RIP - Martin Bradley
MARTIN BRADLEY
TRENTHAM RIFLE CLUB.
It is with sadness that we learn of the passing of Trentham Rifle Club / Upper Hutt Rifle Club member Martin Bradley in Hutt Hospital on Sunday, 10th August 2025.
Martin took up rifle shooting with the Upper Hutt Rifle Club in the late 1950’s, being a member when the Club constructed Stage 1 of the Clubrooms in 1960. Martin very quickly became proficient with the 303 rifle, quickly rising through the grades within the Club and at National level. For many decades, Martin contested Club, Provincial, and National Championships, with considerable success at all levels of competition. He will always be remembered by us oldies for defeating Jack Petersen, Alfredton Rifle Club, in a shoot-off at 900 yards for the Australian Aggregate, White Horse Challenge Cup, at the 1964 Nationals, held just prior to the Queens Final shoot-off that afternoon. Jack went on to win the Ballinger Belt and NZ Championship that day.
Martin represented Wellington Rifle Association, and Upper Hutt Rifle Club, in many successful teams, as a shooter, and also as a wind coach. He was also involved with the NZ Veterans in several matches.
Martin had a strong interest in antique firearms and had a very comprehensive collection of rare and valuable military and target rifles. When the Upper Hutt Rifle Club celebrated its 100 year Anniversary in 1991, Martin set up a display of such firearms inside the Clubrooms, mounted as spokes on old wagon wheels, suspended from the ceiling beams. The display was fantastic and created a lot of interest for the months that it was featured in the Clubrooms.
As well as being interested in antique firearms, he was also very interested in the history of Upper Hutt and the origins of target shooting in the area.
When Seddon Rifle Range was re-developed in the mid 1980’s, from a 25 target range into a 50 target range, Martin assisted with earthworks and drainage work using his digger and truck.
Similarly, in 2002, when Kaituna Blenheim Rifle Club needed to raise their range mounds so that shooting could continue above the newly planted grape vines on the range floor, Martin volunteered to assist with the shaping and forming work on these mounds. He offered to bring his equipment over Cook Strait but a 7 ton digger was instead hired locally for Martin to use. Together with a local contractor who used a 15 ton digger, and the use of 3 tractors with tip trailers, approximately 900 cubic metres of soil were shifted in two and a half days to re-build the 500, 600 and 800 yard mounds. In total, Martin spent 4 days working on the range, digging, shaping, and contouring the new mounds. Martin wanted no payment for his work, and the Kaituna Blenheim Rifle Club are extremely grateful to Martin for his assistance. The shape and contour of the mounds remain really good to this day.
Martin often had a different way of doing things. Who will ever forget Martin arriving at the Range for Club shooting in his micro-light aircraft, with rifle case strapped to the under-carriage. He would land on the Range, tie his aircraft to the fence to stop it from being blown away, and then lift off at the end of the day’s shooting and return home to Totara Park. Sometimes, he would struggle to get airborne in adverse winds, but he always made it. Once home, his micro-light would be parked next to his house and tied by a rope, through a window, to his bed.
Thank you Martin for your contribution and dedication to the sport of fullbore rifle shooting. You will be sadly missed, but never forgotten.
John Whiteman
Trentham Rifle Club.