2019-6 (October)

RESULTS

Seonaid McIntosh becomes 300M Prone Rifle European Champion

Seonaid McIntosh continued her run of form by winning the Women’s 300M Prone Rifle event at the ESC European Championships in Italy. Her score of 599ex600 was an equal World Record.

In the 50m Prone Rifle Mixed Pairs, she won the Bronze Medal with Kenneth Parr.

ADMINISTRATION

ISSF handed slap-down by IOC over Tokyo 2020 hospitality packages

insidethegames reports that the IOC has issued a strongly worded warning to the ISSF which was offering packages promising “assistance” in obtaining tickets, accommodation and accreditation for next year’s Olympic Games.

The ISSF receives a number of accreditations and allocations in official accommodation for its supporting role in running the Olympic Shooting events. It is - unsurprisingly - strictly forbidden to flog surplus passes to the highest bidder.

This is just the latest in a series of controversies to strike the ISSF since Vladimir Lisin and Alexander Ratner were elected as President and Secretary General in 2018. Rogueish commentators on some forums have suggested that Mr Lisin (one of the richest men in the world with a net worth of US$21.4Bn) - is struggling to adapt to life outside Mother Russia where brandishing a chequebook or having a hotline to the Kremlin does not make all difficulties disappear with a nod and a wink.

Video from NSRA Smallbore Week

The NSRA seem to have made much more of an effort through 2019 to market and promote their services and events. Whilst some of the marketing has been slightly disjointed, it is a very welcome change from 18months ago when they had no Facebook page at all (in 2018!) and updated their website perhaps once a month. The improvement in communications with both members and the general public is most welcome and one might hope a sign of things moving forward within the beleaguered organisation. For direct contact, they run a Facebook Group in addition to their Business Page.

Section 11(4) is not going away

In testament to their improved communications - an article that once would have waited for the print edition of their magazine. The NSRA warn that a number of Firearms Licensing Managers (FLMs) are advising clubs the use of Section 11(4) exemption will cease by the end of January 2020, and are recommending that clubs should transfer any firearms and ammunition held under Section 11(4) to the club FAC, or if the organisation operating the range does not have a FAC, to acquire one.

There is no truth to this - Section 11(4) is exactly that - a Section of an Act of Parliament (specifically, the Firearms Act 1968). Subsequently, it could only be abolished or withdrawn through another Act of Parliament and - well - Parliament has other things on its mind right now. The Home Office have stated that no relevant legislation has been proposed or is planned. Whilst one might take that with a pinch of salt given their opaque handling of the Offensive Weapons Bill (and the sourcing of no small amount of policy-based-evidence), clubs should be assured that neither the Police nor the Home Office have the power to abolish Section 11(4). It needs an Act of Parliament - which will necessarily have public visibility and require input from stakeholders such as the NRA and NSRA at the Committee Stages.

NSRA GB Pistol Squad

Good but want to be better? Better and want to be best?

The NSRA are recruiting for the National Pistol Squad.

National Pistol Squad

UPCOMING COMPETITIONS & EVENTS

The Target Shooting Show

The Practical Shooting Show has been renamed as its remit has expanded. The Target Shooting Show will take place at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire over 16-17th November.

Smallbore & Air

Tips and stories to submissions@riflereport.uk

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