One of Cambridge’s Oldest Varsity Sports

Cambridge University
Rifle Association

Est. 1860

CURA is one of the most successful sports clubs at Cambridge

Chancellors Victories

Humphry Trophies

Student Winners of The Sovereign’s Prize

Welcome to CURA

CURA is Cambridge University’s Fullbore Rifle Club, primarily shooting at long range. Two Varsity matches are shot against Oxford over the Summer vacation in the Target Rifle and Match Rifle disciplines, with many members achieving half-blue status each year.

CURA is an official sports club of the University of Cambridge, and we are affiliated to the National Rifle Association of Great Britain, as well as being a registered Charity (#258396).

Membership is open to all, however basic competence at smallbore rifle shooting is required. Fees are set at £50 per year (excluding ammunition costs) and allow you to use all our equipment like rifles, jackets and mats.

Regular updates on day-to-day running of the club are posted on Facebook and Instagram. Notices are also posted to the mailing list and WhatsApp group chat; to be added, please contact the Secretary at secretary@curifle.org.uk.

Location & Training

Training for new and returning members of CURA starts during the Easter vacation, with our training week at the National Shooting Centre (referred to as ‘Easter Bisley’) in Surrey. During this week, members are trained to a competitive level in target and match rifle by CURA alumni and friends (who include national and GB coaches). The camp is accessible by train or car.

At Bisley, we call the English VIII, clubhouse of the English Match Rifle National Team, our home.

During the Easter term, we generally have a series of practice matches against other clubs at Bisley such as the London & Middlesex Rifle Association, the North London Rifle Association, and the Oxford and Cambridge Rifle Association. These matches are a great opportunity for new members to practice shooting in a team, and serve as a ‘warm up’ for the main Imperial Meeting in the summer. We have also had occasional training weekends before the Imperial Meeting in the summer.

Competitions

CURA is one of the most successful sporting clubs in Cambridge, regularly winning both Varsity matches, and is competitive on a national level against other universities and clubs. For a list of recent matches, see the records page.

Members of CURA are highly encouraged to enter the annual NRA Imperial Meeting, which is the main shooting event of the year with many individual and team competitions, including our Match Rifle and Target Rifle Varsity Matches against Oxford. The Imperial Meeting provides a great chance to compete at the county, national and international level, including the Sovereign’s Prize, the most prestigious competition in Target Rifle. CURA members regularly compete at the county and national level, and many of our members go on to represent their country. Our captain of 2021-22, Alice Good (GM), recently won HM The Queen’s Prize in 2022, as only the third woman in its 163 year history and having picked up shooting upon joining CURA!

We also have regular matches against other universities, and clubs, in particular during Easter term. If you would like to arrange a match against your club, please contact the Honorary Secretary at secretary@curifle.org.uk.

Social Events

Socials are held jointly with our smallbore sister club CUSBC, weekly on Fridays at the Hawks’ Club, from around 19:00 until the early hours of the morning.

Membership of the Hawk’s Club is not necessary in order to attend. All members are strongly encouraged to attend socials, as it is an excellent way to get to know the club, and become more involved, especially for new members.

We also hold an annual dinner at the end of Lent term in Cambridge, and the famous “CURA Cocktails” event at the English VIII Clubhouse in Bisley at the end of the Imperial Meeting.