It is normally the shooter who celebrates a score of 100 ex 100.
On 11 November 2011 it was the Club.
The Colbury & District Rifle Club was formed at the suggestion of local landowner,
William Claude Vaudrey Barker-Mill, who together with his mother, Marianne, provided the land and significant funding for the original range and clubhouse.
Over the last few decades, as other local clubs have struggled with numbers and facilities, we have been delighted that the remaining members of the Romsey, Eling and Lymington clubs chose to join us. Today we have a healthy membership of over 60, with ages ranging from 11 to 84, entering many local and national competitions and enjoying a growing reputation. Two years ago, then Club also started entering LWSR competitions and members enjoy this as “light relief” from the serious business of prone target rifle shooting although it is every bit as demanding.
The Longdown Estate has continued to support the club throughout its first 100 years
ensuring our survival, including most recently when, in 2009, we rebuilt our very dilapidated clubhouse, thanks to members’ contributions and DIY skills as well as grants
from the Peter Barker-Mill Memorial Charity and our local Councils.
Dean Britton & Neville Penman (Totton & Eling Town Council), Dr Julian Lewis MP, Adam Vaudrey Barker-Mill, Peter Sopowski & Caroline Hubbard (Ashurst & Colbury Parish Council), Dave Bryant & Norman Yates (Colbury members).
On Saturday, 10 September, the Club was pleased to be able to show its appreciation when Adam Barker-Mill, great grandson of Marianne, unveiled a commemorative plaque and officially re-opened our rebuilt clubhouse. Dr. Julian Lewis, MP, our President, and representatives from the Peter Barker-Mill Memorial Charity, Ashurst & Colbury Parish Council and Totton & Eling Town Council also joined our members for light refreshments and a piece of the magnificent Centenary cake made by Janet Barrett, the wife of one of our members.
- The splendid Centenary Cake
That morning, the club was invited to “appear” on Radio Solent’s regular Saturday morning spot featuring sporting groups in the area. Dave Bryant represented us and spoke very eloquently on, not only our behalf, but also that of target shooters everywhere.
So, after 100 eventful years, the Club is going from strength to strength and it continues to
meet the original criteria of allowing members of the local (and not so local) community to learn to shoot and to hone their skills. With a two-point 25 yard range for small-bore (.22 calibre) prone target rifle shooting, we continue to offer this Olympic sport to anyone in the eastern part of the New Forest, teaching safety, discipline, concentration and respect for firearms.
