On Target is the magazine published by the NSRA for the benefit of its members. The following article was recently published in the magazine.
March Rifle Club
Approximately 30 miles Northeast of Cambridge, on the edge of the Fens , lies the market town of March. Less than a mile from the town centre is a 15 yard indoor range, the home of March Rifle Club (MRC). The club was formed in 1935 as a member of the Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs (the forerunner of the NSRA) and moved to the current site in 1951.
The club has 6 prone firing positions for 0.22” rimfire smallbore rifles, and is affiliated to the NSRA and the Cambridgeshire Target Shooting Association (CTSA), in whose leagues the club competes.
Over the years several MRC members have represented Cambridgeshire, and one of our past members , the late John Pearman, represented GB.
Sadly, like many other clubs in recent years, MRC has experienced falling membership numbers. The committee recognised that whilst functional, the 70+ year old range had become “tired”, and would need modernising if the club was to be more successful in attracting new members.
So with the help of the Covid grants, the range has had new wooden cladding fitted to the outside, new floor covering on the firing points and in the clubhouse and redecorated throughout. And with the help of a grant from Sport England, 2 heat recovering air filtration units have been fitted. The end result is that the range has a more inviting clubhouse and it’s safer too.
Furthermore the range has now been modified to enable bench rest 0.177” air rifle shooting, which is seen as being an easier and less expensive entry into target shooting.
Recently, increased local advertising and a social media campaign have generated a lot of interest in the club, which the committee hope will lead to a long term increase in membership numbers, and therefore the sustained existence of the club for many years to come, and hopefully a return to more successful performances in the CTSA leagues!
For more information about MRC please visit www.marchrifle.club or email
info@marchrifle.club