Ballymena pair are top guns!

Top shots - the Ballymena cadets who are right on target

Army Cadets Staff Sergeant Harry McCaughey (18) and Corporal Aaron Munce (16), students at Cambridge House Grammar School have been showcasing their sporting skills at the world famous Bisley Shooting Ground.

For Harry, recently returned from a three week shooting tour to Bloemfontein in South Africa representing the GB Under 19 Rifle Team, the Bisley experience was a warm up for another sporting expedition, this time to Canada.

Harry and Aaron travelled to England to represent 1st (Northern Ireland) Battalion Army Cadet Force in a target rifle training course followed by the challenging two day Inter-Services Cadet Rifle Meeting where over 620 Army, Air, Sea and Combined Cadet Force Cadets from across the United Kingdom compete for honours, making this by far the biggest shooting competition in the cadet calendar. Harry also competed in the prestigious ‘Imperial Meeting’ at Bisley. The event, open to civilian entries, attracts competitors from around the world.

Congratulating the Cadets on their sporting achievements, Colonel David Kane, Commandant of 1st (NI) Battalion Army Cadet Force, said, “Our two Ballymena lads shot really well at Bisley and I feel they also got a lot out of the specialist coaching which they enjoyed there, building up their marksmanship skills.”

Eighteen-year-old Harry then set off for Canada where he enjoyed a four week sporting tour as part of the elite British Cadet Rifle Team chosen from the best shooters in the UK.

During their time in Canada the team were also be treated to a ten day cultural tour of Canada with adventurous training activities such as canoeing thrown in.

Harry said “I feel very privileged to have had so many amazing opportunities through the Cadets, particularly in connection with shooting which I love, and this latest trip to Canada was amazing. I’ve been a Cadet for five years and I have done some great things, but this really tops the lot.”

The Army Cadets is open to boys and girls from 12 to 18 years old. To find out more about opportunities to join in and around Ballymena go to armycadets.com or call 028 90 815221.