SIIOOTIN4; UNION INTERNATIONALE DE TIR Président : Eric Carlsson (Sweden) Secretary-General : Karl A. Larsson {Sweden) The ranges for the various shooting events were constructed on the Army rifle range at SECTION PRESIDENTS Williamstown, 7 miles west of Melbourne and about 15 by road from the Olympic Village. Col. P. E. Ekholm (Finland)—300m. Frank Parsons {U.S.A.)—Small-bore Rifle The clay pigeon match was fired at the Royal Australian Air Force Station at Laverton, G. Vichos {Greece)—Free Pistol and Silhouette about 7 miles west of Williamstown. Count Gouvion St. Cyr {France)—Clay Pigeon The shooting events were F. Ringvold {Norway)—Running Deer Clay pigeon .. 200 pigeons Free pistol .. 60 shots JURY OF APPEAL Free rifle 120 shots Président : E. Carlsson Silhouette 60 shots Dr. Demaria {Argentine) A. Maximov {U.S.S.R.) Running deer 100 shots (50 runs, single shots, and 25 runs, double shots) Small-bore rifle 120 shots (3 positions) PRESIDENTS OF RANGE JURIES Small-bore rifle 60 shots (prone). G. Durand (France)—Free Rifle G. Vichos (Greece)—Silhouette O. Horber {Switzerland)—Small-bore Rifle B. Bjiirsten {Sweden)—Running Deer E. Zimmermann {Germany)—Free Pistol J. Wilson {Australia)—Clay Pigeon Targets : Shooting Stations H. Schlaepfer {Venezuela)—Classing Committee Thirty targets and 30 shooting stations were provided for the free rifle at 300 métrés. The target machines were part of the permanent equipment of the rifle range and were 14 feet apart PRESIDENT OF COMBINED JURIES FOR 50 AND 300 METRES (centre to centre). The shooting stations, one for each competitor, were accordingly 14 feet L. Righetti {Australia) wide. The target groups used were " F ", " G " and " H " which are in the centre of the range area. AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF STATE RIFLE For the small-bore rifle and free pistol matches at 50 métrés, wooden frames for ASSOCIATIONS supporting the individual targets were fastened to the target machines in the target pits on " D " and " E " groups. Twenty-two shooting stations, each 12 feet wide and to accommodate two Chairman : L. A. Righetti Secretary : Brigadier E. E. Grant, O.B.E. firers, were constructed over the firing point at 50 métrés distance from the targets. During the practice period before the Games commenced, competitors complained that the man allotted the left side of each shooting station would be more exposed to the prevailing wind than the other AMATEUR PISTOL SHOOTING UNION OF competitor in the station. The Secretary-General of the International Shooting Union asked AUSTRALIA for a dividing partition to be placed in each shooting station to give ail competitors similar Président : F. C. Bott protection from the wind. This was arranged and there were then 44 shooting stations, each 6 feet Secretary-Treasurer : F. S. Amies wide. Two groups, each of five sets of five silhouette targets, were provided for the rapid-fire AUSTRALIAN CLAY PIGEON TRAP SHOOTING pistol (silhouette) shooting. The group on which the modem pentathlon and silhouette ASSOCIATION pistol matches were fired was on " A " group on the eastern side of the rifle range area. Ail Président : J. Wilson five groups were operated simultaneously by electric power through a synchronous motor with Secretary : W. McCullough variable gears and solenoids. 558 559 Source : Bibliothèque du CIO / IOC Library from overseas considered it worthwhile practising, but the weather on the days on which the shooting matches were flred was idéal. Light winds, good even light and pleasantly warm températures throughout the compétitive shooting period made conditions comparatively easy and possible for many records to be broken. â Manufacture of Targets AU targets, both cardboard and paper, were printed in Victoria, The running deer targets were produced by the silk screen method. As ail silhouette target machines manufactured overseas were very costly and reports of their opération in previous Games indicated that no type produced to date had been entirely satisfactory, it was decided to endeavour to design and produce the machines here. Brigadier B. F. Hussey of the Australian Army Engineers designed a control mechanism to operate five The Rumanian Team practising on the silhouette range groups of targets simultaneously and a local engineering company undertook the production. before dividing partitions were placed in stations. The resuit was a machine which gave perfect timings which never varied. The practice group was on " J " group between the free rifle and the running deer ranges. Unfortunately, although the method of timing was in accordance with the requirements Each of the five sets of targets was operated manually, the timing being by stop-watches. of the modem pentathlon, a change had been made in the method of timing the exposures for the silhouette pistol matches. It was not until the executive members of the International The running deer range was constmcted on " K " group. The targets were mounted on Shooting Union arrived