Target Sports

GALLERY RIFLE: GET INVOLVED!

Created on 14th May 2009

GWYN ROBERTS explains what's needed to take part in national level competition shooting - and performance is key

GALLERY RIFLE in its various forms has come a long way since its introduction in 1997. Nearly all of the competitions now held around the country cater for pistol calibre lever action rifles, .22 semi-auto rifles, LBRs (centrefire), LBPs (rimfire) and target shotgun. There is more than enough choice for any newcomers wanting to get involved in our exciting sport. This may be the ideal opportunity for those who have been shooting Gallery Rifle for a while and are looking to take their skills to the next level. To be considered or to gain a place in one of the following teams you do not have to know the right people or be one of the elite group. Places are open to anyone provided they meet the relevant criteria, which are generally based on performance, commitment and attitude. The squads are split into National and International teams. Here is what each one entails.

On the National side of things, the latest development to help raise standards and increase participation in National/International Gallery Rifle competition is the Home Countries National teams. These are currently represented by England, Scotland and Wales. Chris Farr got NRA approval for the venture, then appointed David Hackett (England), Charles Bestwick (Scotland) and myself (Wales) to make it all possible via our own National Governing Bodies. This meant lots of hard work over the next six months or so with many phone calls and emails, along with writing constitutions and setting up the governing clubs or sections under various umbrellas. Finally, after every box was ticked, we were all granted National status for each of our respective Gallery Rifle squads and teams.

None of this would have been possible, though, without help and advice from the following people, associations and clubs. Our thanks must go to Bill Phelps of the WTSF and Wg Cdr Chris Hockley of the WRA, the president Professor Dick Horrocks and the Council of the English XX club along with the whole of the Scottish Pistol Association.

In the short term, the Home Countries matches will consist primarily of the short events although the action-type matches like the 1500 and Bianchi may well be included in the near future. Eligibility for the National Teams is based on the following criteria:

(a) The test of nationality shall be either:
(1) Country of birth, or
(2) Descent from parents or grandparents who were qualified by country of birth, or
(3) Country of residence for a continuous period of not less than five years immediately preceding the date of the match.

(b) A person who has shot for one of the nationalities specified (England, Scotland or Wales) in any match under the direction or control of the NRA shall not thereafter be eligible to shoot for another nationality in the Gallery Rifle Home Countries National Match.

(c) A person who has established eligibility for a nationality under paragraph (b) of this rule and shot against that nationality, or against Great Britain, in any match under the direction or control of the NRA may not shoot in the Gallery Rifle Home Countries National Match during the following two and a half years.

(d) A person who has shot for a particular country under the rules in force at that time shall remain qualified to shoot for that country in perpetuity.

At this year's British Championships at Bisley in August, the first official Home Countries International Gallery Rifle Match was held with teams representing England, Scotland and Wales. Two four person teams each with a shooting reserve (one team shooting centrefire and the other rimfire) shot shoulder-to-shoulder in both Timed and Precision One and Multi Target matches. Space prohibits a match report but thanks go to CRO Andy Wiggins and his range crew for making it a safe and enjoyable match. Wales came second to England by 27 points, with Scotland in third place. A couple of malfunctions meant that we failed to fire three rounds off which should have given us the 30 points needed for the win, so we are more than looking forward to the next match! I'm sure the Scottish team will certainly be practising hard over the winter months too so our next Home Countries encounter should be an exciting one for all concerned.

Although the English and Scottish squads will obviously differ slightly, here is what we hope to achieve in the Welsh Gallery Rifle Club (Governing Club for GR under the auspices of the Welsh Rifle Association) for 2009.

We will have a squad of between 16 and 20 shooters which will have no restrictions on gender or age. All members will earn their place based on performance, commitment and attitude. To help cut travel costs our aim is to hold four training sessions split into two North/South Wales. There will be two full squad sessions each year designed to improve and develop all skills relating to GR shooting.

Qualification matches for team selection will be shot at each training session to ensure that as far as possible, everyone shoots under the same weather and range conditions. Scores from other Open matches may also be considered in order to support achievement, commitment and consistency. Our two main priorities will be to field the strongest teams possible at both the Phoenix International in May, and the Home Countries International Match which will take place during the National Championships in August at Bisley. We are also currently organising various invitation matches against England, Scotland, Southern Ireland and possibly Germany. As many squad members as possible will get the chance to represent Wales and gain the valuable experiences associated with international competition. Depending on availability we also hope to enter teams, and individuals in 1500, PP1, PP2, & Service B M1 Carbine and Pistol matches in Germany, as well as the European 1500 and ‘short' Gallery Rifle matches that will be held next year in Britain, Ireland and Germany.

On the International front, for those shooters who compete in 1500 GRCF reaching the top rung of the ladder would be gaining one of the 20 available spaces in the UK Gallery Rifle squad. These members are selected from competitors who have performed well in the past season. Again its members are selected based upon averages, consistency and commitment and it is recognised as the UK National Team by the National Governing Body for GR, the National Rifle Association. Prospective team members should first demonstrate ability and determination and attend as many fully classified open meetings as possible throughout the year. The national classification system is designed to ensure that all efforts are recorded and the results are used as a basis for selecting the squad. Given that there aren't too many opportunities to take part - the four weekends at the National Shooting Centre and some open meetings around the country - it's difficult to be precise about how many meetings you should attend. Common sense dictates that a single appearance won't demonstrate measurable ability or commitment. At least two attendances in a season will be required, but the more times you turn out the better.

The United Kingdom Gallery Rifle National Team is selected by the National Rifle Association elected Gallery Rifle Discipline Representative from the data available in the national classification system. This is done shortly after the Autumn Action Weekend in October. Then the 20 invitations to accept a place in the squad are sent out.

An additional qualifying condition is that each UK squad member needs to be an individual member of the NRA. There must always be sufficient team members present to compete at the three international matches and this involves travelling to Germany and the Republic of Ireland. Team members must therefore be available for some, if not all, of the matches. They must also be prepared to attend some of the meetings and coaching/training sessions throughout the year.

Once the UK team is finalised, a suitable team captain (who need not be a shooting member of the squad) is then identified by the GR&P committee, taking into account the squad members' views. This recommendation is then passed to NRA Shooting Committee, which then formally appoints the captain. The captain will then choose an adjutant, who will not be a shooting member of the squad. The UK team captain has sole responsibility for selecting which members of the Team will shoot in any match. When doing this he will strike a balance between choosing the best team and giving as many of the team international shooting experience as possible.

The three teams fielded by the UK squad members have won all three of the European Gallery Rifle Federation Championship matches this year. So, for anyone aspiring to be a part of either the National or International squads next year, you now know what's involved and how to achieve your goal. Good luck to you all.

For additional information please contact the following:

UK & England team: T: 01404 43434
E: chris@galleryrifle.com
Scotland: Charles or Lara Bestwick
T: 01466 711319 E: family@bestwicks.co.uk
Wales T: 01978 758422
E: gwynroberts33@tiscali.co.uk