Bob Hassell

Bob Hassell joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) when he was in his twenties and spent more than 10 years in the service, attaining the rank of flight-lieutenant. During his time in the RAF he became an excellent sports shooter and in the 1950s was regarded as one of the best all round shots in Britain, as he won many RAF and Services titles. Having been third in the Queen´s Medal for being the Best Shot in the RAF in 1962, Hassell won the title in 1964 when he also won the RAF´s Service Rifle Championship, the Revolver Championship, and the Machine-gun Championship.

Internationally, Hassell appeared in the 1960 and 1968 Olympics with a best position of 24th in the Rapid-Fire Free Pistol, 25 metres, at Roma. In between his two Olympic appearances, Hassell toured South Africa with the Great Britain team in 1963 and represented Wales at the 1966 Kingston (Jamaica) British Empire and Commonwealth Games. He was also chosen to represent Great Britain at the Wiesbaden World Championships that year. In 1965 Hassell tied with Joe Daigle of the Canadian Army for the Service Rifle Championship and in 1987, at the age of 58, was beaten on a tie-break by the defending champion Geoffrey Cox for the Duke of Cambridge Cup at Bisley.