Benji Crane was just 4 points away from the Best Shot trophy at the Nowell Cup & Berkshire Inter Services 
Shooting Competitions 2013.
On a cold and frosty morning in early March six members of the Bearwood College Combined Cadet Force (CCF) were raised from their slumber by dedicated and extremely supportive parents and driven into College. The cadets were then transported to Brock Barracks, Reading to compete in the Nowell Cup and Inter Services Shooting Competitions. Both competitions are fired using .22 inch small bore target rifles at a distance of 20 yards.
The shooting team composition consisted of 4 Cadet Corporals for the Nowell Cup with an additional 2 cadets added to complete the Inter Services team.
This is the very first time that Bearwood College CCF has been invited to attend this annual event and were the only CCF representation. The competition is a tri-service cadet event with teams selected from across the entire county for all three cadet services. The Berkshire Army Cadet Force (ACF) and Air Training Corps (ATC) each have almost 1,000 cadets to select from in comparison with Bearwood College’s 130!
All of our cadets deserve recognition for demonstrating commitment and dedication to their fellow team members and the wider contingent by giving up their lunchtimes to practice in the run up to the event.
Our hosts were the ATC who administered the event and provided the range staff who all appeared to be a little shocked when their team were beaten by a ‘scratch team’ of independent school cadets!
The results for the Nowell Cup were:
1st – Berkshire ACF 232 points
2nd – Bearwood College CCF 229 points
3rd – Berkshire Air Training Corps 209 points
The six Bearwood College cadets conducted themselves exceptionally well throughout. All were introduced to Lieutenant Colonel B Tearle of Berkshire ACF, formerly the County Commandant, who positively remarked on their appearance, ability and politeness. Although a team event it is worth mentioning that Fifth Former Benji Crane displayed some remarkable shooting and was only 4 points away from taking the trophy for the best shot.
Our Commanding Officer, and Headmaster, Colonel Stephen Aiano, has been truly astounded with the team’s performance and is extremely grateful to our six cadets for giving up their valuable time, representing the College and wider CCF in this competition.