THE CHAMPION SHOT OF THE RAF FOR 2004 – THE QUEEN’S MEDAL
Flight Lieutenant Conrad Allen has beaten the 11 times winner of an RAF Skill at Arms Meeting at Bisley, UK to become the champion shot of the RAF for 2004 and proud owner of the coveted Queen's Medal. Since 1953, owing to repeat winners, there have only been 28 Queen’s Medals presented and holders are permitted to wear it on their uniform making it unique, in as much as all other medals worn on uniform are awarded.
Competition was fierce and going into the final match there was 12 points separating the top two competitors, Conrad, who has just started a four month tour at MPA, and Chief Technician John Pictor who had appeared almost unbeatable after holding the title for 11 years. Only 25 points separated the top 5 competitors. The weather was far from calm it was going to be a difficult match for all concerned. After the first 3 practices of the Match’s 5, the top 2 were all square with Conrad having conceded his earlier advantage. It was going to be down to whether or not he could hold his nerve in very difficult windy conditions interspersed with heavy rain. The pressure was on Conrad as John had been in this situation on many occasions and with only 2 practices to go he could easily have won.
The penultimate practice was a 25 second exposure of 2 figure 11 targets (full man) with 5 shots being fired at each from the sitting position. The wind, aided by the rain, had taken its toll on people’s concentration but as the dust settled and the scores came up Conrad had managed to pull back a 4 point advantage by scoring 48 out of 50. The pressure was back on John. To guarantee winning John would have to shoot a maximum, which for those conditions was far from an easy task. A two day break during the rifle competition while many of the same competitors took part in pistol matches only added to the pressure.
On the final day and the final match it had all come down to the last 10 shots which were to be fired on a small figure 12 target (half man) displayed at 300 yards for 3 seconds at a time over a 2 metre frontage. This particular practice took considerable skill as the wind was constantly changing and gusting strongly. With only 4 points difference and a possible 50 still available it really was anyone’s match. Lying on the wet ground in the rain, concentrating on the sight picture, assessing the wind and waiting for the target to appear was uncomfortable and mentally stressful. After the tenth shot over the 5 minute period the order to unload was given and the tension was felt by everyone present.
Most competitors by now were keeping their own tally on the medal position and when the scores came up all eyes turned first to Conrad’s target and then to John’s, both had scored 45 out of 50. It took several seconds for the penny to drop before we realised we had a new Queen’s Medal Winner, the 28th winner and newest member to this very select club. The medal was presented during a tri-service ceremony before the tradition of being ‘chaired’ off the range took place. The 3 Queen’s Medallists were carried on sedan chairs around the Bisley range complex and back to their respective clubhouses for a well deserved beer. Conrad is only the 5th member of the RAF Regt to win the Queen’s Medal. He said, ‘It’s great to win the Queen’s medal especially as the competition was fought in harsh conditions and to the end it was a battle for placings amongst the top five’.
Capt. J. Hamlin MPA Media Ops
