Winter 2002 - National Rifle Association

SHOOHOOTINGMANANAGERGER’S NOTES6byMartinFarnanGeneralalMarksman’s CalendarThe proposed 2003 Calendar of Major Events at Bisleyhas been produced and has been sent to all clubsecretaries. It is based on historical precedent and manyof the dates shown are simply the equivalent dates tothose in 2002. I would ask club secretaries to check thiscalendar carefully and let me have their own ClubFixtures list as quickly as possible. May I also requestdetails of any other Club Championships or Meetingswhether held at Bisley or elsewhere (please do notinclude events such as practice sessions). These will beincluded in the final version of the Marksman’s Calendarwhich will be published in the Spring Journal. Detailsshould be with me by the beginning of January.Under 25 Training Weekend“Exercise Maple Taste” is a training weekend set upsome years ago to prepare the selected Athelings Teamfor its forthcoming visit to Canada. It proved sosuccessful that the idea was extended to the GB Under19 Team to South Africa, both teams training on the sameweekend and learning from each other. A highlyqualified coaching team is in attendance and aconsiderable amount of practical shooting takes placeas well as lectures from subject matter experts.It has now been agreed that the concept should bedeveloped still further, and should encompass Under25 shooters as well, not just those involved in an Under25 team but all Under 25 shooters nominated by theirClub or County Secretaries. Costs for this trainingweekend will be kept to a minimum, and will be at costprice in almost all cases. Bids should be forwarded,along with a letter of recommendation from the relevantClub or County Secretary, to the Shooting Manager. Thistraining weekend usually takes place the weekend beforeEaster but the exact dates for 2003 will be given in theMarksman’s Calendar which will be issued along withthe Spring Journal.Should there be sufficient response from Under 25s inthe regions, other training events may be run noncentrallyin the regions.Ranges, Targets and MarkersRange Cancellation ChargesThe notification periods which were specified inconnection with range cancellation charges at Bisley havebeen considered by the Board of the National ShootingCentre Ltd. It was agreed that these could be considereda problem by club secretaries in that entries for clubchampionships do not normally close four weeks beforethe event. Taking these points into consideration, themodified cancellation charges (which will apply in highseason only, as a percentage of the fee for the bookingmade) and notification periods will be as follows:-If a booking is cancelled:more than 2 weeks before event No chargebetween 2 weeks and 1 week 25%between 1 week and 3 days 50%at 3 days notice or less 100%Range SafetyShooters have recently been observed walking or drivingup to a gate, on which is displayed a “DO NOT PASSTHIS POINT. LIVE FIRING AHEAD” sign, reading thesign, opening the gate and then walking or drivingthrough into the Range Danger Area (RDA) concerned(in one case carefully shutting the gate behind him!). Anyperson doing so is:• putting himself in danger;• putting those following him in danger;• invalidating his insurance cover;• endangering the NRA’s insurance cover;• disregarding Range Regulations;• setting an incredibly bad example to others;• making himself liable to lose his NRAmembership;• making himself liable to be banned forever fromthe Camp and Ranges.Please remember that the RDA signs are there for areason - your protection! If the sign says “Do not passthis point” then DO NOT!Use of Stickledown During the Winter MonthsAs was reported in last year’s Winter Journal, it has beenclear for some years now that Stickledown has been verylittle used during the winter months, and the expensesinvolved in keeping this range open have far exceededthe income generated from target hire. In many instancesweekend bookings between November and March werefor one target for a morning or an afternoon only. Somenew initiatives have been proposed for this comingWinter period to increase use, and it has been agreedthat Stickledown will again remain open under thefollowing conditions:• only the line of flags between targets 36 and 37will remain• targets to be used will be from target 37 upwards,ie Butts 3 or 4• the required target(s) will be placed in the frame(s)on Friday and covered as weather protection• no target shed staff will be called in on Saturdayor Sunday to repair/replace targets in the eventof inclement weather