NRA Journal 7
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National Rifle Association Journal Winter 2004 Volume LXXXIII Number 3 NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION CONTENTS JOURNAL 2 Notes from the Secretary General 5 Notes from the Director of Shooting WINTER 2004 11 Notes from the Managing Director of Bisley VOLUME LXXXIII NUMBER 3 14 Forthcoming Tours 17 Shooting Discipline Matters Published three times a year by the 21 Regional Matters National Rifle Association 26 NRA Council and General Council Bisley, National Shooting Centre Committee Members Brookwood, Surrey GU24 0PB 31 Central Skill-at-Arms Meeting Telephone: 01483 797777 34 Civilian Service Rifle 0845 1307620 (local rate) 36 Schools Meeting Fax: 01483 797285 38 Match Rifle Range Office: 01483 797777 Ext 152 41 Target Rifle Clay Range Office: 01483 797666 49 F Class E-mail: [email protected] 50 My First Imperial 51 Physiotherapy at the Imperial Meeting Website: http://www.nra.org.uk 52 T Rex - Back with a Vengeance Chairman: John Jackman FCA 53 Gun Designer visits Bisley Secretary General: Glynn Alger 54 Serge Bissonnette - Talking with Tony de Membership Secretary: Heather Webb Launay Managing Director NSC: Jeremy Staples MRICS 55 Ron Matthews - Talking with Tony de Director of Shooting: Martin Farnan MBE TD Launay 56 NRA Team to the Channel Islands Financial Manager: Michael Blythe FCA LLB 60 Chairman’s Speech to the BGM Commercial Director: Sarah Bunch 64 Speech by the Lord Moynihan Estate Secretary: Sherril Dixon 65 Bisley Camp Cookbook Editor: Karen Robertson 66 Chief National Coach (TR) Editorial Advisory Panel: 69 Future Plans for the National Match Glynn Alger, Colin Judge, Tony de Launay, 70 Will on the Common Ted Molyneux, Carol Painting, Robert Stafford 72 GB Rifle Team to Kenya and Namibia Advertising: 78 The British Sporting Rifle Club 80 A Beginner’s Guide to Coaching Print-Rite, 31 Parklands, Freeland, 82 Obituaries Nr Witney, Oxon OX29 8HX 84 Letters Tel/Fax: 01993 881662 86 Trade Members Material for inclusion in the Journal should be sent to: 88 Members’ Page Karen Robertson National Rifle Association ADVERTISERS INDEX Bisley, National Shooting Centre 20 Bisley Pavilion Brookwood, Surrey GU24 0PB 16 BWIA Tel/Fax: 01483 797777 Ext 146 20 Centra E-mail: [email protected] 18 Norman Clark 67 Diverse Trading Company Production and distribution of the NRA Journal by bc Edgar Brothers Print-Rite, Oxford. 59 ETSys Electronic Target Systems Material for inclusion must reach the Editor before: 37 A Ford 15 January for Spring issue 39 Gehmann UK 15 April for Summer issue 59 Gun and Sport Shop 15 September for Winter issue 67 Haring 10 HPS Target Rifles Ltd The Editor reserves the right to determine the contents of the NRA Journal 14 Proofmark and to edit or shorten material for publication. The views expressed by 68 Shearwater Insurance Services contributors are not necessarily those of the Publishers. Whilst every care is 29 Surrey Guns taken to ensure that the contents of the magazine are accurate, the Publishers 30 Andrew Tucker Jackets assume no responsibility for errors. The publication of advertisements or editorial relating to firearms or associated requisites is not a guarantee that 19 TWP Designs such items are endorsed by the NRA. Whilst every care is taken with ifc Viking Arms advertising the Publishers cannot accept any responsibility for any resulting unsatisfactory transactions. Artwork originated by the NRA Journal for its Cover photo: Henry Jeens (GM) by Karen Robertson customers will remain under the copyright of the NRA Journal and may only be reproduced with specific permission. Every possible care will be taken Expected publication dates of manuscripts and photographs but the Publishers cannot accept Spring Last week in February responsibility for any loss or damage however caused. The NRA Journal Summer Two months after the Spring General Meeting reserves copyright on all material contained in the Journal. Winter Between end of October and second week in November 1 OTES FROM THE that the military would give the NRA early notification N of any proposed range closure or mothballing to SECRETARY GENERAL enable us to carry out feasibility studies to assess the viability of the ranges and whether the appropriate finance could be sourced. In addition to working with the MoD the Association hopes to work with commercial organisations and clubs who run ranges to assess what capacity there is and where it needs to be improved or developed by within a national plan to support target shooting. Glynn Youth Shooting Alger Having worked for the NRA since April this year, I have been constantly surprised by how few young people graduate from cadet/school shooting to compete as adults. The answer is simple, we at national and club level generally fail to make it easy for youngsters to remain in the sport, in that there is Home Office Firearms Consultation Document no