29th Phoenix Meeting 2026 - Match Report
The NRA Phoenix Meeting for 2026 was held from Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th May, and our Gallery Rifle shooters were well represented by the 14 members in attendance.
Across the 4 days of competition squad members entered everything from muzzle loading revolver, target shotgun, and long range service rifle competitions, as well as the more familiar gallery rifle and pistol events.
Despite being the butt of the jokes around not being used to the unusually hot May weather, it didn't seem to affect the trophy and medal haul that came back up the road to Scotland, with over 40 NRA medals taken across various events and classes, as well as 3 Grand Master medals, which are awarded to those who achieved a high standard of shooting across the events they had entered.
It was great to see the newest squad members make their first trip to Bisley, returning shooters coming back to the Phoenix after a few years off, and those who encouraged club members to come down for their first taste of a big competition.
Although well represented in the individual awards, the squad wasn't able to turn this into success in the International Teams matches where England secured the wins in GRCF, GRSB (by one point out of a possible 1680!), LBP and LBR. They were no doubt hungry for the win after their recent defeats at the JSPC Spring Open! There's plenty of time to regroup before the all important Home Countries National Match at the Nationals in September though.
Summary of Medals
Chris Douglas
* Silver – 25m Precision GRCF
* Bronze – 50m Precision GRCF
* Gold – Timed & Precision 1 GRCF (X Class)
* Silver – Multi-Target LBP (X Class)
* Bronze – 1500 GRCF (X Class)
* Bronze – 1020 GRCF (X Class)
Scott Lyon
* Gold – 25m Precision GRSB
* Bronze – Granet GRSB
* Silver – Imperial Silhouettes GRSB
Jonny Cormie
* Bronze – 25m Precision LBP
* Bronze – Timed & Precision 1 GRCF (X)
* Gold – Timed & Precision 1 LBP (X)
* Gold – Timed & Precision 1 LBP Iron Sights
* Gold – Multi-Target GRSB (X)
* Bronze – Multi-Target LBR (X)
* Silver – Multi-Target LBP Iron Sights
* Silver – Phoenix A GRSB (X)
* Silver – Phoenix A GRCF (X)
* Gold – Phoenix A LBR (X)
* Silver – 1500 GRSB (X)
* Gold – Advancing Target LBP (X)
* Gold – Advancing Target LBR (X)
* Bronze – Imperial Silhouettes GRSB
Charles Bestwick
* Silver – 25m Precision GRCF Open
* Silver – Timed & Precision 1 GRCF Open
* Bronze – Multi-Target GRSB (A)
* Bronze – Multi-Target LBP (B)
* Silver – Advancing Target MLR
Greg Rastall
* Silver – Timed & Precision 1 GRCF (A)
* Silver – Advancing Target GRCF (X)
Ian Burton
* Bronze – Multi-Target LBR (B)
Glenn Gordon
* Bronze – Multi-Target GRCF Open
* Gold – 1020 LBR (X)
* Gold – Advancing Target GRCF Open
* Silver – Advancing Target LBR (X)
* Bronze – Surrenden GRCF Open
* Gold – Surrenden LBR
* Silver – 100/200/300yd SR Post-1955 Service
* Gold – 100/200/300yd SR Post-1955 Practical
Dave Berry
* Bronze – Multi-Target LBR Iron Sights
Scott Whitehead
* Silver – Multi-Target LBR (B)
* Gold – Multi-Target GRCF (C)
Lara Bestwick
* Silver – Timed & Precision 1 GRSB (D)
Full set of results can be found on the NRA website using the following link: https://nra.org.uk/competitions/phoenix/
Report by Jonny Cormie, Scotland Gallery Rifle Competitions Secretary