and the Ashes
As noted above, the large fire in the danger area at the start of July resulted in the Hopton and Elcho needing to be cancelled, at rather late notice.
With many shooters already at Bisley, or en route, it was decided that something needed to be done, and an alternative shoot, the Ashes, was arranged at even later notice, to replace some of the lost Hopton. This was done through the auspices of the English Eight Club, and it would be remiss not to mention the efforts there of two of our members; Nick Tremlett for taking the lead on the organisation, and Michael Hissey for so quickly getting an entry, squadding and results system up and running (based on his excellent system for the Spring and Autumn meetings). Our thanks in this endeavour should also go to all of those who volunteered as fire marshals, the NRA for their support and for getting the ranges operational again in such short order, and all club members and shooters in general for supporting the event (and for their forbearance as things changed a number of times at such short notice).
Cont’d…..
Capt & President C.N.Tremlett Hon Sec S.J.Whitby Meetings Sec M.J.Hissey Treasurer R.J. Lygoe O.B.E.
Registered Charity No. 277108
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In fact, the event was so successful that Nick and Michael were keen to do it all over again, and the Ashes 2.0 was arranged for later in 2022, to further replace some of the Hopton shooting that was lost.
Spring Meeting
The 131[st] Meeting of the club was held at Bisley on the 7[th] /8[th] May 2022, and I am delighted to report that there were 76 entries, which was back in line with the highs of the pre-Covid years. The course of fire for the meeting also returned to the traditional format.
The results of the Annual Jewels Competition of the English Eight Club were:-
| The Gold Jewel and Lord Cottesloe’s Cup | C N Tremlett | (439.58) |
|---|---|---|
| The Silver Jewel | J A Lindsay III | (438.56) |
| The Bronze Jewel | R J Lygoe | (432.47) |
| The results of the open trophies were:- | ||
| The Welsh Aggregate Trophy (Overall Competition) | C N Tremlett | (439.58) |
| The H G Courth Memorial Trophy (Saturday aggregate) | C N Tremlett | (222.32) |
| The Martin Smith Challenge Cup (Sunday aggregate) | W Meldrum | (219.17) |
| The L D Ranken Memorial Trophy (1200 Sunday) | G K Alexander | (144.12) |
| The Powell Trophy (Ladies) | H Mansell | (429.42) |
| The O.C.R.A. Trophy (under 25) | A R P Harrison | (415.29) |
Autumn Meeting
The Autumn meeting held on the 24[th] /25[th] September attracted 40 entries. Though the Covid restrictions were no longer in place, this was still well down on the ‘usual’ entry. There were probably a number of reasons to this, with the main one being that the bulk of the GB team flew out to Australia the day following the meeting – few team members were therefore able to shoot. Scarcity of components, costs in the context of the current economic conditions and proximity to other shoots (including the Ashes 2.0) were also likely factors. The meeting, shot in the traditional pre-Covid format (but with an additional standalone team shoot on the Saturday morning) was still a success, however, and results were as follows:
| The Stamford Young Trophy (highest MR score) | R Scaglione | (445.55) |
|---|---|---|
| 1200 Club Salver (1200 aggregate) | R J Lygoe | (149.18) |
| The Dram Trophy (Saturday aggregate) | R Scaglione | (223.26) |
| Donegal Badge | C Halleran | (436.52) |
| Irish Cup (Sunday aggregate) | R J Lygoe | (223.29) |
| The Ladies Trophy | C Halleran | (436.52) |
| The Under 25 Cup | T V C F Nightingale | (420.34) |
| Pilcher Platter (English Spring & Autumn Meeting agg) | R J Lygoe | (876.107) |
| Auditor’s Cup (English Hopton, Spring & Autumn agg) | Not presented this year | |
| The Under 25 Spring and Autumn | T V C F Nightingale | (825.57) |
The organisation necessary to mount our meetings is considerable. As ever, I would like to thank in particular Michael Hissey for arranging squadding (sent out by text to those who provide their mobile number) as well as for providing excellent statistics which are well displayed and now instantly available on the day (including on the website).
Cont’d…..
Capt & President C.N.Tremlett Hon Sec S.J.Whitby Meetings Sec M.J.Hissey Treasurer R.J. Lygoe O.B.E.
Registered Charity No. 277108
-3-
Thanks also go to Fiona Day for organising the receptions after shooting, and Ashley Abrahams, Rosanne Furniss, Mike Judge and Adam Leach for supervising safety and assisting with administration over the course of the weekends. I would also like to thank Jim Stevens for arranging markers and HPS for their continued support of our receptions.