that it was learned that the method of timing had been altered. a trolley which, when released, ran on rails down an incline under gravity across the 23-metre However, this was quickly adjusted by having a différent gear wheel and worm drive produced open space and up an incline on the other side. for the silhouette pistol matches. These were substituted as soon as the modem pentathlon match was completed and the timings were satisfactory to ail concerned. Control and Opération Personnel Officiais for control of the rifle and pistol shooting events were provided by the Australian Council of State Rifle Associations, the Victorian Rifle Association, the Victorian Small-bore Rifle Union and the Amateur Pistol Shooting Union of Australia. Two competitors examine a target during training. The Australian Army made available 12 officers and 200 N.C.O's. and privâtes for target opération, marking and control, and for duty as recorders in the shooting stations. The efliciency and speed with which these officers and soldiers controlled and operated the targets contributed largely to the success of the conduct of the shooting events. ^iii Weather « I Frequent heavy rains throughout the winter hampered the work of construction of ail shooting stations and the silhouette and running deer ranges, as it was impossible to get material on vehicles over the soft muddy ground. As a resuit the work was not ail completed until immediately before the commencement of the two-week's practice period prior to the Games. During the practice period, strong gusty winds blew, the temperature was frequently below normal and there was some rain. International Shooting Union officiais were alarmed at the prospect of conducting the matches in such conditions, and on some days few competitors 560 36 .I—., j Source : Bibliothèque du CIO / IOC Library XVI OLYMPIAD Arrangements for Practice Target provision was adequate, both for the practice period and the competitions. A roster was arranged for competitors wishing to practice for the small-bore rifle and pistol and the running deer and silhouette events. However, some competitors arrived on the range without informing the official at the Olympic Village who, every evening, arranged the allocation of times for practice. No portion of the ranges was used to full capacity, however, on any day during the practice period, and few targets were used during the latter part of the afternoons. No targets were provided for practice on Sundays. Technical Difficulties The running deer clearly seen against the white background. The chief problems and difficulties encountered were due to the fact that the type of shooting and the requirements were different from anything previously known in Australia, and that some of the regulations and specifications were vague and capable of various interpretations. However, the main construction was completed by the time the International detachable counterfoil of this form was to be held by the National Olympic Committee and the Shooting Union executive officials arrived and adjustments and additions were completed to their form itself despatched to Melbourne. These forms on receipt were passed to the Victoria satisfaction before the matches were to be fired. In amplification of this statement the Police who then issued the necessary certificates to the Attaches of the countries concerned. adjustments necessary to the firing stations might be explained. The regulations for both the This arrangement worked well. The firearms certificates remained valid until 31st December, free rifle and small-bore rifle shooting specify that— 1956. " there shall be a line of shooting stations covered by a roof and protected against Competitors the wind One hundred and fifty-six competitors from 37 nations competed in the seven events. As the prevailing wind in late November and early December is from the south-west in The Russian contestants in winning three Gold, four Silver and one Bronze medals were the morning and usually changes to south in the afternoon (that is, a right-front wind prevails outstanding, but despite this success fellow competitors from Italy, Canada and Rumania took in the morning and a frontal wind in the afternoon), it was considered that solid side partitions first and third places in three events. between the shooting stations would be all that was required. However, the overseas visitors Competitions demanded that the back (or northern side) of the shooting stations should be completely enclosed Clay Pige oil.—Rossini (Italy) in scoring 195 points improved upon the 1952 record by and that the front should be covered with canvas or some similar material which could be 3 points. Smelczynski (Poland) was second with 190 points followed by three competitors adjusted to meet the wishes of individual competitors. This was arranged and all were satisfied. tying with 188, Ciceri (Italy), Moguilevskii (U.S.S.R.), and Nikandrov also of U.S.S.R. They were placed in that order after a shoot off.