Shooting Academy
Launched in September 2010, Ellesmere College Shooting Academy, the first Academy based in a school in the UK, gives talented young marksmen and women the opportunity to benefit from outstanding coaching and education whilst at the School. Shooters receive outstanding coaching from a team of three highly qualified coaches. Academy pupils also have the opportunity to participate in master classes with Tom Rylands, Academy Coach, and other outside coaches in performance related skills. Throughout the year they are also given the opportunity to do fitness work using the School's excellent facilities and bespoke training programmes can be tailored to the individual. The School participates in regional and national competitions (age appropriate) which are scheduled as part of the programme in each term. There are excellent links with regional and national shooting squads and pupils securing a place with their National squad will also benefit from National Coaches expertise. The Academy coaches work closely with the National coaches to establish individual training plans for each competitor. The Academy presently offers coaching in .22 disciplines, Air rifle and pistol and Archery. It is hoped to extend this to Full-bore rifle with the intention of once again competing in the Ashburton Shield at Bisley after an absence of some 20 years. It is eventually hoped that all Olympic Target Sport disciplines will be catered for including clay shooting.
The Academy has also established a strong link with Manchester Metropolitan University's (MMU) Sports Science department and thereby has access to some of the top Physiological and Psychological support in the UK. Many famous GB athletes have used MMU's sports science team and facilities including Paula Radcliffe.
The Ellesmere College Shooting Club is run by Jim Quinlan, a keen marksman with many years of experience shooting at International level. He is a regular attendee at the National Rifle Shooting Association headquarters at Bisley and oversees pupil participation in a number of competitions there each year. Tom Rylands and David Gregory make up the strong coaching team. Tom, who shot for Great Britain in Brisbane, Australia this October retaining the World Long Range Championship Trophy for the third successive time, runs the Academy and assists David and Jim in the School Shooting Club. Tom has regularly represented England in the Home Internationals at Bisley and on tour abroad, captaining the team in 2009 in South Africa. He has wide experience of team selection and has been involved in coaching of all age groups since 1993, from Great Britain senior training, assisting Great Britain Under 25's, Clubs and County shooters to Scout and Guide groups. David Gregory, who is an active member of Crewe Rifle and Pistol Club, started shooting when he, himself, was at school. At that stage he shot .22 Rifle and .303 Target rifle and was a member of his school team. He continued at University, UWIST in Cardiff, where he became Secretary of the Rifle & Pistol club and won UWIST Colours shooting 7.62mm target rifle.
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A 7-18 Co-educational School