co-ordinated planned transition from youth As you will be aware the debate over the future of shooting into club shooting. firearms legislation has continued of late. At school and cadet level there is a high degree of The National Rifle Association has been working with support for individuals from their respective the other national bodies to present a co-ordinated organisations. However, there appears to be no approach to the proposals from the Home Office. routine method of accrediting these young people as having passed the probationer course, bearing in mind However, we also believe that the views and concerns they have been coached and have shot for up to four of our members should be contained within the or five years. document. If young people were qualified via their schools or In addition we firmly believe both the current and cadet unit, they would be an easier resource to proposed legislation does nothing to improve the lot subsume into the club environment and the NRA are of licensed shooters, being increasingly restrictive and in a position to offer them free membership for three not targeted at the unlawful use of firearms. years, enabling them to get a Firearms Certificate. At We enclose a full copy of our submission for your present a youth has to be very determined and well- consideration with this Journal. financed to remain in the sport because he or she needs to fund a probationers course, probably unnecessarily Ranges - The Future from an experience and coaching point of view, to be I recently wrote an article for Target Sports outlining able to continue. This is at a time when, in most some of the strategic issues that in my view are likely peoples lives, they are either involved in further to need addressing within the sport of target shooting education or are starting out in work when money is in the future. at its most tight. It should be evident to you all by now that our sport The National Rifle Association will be looking to put will find it increasingly difficult to continue nationally together a proposal that routinely qualifies young without some investment in ranges. Spiralling costs, people from the cadets and schools associations so that difficulty in getting range space and closure of ranges they achieve a probationary pass qualification, with with nil notice are indicators of a future decline in the NRA supplying the pass certificate and giving target shooting as a sport unless immediate action is three years free membership of the Association. taken to reverse the trend. The NRA needs clubs and associations to support At a recent meeting of the National Rifle Association youth for the future good of the sport. It is difficult General Council, those present agreed with the for a young individual to confidently join a club. They principle of investing in a network of national ranges need support, encouragement and to be able to to future proof our sport. How this is to be achieved socialise with people of their own age and interests. in detail has still to be worked out. The NRA will need to work with clubs for them to create youth sections enabling a smoother transition As an early indicator of the Association’s commitment from youth to adult shooting. In this way we may be to this purpose we have held a meeting with the MoD able to retain young people in shooting and improve regarding this issue. Outline agreement was reached membership levels within clubs. 2 Currently the Association does support young people the purchase or upgrade of a range and support for in shooting in a minor way in terms of its overall effect young members via the Millennium Fund. on the sport. However, in the future this support may need to be more ambitious and wider spread than Regarding membership in particular, we will soon be previously. The current Millennium Fund which was entering the renewal period for 2005. We need to be specifically set up to assist young shooters will able to promote full membership of the NRA better probably need to have a large scale injection of funds than we do at present to support the new strategies. to support those clubs that are willing to run youth We will be asking clubs for details of affiliated sections. In the future I would hope to see a vigorous members so that we can market membership and national youth shooting structure at club level inform them what the future looks like with their supported by the NRA in terms of competition, support by becoming a member. At the same time equipment and facilities. we will need more information from clubs to enable us to direct or place new members with them. It is I believe if this were to happen, this type of initiative appreciated that this is potentially an onerous task but would also kick-start the ability to recruit youths by helping the NRA in this way club secretaries in locally who have no interest in joining the cadets but particular are investing in the future of shooting.