NRA Journal - Summer 2004 - National Rifle Association

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THE INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF FULLBORE RIFLEASSOCIATIONS (ICFRA) - WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT INTENDS TO DOby Dick Horrocks, NRA (GB) representative and ICFRA Vice-PresidentWhile ICFRA is (or should be) a well understood bodyby NRA Council and General Council members, thereis still some general ignorance and misunderstandingamong members of the NRA and NRA affiliated clubsabout what it is and what it does. This short articlewill hopefully both educate and resolve any doubtsas to its true role in supporting and indeed drivingforward fullbore rifle shooting as a sport that merits,and now has, world stature.What is ICFRA and why do we need it?The international fullbore rifle shooting communitywas, until recently, not integrated in anycomprehensive way that would ensure its having aworld voice and presence. On the other hand, thesmall-bore and 300m rifle communities have beenrepresented for many years by the InternationalShooting Sports Federation (ISSF), the body thatoversees all international competition rules, includingthe Olympic Games, for these disciplines. Prior tothe formation of ICFRA on 1 January 2002, the onlyformal international body overseeing fullbore rifleshooting was the Commonwealth ShootingFederation or CSF, which, of course, includes onlyCommonwealth countries. It has a major function inproviding rules and match conditions forCommonwealth events, most significantly theCommonwealth Games. However, it goes withoutsaying that a number of other significant fullbore riflecountries, including the USA and certain EUcountries, are excluded from this.ISSF not only provides a set of formal rules that governall international competitions falling within its sphere,but also provides a formal world presence to whichmajor event organisers and host governments mustgive credibility. Shooting sports are increasinglycoming under political pressure and are bearing theever increasing regulatory restrictions set bypoliticians across the world who see its participantsas soft targets for satisfying electorate demands forreductions in armed crime and illegal internationalarms trading. In this climate the ISSF provides ashooting voice. No such voice has existed for fullborerifle shooting prior to the formation of ICFRA.Contrary to some beliefs in certain parts of the fullborerifle community, ICFRA has not been created toreplace or take over existing national andCommonwealth fullbore interests. Instead it has theaim of bringing them together to create not only asynergy by association but, more importantly, topresent a world voice to which its memberassociations may turn for support and advice. It isthe opinion of many within the ICFRA umbrella thatwithout this voice, the future of fullbore rifle shootingwould be more precarious even than many of itspresent participants believe it to be.As a consequence of concerns of this nature duringthe late 1990s, it was unanimously agreed byparticipants at the 1999 Long Range RifleChampionships for the Palma Trophy that a singleworld body was both desirable and essential for thefuture of the sport. As a consequence, ICFRA wasestablished on 1 January 2002. It was agreed thatPalma Council rules would then pass to ICFRAimmediate upon its formation and hopefully wellbefore the next planned championships in 2003. Also,prior to this date, NRA (GB) took the decision that itwould pass to ICFRA at that time any of its thencurrent responsibilities for providing technical rulesfor international events. Principally, this included itsresponsibility for providing technical rules forCommonwealth country competitions organised bythe Commonwealth Shooting Federation or CSF.ICFRA’s vision is that:Fullbore rifle shooting is a well-establishedinternational competitive shooting sport with worldwiderecognition.The aims of ICFRA are:1 To contribute to safe and responsible firearmsownership;2 To encourage and promote the interests of thesport worldwide;3 To standardise and formulate the arrangementsand rules for major international fullbore riflecompetitions;4 To act as the overarching controlling authorityfor designated international matches, or theadvisory (rules) authority for the fullbore rifleshooting events of multi-disciplinecompetitions;5 To act as a cohesive international body to ensurethe continuation of the sport is not adverselyaffected by firearms legislation worldwide andany form of attack on the sport; and6 To enhance the contributions this sport makesto the enjoyment and quality of life of itsparticipants.32
