THE ENGLISH EIGHT CLUB
SECRETARY’S REPORT 2023
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
After two false starts (caused by COVID and then the range wildfires), the 150[th] Elcho Shield Match was staged in 2023. The England team was victorious, beating Scotland by 13 points.
The Eight Club finished second to Ireland in the Five Nations match, losing out by the small matter of 3 V Bulls.
The Club did not enter a team into the FW Jones this year.
Club Captaincy
After another successful Elcho Match, with Club members assembled on the firing point ready to ratify his re-election for another year, Nick Tremlett stunned the throng by announcing that he would be standing down as England Captain.
Nick took up the Captaincy in 2007, replacing Stuart Collings, and his first Elcho Match as Captain was in 2008. Throughout his tenure, Nick focused on developing the strength in depth of the England team, and in looking to bring new shooters through. While initial results were ‘mixed’, that strategy eventually bore fruit, and Nick steps away from the Captaincy with the Club in a very strong position thanks to his efforts – England have won the last 9 Elcho matches, many shooters have received their first caps under his watch, and successful Club training days continue to foster a spirit of togetherness within the Club.
To celebrate Nick’s Captaincy, a dinner was held in his honour, with all of those who had been part of an England team during his tenure invited to attend (together with all Captains of the opposition against whom those teams had shot). The event was a huge success (and our thanks to Fiona Day for the organisation of that event).
With Nick having stepped aside, a new Captain of the Club was duly sought.
I am delighted to announce that Alex Cargill Thompson was elected as Captain of the Eight, unopposed and unanimously. Alex has been a stalwart and vital member of the Club over many years, both as a shot and on the organisational side, and we wish him every success as Captain.
Cont’d…..
President C.N.Tremlett Captain A M W Cargill Thompson Hon Sec S.J.Whitby Meetings Sec M.J.Hissey Treasurer R.J. Lygoe O.B.E.
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Spring Meeting
The 132[nd] Meeting of the club was held at Bisley on the 6[th] /7[th] May 2023, with 67 entries. That was slightly down on the numbers for the previous year, but that was perhaps not surprising, given the clash with the Coronation.
The results of the Annual Jewels Competition of the English Eight Club were:-
| The Gold Jewel and Lord Cottesloe’s Cup | R J Lygoe | (446.46) |
|---|---|---|
| The Silver Jewel | R W S Whitby | (436.43) |
| The Bronze Jewel | A Abrahams | (435.50) |
| The results of the open trophies were:- | ||
| The Welsh Aggregate Trophy (Overall Competition) | R J Lygoe | (446.46) |
| The H G Courth Memorial Trophy (Saturday aggregate) | R Scaglione | (223.26) |
| The Martin Smith Challenge Cup (Sunday aggregate) | R J Lygoe | (224.24) |
| The L D Ranken Memorial Trophy (1200 Sunday) | R J Lygoe | (149.11) |
| The Powell Trophy (Ladies) | F K Day | (427.31) |
| The O.C.R.A. Trophy (under 25) | T V C F Nightingale | (426.42) |
Autumn Meeting
The Autumn meeting held on the 23[rd] /24[th] September attracted 54 entries. That was a strong increase in the numbers for the 2022 meeting, and back up to around the usual pre-pandemic numbers. For the 2023 meeting, it was decided to revert to the ‘usual’ format, and include an individual practice session on the Saturday morning, rather than a team match. That decision was made in order to try and keep costs down for competitors, given the impact of the rising cost of shooting (alongside the general cost of living), as well as continued scarcity of components. The results of the meeting were as follows:
| The Stamford Young Trophy (highest MR score) | R J Lygoe | (439.61) |
|---|---|---|
| 1200 Club Salver (1200 aggregate) | T V C F Nightingale | (146.20) |
| The Dram Trophy (Saturday aggregate) | R J Lygoe | (221.30) |
| Donegal Badge | T V C F Nightingale | (437.55) |
| Irish Cup (Sunday aggregate) | D H W Dashwood | (220.21) |
| The Ladies Trophy | H Fisher | (435.43) |
| The Under 25 Cup | T V C F Nightingale | (437.55) |
| Pilcher Platter (English Spring & Autumn Meeting agg) | R J Lygoe | (885.107) |
| Auditor’s Cup (English Hopton, Spring & Autumn agg) | R J Lygoe | (1873.215 |
| The Under 25 Spring and Autumn | T V C F Nightingale | (863.97) |
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…..
