History of Market Drayton Rifle Club The Club was formed in 1947 when a group of former Army and Home Guard members came together under the sponsorship and chairmanship of Brigadier Heber-Percy to practice the sport and continue the fellowship that had been established over the war years. The Club has now been in continuous existence since formation and has shot at a competitive level throughout this period. Shooting started in the Old Brewery in Market Drayton, subsequently moving to the Old Grammar School Range, in the 1970s it moved to the Maurice Chandler Sports Centre. In 1997 due to unforeseen circumstances the club had to vacate the range. We then managed to secure the use of a TA Range, Shrewsbury in 2004. However due to cutbacks within the MOD we lost the use of this range, in 2008. Prone Rifle Shooting and latterly Lightweight Sport Rifle continued outdoors throughout this period at the Chipperfield Ranges Baldwin’s Gate, Staffordshire. Towards the end of 2010 we went into negotiations with the Maurice Chandler Sports Centre to see if we could resume shooting there again. This came to fruition in October of 2011 when the range having been completely refurbished and now caters for:- 1. Small-Bore Rifle, 2. Gallery Rifle, 3. Black Powder, 4,Long Barrel Pistol, 5. Air Gun, 6. Downloaded Rifle. At distances from 10yds to 25yds inc turning targets. The range now called the Maurice Chandler Shooting Centre is available 7 days a week, 9.00am – 22.00hrs, to all its members. The Club has a membership of around 29 from all areas of Shropshire, Staffordshire, and Cheshire. Catering for the Novice, Junior(14yrs+) Ladies/Gents, with no upper age limit We are one of the strongest clubs in Shropshire and have members of the club who shoot regularly in the Shropshire and Staffordshire County Teams. Teams are entered each year in a variety of Inter-Club League competitions, both National and Regional of which these are mainly postal competitions where targets are shot and posted away for scoring. We are currently shooting in the Cumbria Lightweight Sport Rifle,Herefordshire Summer 50m, 25yd Black Powder,and 25yd National Leagues this summer. The club has it's own equipment which is available for probationers and novice training. Which is conducted by fully qualified instructors, who will be able to assess your ability quickly and easily, and guide you in the discipline(s) of your choice. If what you have read and seen on the rest of our website is of interest to you, please use the contact page, where we will be only to happy to furnish you with any information or queries that you may have. E&OE