A further prime aim of ICFRA is that it should be aminimal cost and bureaucratic organisation withmembership fee levels set at previous Palma Councilmember levels for full members. A full member isdefined as a fullbore rifle association that hassubmitted formal teams to at least one Palma or LongRange Rifle Championship prior to 2002 or anyICFRA-organised fullbore rifle championshipsubsequent to that date. Affiliate member status isopen to any national association that has notparticipated in a former Long Range RifleChampionship or a subsequent ICFRA-organisedevent.What has ICFRA done?During 2002 an interim constitution was agreedbetween members of the former Palma Council. Astructure including a Council and committeesrepresenting the recognised fullbore disciplines wasdefined and temporarily constituted. During late2002, Colin Cheshire was nominated and elected tobe the Secretary General of ICFRA (an unpaid post)with the DCRA of Canada acting as the nationalassociation that would offer treasury facilities.During July 2003 at Bisley ICFRA took fullresponsibility for rules provision for the World LongRange Rifle Championships hosted by the NRA (GB).At this time the first sequence of ICFRA Committeemeetings took place culminating in the first ICFRACouncil Meeting. The principal business carried outwas formally to revise the interim Constitution andadopt the final version, along with formal recognitionof the majority of the planned Committees and theirimmediate decisions which would enable the nextfour year cycle to commence.With regard to planned World Championships,whereas formally only the Long Range RifleChampionships had taken place, now the ground waslaid for each identified discipline (Long Range, TargetRifle, Match Rifle and F Class Rifle) to hold WorldChampionships. For example, the next World F ClassRifle Championship will take place in South Africa in2005 and the World Long Range Rifle and Veterans’TR Championships will occur in Canada in 2007.ICFRA and Commonwealth Games EventsThere has been much concern by the smallerCommonwealth Games participating fullbore riflecountries in particular, that ICFRA was attempting totake over and dictate the rules and conditions for CGevents which have been and continue to be theresponsibility of CSF. As a result of these concernsthe following have been agreed:The Commonwealth Games Federation agreed withICFRA that CSF should use ICFRA technical rules forall its fullbore events in the manner that ISSF providestechnical rules for other shooting disciplines.That CSF continue to be fully responsible for matchconditions and organisation of Commonwealthfullbore events.The ICFRA Constitution was amended to ensure thatCommonwealth countries have a direct say and vote(not via any regional or composite association, forinstance the NRA (GB) will not be able to vote onmatters relating to Commonwealth Games butEngland, Scotland, Wales and Northern Irelandrepresentatives will) in Commonwealth mattersincluding technical rules specifically forCommonwealth events.Non-Commonwealth countries have no vote onCommonwealth matters in the ICFRA Council orGeneral Assembly.A special category of Affiliate membership was agreed(defined by the Constitution as follows: “Uponnomination by a Full member, the ICFRA Council maydecide, by majority vote, to grant Associatemembership to organisations and/or federations ofother international shooting associations having acommon but specific fullbore interest”. As aconsequence, CSF has been offered such membership,with a vote on Commonwealth matters.ICFRA has constituted its own CommonwealthCommittee (ICFRA CC) to which all Commonwealthcountries within ICFRA may nominate their ownrepresentatives. These representatives have sinceelected their committee chairman, Sandy Peden, whohas full responsibility to work with CSF to progessCommonwealth fullbore business and interestsrelating to ICFRA and its responsibilities. The ICFRACC has subsequently (late 2003/early 2004)thoroughly revised the former NRA (GB) rules as theyhave related to the Commonwealth and has offeredthem to the CSF for comment.I am pleased to state that all fullbore rifle participatingCommonwealth countries are now ICFRA members,either Full or Affiliate.In conclusion, as the ICFRA representative on NRA(GB) General Council and as elected ICFRA Vice-President for the next four years, it is my opinion thatthe establishment of ICFRA has been long overdueand will provide a firm base worldwide for thepromotion of World Championships in all fullborerifle disciplines. I hope that this short article helps toexplain what ICFRA is and that it has dispelled anyconcerns that we have created an additionalbureaucracy that is intent on usurping presentlyestablished fullbore rifle associations. It should, asstated above, add synergy to fullbore rifle shootingand assist all member associations to work togetherand with respective national sports organisations toassure the future of the sport.33
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Page 55 and 56: SPRING GENERAL MEETING - 27 MARCH 2
Page 57 and 58: opportunity to thank on your behalf
Page 59 and 60: OBITUARIESMichael ThrelfallHeathcot
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Page 63 and 64: From Enrico CelottiMembership Matte
Page 65 and 66: NRA TRADE MEMBERSRobert George & Co

NRA Journal - Summer 2004 - National Rifle Association

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