Introduction

For Old Suttonian marksmen, memories of shooting, as a Third Former shoulder-to-shoulder with members of the Upper Sixth, or of the keen thrill of scoring a V-Bull at Bisley are fondly cherished. Fortunately, these no longer need to be just memories. The Old Suttonian Rifle Association (OSRA) provides a unique opportunity to return to the sport, reconnect with old teammates, and reminisce about the Bisley of yesteryear.

A Brief History of the OSRA

The Old Suttonian Rifle Association was set up in 2018 in order to provide a platform for Old Suttonians to continue or, indeed, to take up the largely inaccessible sport of target rifle shooting. The 25-yard .22 range nestled in the School's grounds above Lambe's provides an excellent base and starting point, from which members progress to the National Rifle Association at Bisley to shoot fullbore (7.62 calibre) at up to 1000 yards in the warmer months.

Although one of the younger Old Suttonian sports, we remain the most competitive and ambitious. OSRA regularly competes in major competitions, both against university teams and Kent county individuals. In 2018, some Old Suttonian marksmen positioned highly in the Kent County Open competition, and the OSRA became the first alumni club to attend a British Young Shooters’ Association event. Between 2018-2020, multiple members have competed in the Imperial Meeting at Bisley, an international competition that brings together the best target rifle shooters in the world.

2021 OSRA Calendar

Subject to the current restrictions being lifted, the OSRA has a busy year ahead in 2021. Our fullbore season will coincide with assisting the School team at Bisley, but will also include multiple competitions between April and July, including the Kent Open, the Imperial Meeting, and our own event in April.

Further information can be found on the OSRA's own website, which includes up-to-date articles on the team's recent progress. Alternatively, please sign up to the OSRA's Facebook page for the latest news. If you are interested in getting involved with the OSRA, please use the contact details listed below. We welcome shooters of all abilities, even if they never had the pleasure of shooting whilst at School.