Special thanks this year are due to Mike Turner and Jim Carter for their roles as range officers over the years – they have always run a tight ship, and ensured that we make it through a sometimes challenging course of fire in good time; at all times, though, they have embraced and promoted the Match Rifle ethos on the point. Both have now decided to call time on the majority of their ROing. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude, and I would like to pass on the thanks of all members of the Club for their efforts on our behalf. They have passed on the torch to two new ROs in the same mould, in Frank Carlin and Andrew Forrester, and we will therefore remain well looked after in future. While we might not see Mike and Jim in high vis on the point again at our meetings, we hope that they will not be strangers, and will pop into the Eight if they ever see a reception or barbecue in full swing!
Membership
Those eligible to shoot in the English Eight in the Elcho Match may apply to become full members of the Club, while those not eligible to shoot in the English Eight may apply for honorary membership. All applicants must be full members of the National Rifle Association, Cambridge University Rifle Association or Oxford University Rifle Club. Applications must be made in writing to the Membership Secretary (with Fiona Day standing for election to that role this year – our thanks go to Mike Spencer for all of his efforts over the years). All applications must be supported by two existing members of the Club. Details of other club memberships, firearm certificate number and issuing Authority must also be provided. The Club is affiliated to the NRA.
As previously advised, the Club took the decision to cancel its Home Office approval in late 2022 (prior to the renewal becoming due in 2023). That decision was made on the basis of cost (renewal fees having increased significantly) and need (the club does not have an FAC, and does not operate as a primary club for licensing purposes for members).
Club House
On behalf of the Club I would like to thank Richard Whitby for all his hard work so generously undertaken in the time consuming role of looking after the clubhouse, both inside and out.
We are currently undertaking work necessary as part of our dilapidations schedule (with the lease coming up for renewal in 2025), and also intend to carry out some significant improvement work (the intention is to replace the roof and the toilets, with both being past their best (the roof being repainted is part of the schedule of dilapidations, but would seem a somewhat futile endeavour). The latter work has been delayed, while we remain engaged in discussions with the NRA about the renewal of our lease, and the impact (or, more importantly, not) of the improvement works on that renewal.
Finance
Our Treasurer, Rob Lygoe, continues to do an excellent job in administering the Club’s finances and preparing the accounts. The audited accounts show the financial result for the year was a deficit of income over expenditure of £538.66 (compared to a surplus for 2021 of £20,967.02). It should be noted that the 2021 surplus was almost entirely due to receipts of Covid support grants, and was therefore not likely to be repeated. For a more realistic comparison, the 2019 accounts (the last before Covid) showed a surplus of £1,814.23.
Cont’d…..
Capt & President C.N.Tremlett Hon Sec S.J.Whitby Meetings Sec M.J.Hissey Treasurer R.J. Lygoe O.B.E.
Registered Charity No. 277108
-4-
The difference in position for 2022 in comparison to 2019 is broadly a result of increased costs, and a lower margin on the meetings (with the club generating proceeds after costs for the meetings of c£3,155 in 2022, compared to £4,110 in 2019 and £3,268 in 2018). This represented a c15% margin for 2022, and in excess of 20% for each of 2018 and 2019. That lower margin was in spite of raising the meeting entry fees in 2022, to reflect some of the increased cost of arranging the meeting (with the costs of targets and markers having increased, together with the new NRA cancellation policy also making things more difficult in terms of the charges for cancelled targets).
While the club has strong reserves (£58,781.49 in cash at year end), it should be noted that a significant proportion of this (in excess of c£30,000) will likely be spent on the clubhouse in the next c18 months (as per the works detailed in the Club House section above).
The bulk of the Club’s regular outgoings continue to be the cost of renting and maintaining the clubhouse, whose principal users are members of CURA and OURC. The Club views the support of younger shooters as being vital to the health of match rifle shooting, and this is reflected in the pricing of entries to the Spring and Autumn meeting for young shooters (pricing which actually results in a loss being made on each entry to the meetings by a young shooter)
Sadly, the costs of both organising the meetings and keeping the clubhouse continue to increase. The cost of target hire rose by 12.5% in 2023, the clubhouse rent increases with RPI every three years (it has therefore increased by £818.83, or just over 20%, for 2023), and our service charges for 2023 have increased to £384.86 (from £166.90 for 2022, and with further annual increases scheduled).
While not strictly business for the 2022 Secretary’s Report, it is still therefore just worth highlighting that we will likely be forced to review the entry fees, and potentially the membership subs, for 2024 (those being our two main sources of income). While we have frozen entry fees for 2023 (subject to sufficiently early entry), as we wish to acknowledge the difficult current economic environment and do not wish to drive shooters away, we cannot allow the Club, as a charity with a long term remit, to run at a significant or regular deficit for very long.
England Training Days
As in 2021, the England training days were somewhat limited. This was in part due to a Great Britain practice day for the Woomera, which clashed with the usual Friday practice prior to the Spring Meeting, and in larger part due to the fires on the range in early July. The latter sadly saw the traditional pre-Hopton Friday practice entirely cancelled. A practice was held prior to the Spring Meeting, however, and there were 15 attendees to that (a good number, considering Woomera squad participation). I am delighted to announce, however, that things have returned somewhat more towards normal in 2023, and this section of my (or my successor’s!) report for next year will tell of far greater success and participation in this regard.