President C.N.Tremlett Captain A M W Cargill Thompson Hon Sec S.J.Whitby Meetings Sec M.J.Hissey Treasurer R.J. Lygoe O.B.E.
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Thanks also go to Fiona Day for organising the receptions after shooting, and Ashley Abrahams, 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.
As noted in my report last year, our usual range officers, Mike Turner and Jim Carter, have decided to call time on the majority of their ROing. We have been very fortunate, however, that Frank Carlin and Andrew Forrester have agreed to step into their shoes, and we would like to pass on our thanks for the wonderful job that they both did for us in 2023 – we hope that they will be happy to run the range for us for many years to come!
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 (Fiona Day). 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 continue to undertake 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. It remains our intention 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). This latter work remains on hold, while we continue to seek 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 unaudited accounts show the financial result for the year was a surplus of income over expenditure of £272.98 (an improvement on the slight deficit produced in 2022). For comparison, in the years prior to Covid, the general position was a surplus of c£1,500 per annum (excluding one-off clubhouse refurbishment costs).
The small improvement in position for 2023 in comparison to 2022 was in part due to an increase in the funds generated by the meetings, with those generating a surplus of c£3,589 in 2023 (c£3,155 in 2022). That represented an improvement in margin, but that still remains below the margin achieved on meetings prior to Covid. That improvement was in spite of meeting entry costs being kept at the same level in 2023 as in 2022 (subject to a competitor taking advantage of the earlier entry discount).
Cont’d…..
President C.N.Tremlett Captain A M W Cargill Thompson Hon Sec S.J.Whitby Meetings Sec M.J.Hissey Treasurer R.J. Lygoe O.B.E.
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Due to the increased costs of running the meetings (with the cost of target hire increasing by c15% from 2023 to 2024, while the cost of markers has increased by c12% over the same period), it has unfortunately been necessary to increase the cost of entry for the meetings in 2024. While we remain aware of the impact of passing no the increasing costs to shooters, we do need to strike a balance between making the meetings as accessible as possible, and generating a sufficient surplus to allow the club to meet its ongoing expenses.
While the club has strong reserves (£58,716.42 in cash at year end), it should be noted that a significant proportion of this (in excess of c£30,000) remains earmarked for expenditure on major clubhouse refurbishment 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)
We are now in the position that the club subscriptions (£3,855 in 2023) are no-longer sufficient to meet the rental cost and rates of the clubhouse (c£4,329 in 2023). We are therefore proposing an increase in the cost of the annual membership subscription for 2025. For context, the last increase in subscription rates was in 2014 (with the last increase prior to that being in 2009).
England Training Days
After a couple of ‘down years’ for England training days, for a variety of reasons (the usual culprits of COVID and wildfires, to which was also added the disruption of Great Britain Woomera tour, with associated training schedule), I am delighted to say that things returned to normal in 2023. There were two practice days held by the Club, on the Friday before the Spring meeting, and the Friday before the Hopton. Both were strongly supported, with 21 shooters at the former, and 26 at the latter.
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. As mentioned in my report from last year, 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.
While not strictly Eight Club business, I would, as always, 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
June 2024
President C.N.Tremlett Captain A M W Cargill Thompson Hon Sec S.J.Whitby Meetings Sec M.J.Hissey Treasurer R.J. Lygoe O.B.E.
