For the first time in recent memory, we entered two teams of four cadets into the Cadet Skill at Arms Meeting (a target shooting competition) held at Pirbright ranges.
This is the most prestigious military shooting competition for our brigade. Kneeling and fire-trench positions, teams fire the cadet rifle distances up to 300m on electronic popup targets from the prone. This is followed by the knockout Falling Plate competition where teams need to dash forward and shoot down ten plates quicker than their opposition.
With no nearby full-bore ranges available for frequent training, we entered the competition as the underdogs in a field of 28 teams from schools and county Army Cadet Forces. After the first day of shooting we were delighted to be placed second behind Charterhouse School. Thalia Pettersson was also awarded third in the U16 category for the day’s shooting.
The following day, in the Falling Plate competition, our B team successfully knocked out the Charterhouse B team in the first round, resulting in much celebration. Both our A and B teams made it through to the semi-finals, which led to a Sevenoaks vs Sevenoaks challenge, with our B team coming out on top.
The final result was the school teams placing third and fourth out of 28 teams, a monumental achievement for all involved.
We were very lucky to be joined by Caroline Nimmo, from Knole Academy, who volunteered to drive and support our teams throughout the weekend and maintain the close relationship between our two schools’ CCFs.