Website
The Club already has a functioning website on which Elcho match, Spring and Autumn meeting results can be found together with photographs and match reports. A club history is also available, though is now some 10 years out of date. If anyone would like to volunteer to write up the history of the club for the last (hugely successful) decade, do not be shy in coming forward. The website address is www.englishviii.org.uk.
Cont’d…..
Capt & President C.N.Tremlett Hon Sec S.J.Whitby Meetings Sec M.J.Hissey Treasurer R.J. Lygoe O.B.E.
Registered Charity No. 277108
-5-
While not strictly Eight Club business, I would, as previously, highlight here that there is a dedicated website for all things Great Britain match rifle related. I would encourage all members to visit and support that endeavour at www.gbmatchrifle.org.uk.
In closing, I would like to thank all members of the Committee not already mentioned who have given time and effort in helping with the administration of the Club.
S J Whitby Hon. Secretary
July 2023
Capt & President C.N.Tremlett Hon Sec S.J.Whitby Meetings Sec M.J.Hissey Treasurer R.J. Lygoe O.B.E.
Registered Charity No. 277108
English Eight Club Income and Expenditure account – 1 Jan 2022 to 31 Dec 2022
| Income | 2022 | 2021 | Expenditure | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subscriptions | 4125.00 | 3690.00 | Clubhouse Expenses | 1144.47 | 512.51 | |
| Meetingentries | 19858.00 | 14643.00 | Rent/Rates | 3530.23 | 3510.18 | |
| Reception sponsorship | 300.00 | 0.00 | Insurance | 1380.09 | 1230.36 | |
| Jewel/Badge sales | 0.00 | 150.00 | Clubhouse Refurbishment | 688.66 | 0.00 |
|
| Interest | 4.51 | 60.25 | Meetingexpenses2 | 16703.10 | 11357.10 | |
| Donations | 3612.00 | 65.00 | Elcho Match4 | 4577.52 | 812.57 | |
| Elcho Folder / Record sheets sales | 0.00 | 0.00 | Member Dev't1 | 1962.71 | 517.00 | |
| Member Dev't1 | 1987.00 | 631.50 | Receptions | 619.95 | 209.90 | |
| Gift Aid Reclaim | 505.56 | 552.54 | Elcho Folders / Record Sheets | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Scorebooks + clothing | 172.00 | 140.00 | Jewels: Cost of Sales | 0.00 | 135.90 | |
| Covid income3 | 0.00 | 19799.00 | Affiliations | 496.00 | 478.75 | |
| Secretarial / Treasurer Expenses | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 30564.07 | 39731.29 | Clothing | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Headsets | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| Excess of Income over Expenditure | -538.66 | 20967.02 | ||||
| 31102.73 | 18764.27 | |||||
| Check | 31102.73 | 18764.27 | ||||
| Net Income | -538.66 | 20967.02 | ||||
| Notes | ||||||
| 1. 2022 -practice daysplus NOPTON and ASHES2.0 monies | ||||||
| 2. incl GBMRT dinner | ||||||
| 3. 2021 - small business COVIDgrants | ||||||
| 4. New scoreboard, plus date barpurchases | ||||||
English Eight Club Balance Sheet at 31 Dec 2022
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Assets 2022 2021
Stock at Cost @ 31 December 2022
Cash in Hand 0.00 0.00 No. @price
Girobank current account 2,776.98 3,133.80
Girobank deposit account 56004.51 56000.00 Elcho Jewels 8 135.90 1087.20
Total cash and bank 58781.49 59133.80
PhotoAlbums at cost 0.00 0.00 EVIII Gold Jewels 8 58.64 469.09
Jewels at cost 2418.98 2564.09 EVIII Silver Jewels 8 54.64 437.12
Debtors 4534.02 4575.27 EVIII Bronze Jewels 8 31.83 254.62
65734.49 66273.16 Elcho Cloth Badges 17 10.06 170.95
Creditors -35.00 -35.00
65699.49 66238.16 2418.98
Accumulated Funds Photo Albums 0.00
General Fund
At beginning of Year 16238.16 15271.14 DEBTORS At end of: 2022 2021
Excess of Income over Expenditure -538.66 20967.02
Transfer from Clubhouse Fund 0.00 -20000.00 2023 NRA affiliation 554.75 496.00
At end of Year 15699.49 16238.16 Uncashed Aut Mtg Chq 0.00 135.00
OURC subs 490.00 455.00
Clubhouse Fund Rent early payment 3489.27 3489.27
At beginning of Year 50000.00 30000.00 CREDITORS
