Follow this link for details of this year's event with results and past event results. 

 The trophy above is the Transvaal Cup which is for TA unit teams. The trophy is typical of shooting trophies of the nineteenth century when rifle shooting was a major national sport. The cup was presented in 1901. The inscription reads:

"Presented by Scotsmen in the Transvaal to the Committee of the Aberdeenshire Volunteer Rifle Association In Memory of the Patriotic Services of Northern Volunteers in the South African War 1901 1902".

The Aberdeen Wapinschaw has a long history. Its origins lie in the mediaeval practice of national and local defence where every man of any means was expected to provide himself with arms and armour and to turn out when required armed and ready to defend the country. At regular intervals, usually once a year there would be an inspection of these weapons at a "Wapinschaw" or weapons showing where the local King's man would ensure that people had the weapons they were required to hold. The event would be combined with shooting and other competitions.

As the years went by the event changed until in the nineteenth century it became associated with the volunteer rifle movement. The volunteers were citizens who equipped themselves with military rifles and equipment and organised themselves into volunteer companies. These were the predecessors of the Territorial Army who organise the competition these days.

Until recently this country has been very suspicious of professional armies and has insisted that military power remain in the hands of the people, a lesson learned throughout our history that we seem to have forgotten today.

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Updated: 24 Apr 2007