English Eight Club Income and Expenditure account – 1 Jan 2023 to 31 Dec 2023
| Income | 2023 | 2022 | Expenditure | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subscriptions | 3855.00 | 4125.00 | Clubhouse Expenses | 1063.86 | 1144.47 | |
| Meetingentries | 20433.50 | 19858.00 | Rent/Rates | 4328.58 | 3530.23 | |
| Reception sponsorship | 300.00 | 300.00 | Insurance | 1519.88 | 1380.09 | |
| Jewel/Badge sales | 450.00 | 0.00 | Clubhouse Refurbishment | 46.00 | 688.66 |
|
| Interest | 148.12 | 4.51 | Meetingexpenses | 16844.36 | 16703.10 | |
| Donations | 275.40 | 3612.00 | Elcho Match | 933.02 | 4577.52 | |
| Elcho Folder / Record sheets sales | 0.00 | 0.00 | Member Dev't1 | 2220.65 | 1962.71 | |
| Member Dev't1 | 2316.75 | 1987.00 | Receptions | 309.83 | 619.95 | |
| Gift Aid Reclaim | 590.79 | 505.56 | Elcho Folders / Record Sheets | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Scorebooks + clothing+ badges2 | 1717.02 | 172.00 | Jewels: Cost of Sales | 407.70 | 0.00 | |
| Affiliations | 554.75 | 496.00 | ||||
| Secretarial / Treasurer Expenses | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 30086.58 | 30564.07 | Clothing+ badges2 | 1584.96 | 0.00 | ||
| Excess of Income over Expenditure | 272.98 | -538.66 | ||||
| 29813.60 | 31102.73 | |||||
| Check | 29813.60 | 31102.73 | ||||
| Net Income | 272.98 | -538.66 | ||||
| Notes | ||||||
| 1. 2023 -practice days in Mayand July | ||||||
| 2. Incl. Elcho 150 match badges. |
English Eight Club Balance Sheet at 31 Dec 2023
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock at Cost @ 31 December 2022 | ||||||||
| Cash in Hand | 0.00 | 0.00 | No. | @price | ||||
| Girobank current account | 2,563.79 | 2,776.98 | ||||||
| Girobank deposit account | 56152.63 | 56004.51 | Elcho Jewels | 5 | 135.90 | 679.50 | ||
| Total cash and bank | 58716.42 | 58781.49 | ||||||
| PhotoAlbums at cost | 0.00 | 0.00 | EVIII Gold Jewels | 7 | 58.64 | 410.45 | ||
| Jewels at cost | 1825.96 | 2418.98 | EVIII Silver Jewels | 7 | 54.64 | 382.48 | ||
| Debtors | 5430.10 | 4534.02 | EVIII Bronze Jewels | 7 | 31.83 | 222.80 | ||
| 65972.48 | 65734.49 | Elcho Cloth Badges | 13 | 10.06 | 130.73 | |||
| Creditors | 0.00 | -35.00 | ||||||
| 65972.48 | 65699.49 | 1825.96 | ||||||
| Accumulated Funds | Photo Albums | 0.00 | ||||||
| General Fund | ||||||||
| At beginningof Year | 15699.49 | 16238.16 | DEBTORS | At end of: | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Excess of Income over Expenditure | 272.98 | -538.66 | ||||||
| Transfer from Clubhouse Fund | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2023/2024 NRA affiliation | 666.00 | 554.75 | |||
| At end of Year | 15972.48 | 15699.49 | Elcho 150 badges | 456.00 | 0.00 | |||
| OURC subs | 0.00 | 490.00 | ||||||
| Clubhouse Fund | Rent early payment | 4308.10 | 3489.27 | |||||
| At beginningof Year | 50000.00 | 50000.00 | CREDITORS | |||||
| Transfer from General Fund | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||||
| At end of Year | 50000.00 | 50000.00 | ||||||
| Earlysubspayment | 0.00 | 35.00 | ||||||
| Total Funds at Year End | 65972.48 | 65699.49 |
English Eight Club Balance Sheet at 31 Dec 2023 Assets 2023 2022 stsk at Cost o, 31 Detenknr 2022 Cash in Hand robank current a¢cgunt Girobankdeposit account Tolal cash and bank PhotoAibuns at co4t J¢w¢k at cost Debto 1563.79 56152.63 58716.42 1776.98 5(AKI4.51 58781.49 Fkho Jewe15 135.90 679.50 ETrlll G)id J¢w¢b EMII SilverJcw¢ls JeweLs Ekho Cloth &qdg¢s 58.64 410.45 382.48 222.80 130.73 1825.96 5430.10 65972.48 241¥.98 4534.02 65734.49 31.83 CredilOt5 -35.(K 65972.48 65699.49 182S.96 Photo Albuts o.Ix) Ikneral frund Al be¥Th¥ of Year of In¢onr ov¢rEN)enditure Trdrtsfcr fromcjubhouse Fund 15699.49 16238.16 DEBTORS At end of.. 2023 2022 202312024 afS]iaix)o 551.75 At eDd of Y¢ar 15972A8 15699A9 Ekho IX)badges OURCsub5 Rent L'aTly pay1 456.iX) O.(K) o.IN) 491.IK) 4308.10 3489.27 Clulthou5e Fund At bcgTinnllJg of Year Trdrtsfcr from&ncrdl Fund At end of Year 511KJ).(K> SIKMX).(KTr CREJ)rroRS 50000.00 $0000.00 Early subs payrtrnl o. 35.IX) Total Funds at Year Fnd 65972.48 65699.49 rfsc . 6tsc-) K