YEALMPTON & DISTRICT RIFLE CLUB
(A Brief History)

Founded in 1894, YEALMPTON RIFLE CLUB is one of the oldest small-bore rifle clubs in the country. During its lifetime it has changed its name to YEALMPTON MINIATURE RIFLE CLUB, and in March 1964 to the current name of YEALMPTON & DISTRICT RIFLE CLUB. 

The club affiliated to the NRA in 1900, being only the 55th club to do so.  They registered as a club shooting both Full-bore and Miniature Rifles with a Membership at the time of 64.

The first range was in Yealmbridge Quarry, to the east of the village, where the members shot outdoors on Saturday afternoons at distances of 25, 50 and 100 yards.

Another range was built at the mouth of the River Erme and was used from early in May 1901.  The Club holds an original letter to Col. Bastard from the Coastguard at Mothecombe Bay. It states “firing may be carried on 2 1/2 hours after high water.” It also states “I am afraid that any of the Bank Holidays would be very inconvenient to the firers, as there would sure to be visitors about.”

It would appear that shooting was very competitive as some of the club trophies date back to the early 1900s. The earliest trophy still held is dated 1900 and was presented by the Club’s President, the 5th Lord Auckland, as a Challenge Cup for the Highest Aggregate. The first winner (in 1900) was the Secretary and founder, WEP Bastard, who won it again in 1905 and 1906.

In the early thirties, the club moved to an indoor range constructed in the dance hall at the rear of the Yealmpton Hotel, now the Rose & Crown.
Many well-known locals shot here for the club including EJ Elliott, Police Sergeant Hutchins and Col. R Bastard. The club continued to operate throughout World War II when those three continued to open the range and give tuition to the local Home Guard.

Reorganised, and with a larger membership following the war, the club became a powerful force in both Plymouth & District and Devon County competitions, with many Championship wins during the late forties and early fifties.

Foundations for a new purpose built range were laid in 1957 and members built the range over a four-year period. During that time, members continued to shoot, using the facilities at the Royal Naval Gunnery School at HMS Cambridge at Wembury. There, club members shot in an indoor 25 yard range on the cliff tops overlooking Wembury Bay, the English Channel and the Western Approaches.
The new range was completed in 1961 on land belonging to Col. Bastard and comprised an entrance/reception area leading to a 25 yard indoor range with 4 firing points.  With a new club building and the ability to shoot every day of the week, the club went from strength to strength. With the ability to run four teams in the P&D and Devon County leagues, the name of Yealmpton was once more at the fore-front of rifle shooting.
The range was further improved with the building of a club-room and a 20 yard PSK range, which is also used for Air Rifle, Air Pistol and Running Target, Bench-rest, and LSR, thus providing some of the best shooting facilities in the Plymouth area.

Today the club is as successful and competitive as it appears to have been over 100 years ago.