Transfer from General Fund 0.00 20000.00
At end of Year 50000.00 50000.00
Early subs payment 35.00 35.00
Total Funds at Year End 65699.49 66238.16
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English Eight Club Income and Expenditure account – 1 Jan 2022 to 31 Dec 2022
| Income | 2022 | 2021 | Expenditure | 2022 | 2021 | 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subscriptions | 4125.00 | 3690.00 | Clubhouse Expenses | 1144.47 | 512.51 | |||
| Meetingentries | 19858.00 | 14643.00 | Rent/Rates | 3530.23 | 3510.18 | |||
| Reception sponsorship | 300.00 | 0.00 | Insurance | 1380.09 | 1230.36 | |||
| Jewel/Badge sales | 0.00 | 150.00 | Clubhouse Refurbishment | 688.66 | 0.00 |
|||
| Interest | 4.51 | 60.25 | Meetingexpenses2 | 16703.10 | 11357.10 | |||
| Donations | 3612.00 | 65.00 | Elcho Match4 | 4577.52 | 812.57 | |||
| Elcho Folder / Record sheets sales | 0.00 | 0.00 | Member Dev't1 | 1962.71 | 517.00 | |||
| Member Dev't1 | 1987.00 | 631.50 | Receptions | 619.95 | 209.90 | |||
| Gift Aid Reclaim | 505.56 | 552.54 | Elcho Folders / Record Sheets | 0.00 | 0.00 | |||
| Scorebooks + clothing | 172.00 | 140.00 | Jewels: Cost of Sales | 0.00 | 135.90 | |||
| Covid income3 | 0.00 | 19799.00 | Affiliations | 496.00 | 478.75 | |||
| Secretarial / Treasurer Expenses | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||||
| 30564.07 | 39731.29 | Clothing | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| Headsets | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||||
| Excess of Income over Expenditure | -538.66 | 20967.02 | ||||||
| 31102.73 | 18764.27 | |||||||
| Check | 31102.73 | 18764.27 | ||||||
| ~~In connection with my examination, no mat~~ ~~dild h t ttti hih~~ |
~~ter (other than as~~ ~~i~~ |
~~bl~~ |
||||||
| Net Income | -538.66 | 20967.02 | ~~scose) as come o my aenon wc~~ cause to believe that in any material respect |
~~ves me reasona~~ the requirement |
~~e~~ s to |
|||
keepaccountingrecords, toprepare account |
s which accord |
|||||||
| Notes | therewith and comply with accounting requi |
rements, have n |
ot been |
|||||
| 1. 2022 -practice daysplus NOPTON and ASHES2.0 monies | ~~met, or, to which in my opinion, attention s~~ ~~to enable a roer understandin of the acc~~ |
~~ould be drawn i~~ ~~unts to be reach~~ |
~~n order~~ ~~d~~ |
|||||
| 2. incl GBMRT dinner | ~~pp g~~ | ~~.~~ | ||||||
| 3. 2021 - small business COVIDgrants | ||||||||
| 4. New scoreboard, plus date barpurchases | ||||||||
| ~~Paul AE Charlton~~ | ||||||||
Hon. Independent Examiner 8 July 2023 |
~~Paul AE Charlton~~ Hon. Independent Examiner 8 July 2023
English Eight Club Balance Sheet at 31 Dec 2022
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Assets 2022 2021
Stock at Cost @ 31 December 2022
Cash in Hand 0.00 0.00 No. @price
Girobank current account 2,776.98 3,133.80
Girobank deposit account 56004.51 56000.00 Elcho Jewels 8 135.90 1087.20
Total cash and bank 58781.49 59133.80
PhotoAlbums at cost 0.00 0.00 EVIII Gold Jewels 8 58.64 469.09
Jewels at cost 2418.98 2564.09 EVIII Silver Jewels 8 54.64 437.12
Debtors 4534.02 4575.27 EVIII Bronze Jewels 8 31.83 254.62
65734.49 66273.16 Elcho Cloth Badges 17 10.06 170.95
Creditors -35.00 -35.00
65699.49 66238.16 2418.98
Accumulated Funds Photo Albums 0.00
General Fund
At beginning of Year 16238.16 15271.14 DEBTORS At end of: 2022 2021
Excess of Income over Expenditure -538.66 20967.02
Transfer from Clubhouse Fund 0.00 -20000.00 2023 NRA affiliation 554.75 496.00
At end of Year 15699.49 16238.16 Uncashed Aut Mtg Chq 0.00 135.00
OURC subs 490.00 455.00
Clubhouse Fund Rent early payment 3489.27 3489.27
At beginning of Year 50000.00 30000.00 CREDITORS
Transfer from General Fund 0.00 20000.00
At end of Year 50000.00 50000.00
Early subs payment 35.00 35.00
Total Funds at Year End 65699.49 66238.16
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