SMI Debbie Callaghan, County Media Officer
Over the weekend 10 - 12 March cadets from Greater Manchester ACF and the Royal Air Force Cadets took part in the Colonel Arthur Axford OBE TD DL, Tri Service Shooting Competition. The Competition consisted of several shooting Competitions utilising the Scorpion Air Rifle, and the L1441 CSBTR. (The Sea Cadets were invited but was unable to attend at the last minute)
The cadets were in teams of four for the following competitions:
A smallbore match for a team of four firers.
An Air rifle match for a team of four firers.
British Shooting Target Sprint Competition.
Colonel Arthur Axford MBE
Following a distinguished career in the Army and the Territorial Army, Col Axford was the Commandant of East Lancs ACF from 1970 to 1974, during this time East Lancs ACF became Greater Manchester ACF. This then made Col Axford the first Commandant of Greater Manchester ACF. Col Axford later became the Honorary Colonel from 1980 to 1985.
To remember Col Axford, his son and daughter, Anthony and Lynne, bought a trophy in the name of their late father. This will be awarded each year at the Col Axford Tri Service Competition in the hope that Col Axford will be remembered for his service to so many.
Our Hon Colonel Sharman Birtles MBE JP DL, Vice Lord-Lieutenant, said “I’m only too aware of what a credit Colonel Axford was, not only to his family and friends and to the Army, but also to the Borough of Tameside. He was an inspiration, a man of determination and resilience. He was a great officer and a true leader of men. He was a straight talker, but he was also a kind man. It is my great pleasure to present the trophy to the winning team at the request of Col Axford’s family.”
Capt Paul Anderton, County Shooting Officer and Officer Commanding of the weekend read out the results of the competitions.
The results of the competitions:
Team event -
Gold - Greater Manchester ACF No 2 (Kohima) Company A Team - Score 601.65.
Silver - Greater Manchester ACF No 5 (Anzio) Company B Team - Score 528.98.
Bronze - Greater Manchester RAF Team - Score 461.59.
Individual scores -
.22 individual - LCpl Johnson 170.4 out of 200
.177 Air Rifle - LBdr Jackson 90.2
Target Sprint - LBdr Lewin 6.40 seconds
Thank you to Col Axford’s family for attending the presentation ceremony and watching the cadets take part in some of the competition on the Sunday along with our other distinguished guests from the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment Association Manchester Branch - Kings and Manchester's.
Other activities took place over the weekend to fill in the gaps between the competitions. “Got to keep the cadets busy and smiling.”
Thank you to all the staff for assisting on the weekend. Without you all the weekend would not have been possible.
For pictures of Saturday please click on the link here
The final day and presentations. Pictures here
