SSRA - News Archive Q2 2003

News Archive - April to June 2003

Scottish Meeting Starts

30th June 2003

The NSRA Scottish Meeting kicked off over the weekend of 28th & 29th June, at the Logie Steading site near Forres. Jim Cole-Hamilton and Bill Copland led the two qualifying squads for the "Earl Haig" Scottish Championship, both with scores of 396. The final will be held on Friday 4th at 2pm.

The Home Countries International Matches will also be held on Friday, at 11am. The majority of the Scottish teams will be selected from the meeting aggregate, however the SSRA have seeded Donald McIntosh and Sinclair Bruce into the main team and Shirley McIntosh into the ladies team on the basis of scores recorded in the first round of the Haig and other weekend competitions.

Four SSRA Members in the Dewar Team

22nd June 2003

Four SSRA members - Bill Brown, Donald McIntosh, Cliff Ogle and Ken Silver - qualified for the British team to compete in the annual "Dewar" postal international match. In addition, the Adjutant was Cyril De Jonckheere, and the two reserves were Neil Stirton and Carol McKenna. The trial and match were shot at Appleton in Cheshire on Saturday 21st June, and the British team score was substantially higher than last years.

Win for Sheena Sharp at the NSRA ISSF Championships

19th June 2003

Sheena Sharp produced a fine performance at Bisley in the NSRA ISSF Championship Meeting to win the Women's Prone event. There were medals also for Susan Jackson - second in the 3x20 and Martin Sinclair - second in the Men's Prone and third in the 3x40.

Grand Prix success for Hammond & McIntosh

1st June 2003

In the 3x40 Grand Prix event at Denwood on 31st May, Donald McIntosh collected maximum points for the second time this season, narrowly beating Jon Hammond after a close final - aided by Martin Sinclair withdrawing after the qualification round. Bill Long was the happiest man on the range, increasing his personal best by 20 points to 1081.

As at the Denwood Open the month before, the 3P shooters dominated the prone competitions at the Angus Open - Martin Sinclair winning the Class A with 594, a point ahead of Cliff Ogle with 593. Erling Watt produced a personal best of 590 to secure Class B, while Hamish Rae and Lawrence Cooper won classes C & D respectively. Tom Hunter won the Juniors with an excellent 589 - a score he reproduced later in the Grand Prix.

In the C&D Grand Prix, Peter Gray produced a fine 390 to win comfortably from Hamish Rae & Bruce McIntosh, while the main Grand Prix was won by Jon Hammond with 593. Cliff Ogle produced an excellent final to climb from fifth to second, Sheena Sharp staying in third.

Award for Sheena Sharp

30th May 2003

Sheena Sharp continues to reap the rewards of her Silver medal at last years Commonwealth Games, and was recently awarded Sports Personality of the Year for 2002 by Aberdeenshire Sports Council.

SSRA Indoor Leagues

30th May 2003

The SSRA Short Range prone leagues for 2003 are now completed, with wins for Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy & Steeple. A total of 18 teams from 11 clubs competed this year, and it is hoped that more clubs will enter next year. The goal is to have every club in Scotland represented, turning it into a truly country-wide competition.

British Records for Lothian

30th May 2003

Lothian set two new British record scores in the NSRA Inter County leagues this winter. In round one of the Junior league, a score of 396 from a team of Jamie Cole-Hamilton, Heather Rudd, David Champion and Matthew Thomson is a confirmed British junior record, and helped the team secure Division 1 of that competition.

The second record - as yet to be confirmed by the NSRA - came in the Three Positions league. The score of 1155 from the team of Martin Sinclair, Cliff Ogle, Susan Jackson and Lynda Sinclair included a stunning 298 from Martin - both points dropped in the standing position - and contributed to the Division 1 title.

In addition to these records, Lothian also won Division 2 of the Prone league, Division 4 of the Prone Reserve league and Division 1 on the Junior Reserve league.

Proposed ISSF Rule Changes

22nd May 2003

The ISSF have published details of their proposed rules changes which will take effect from 1st January 2005 if approved - it can be seen here. An excellent open letter from Rajmond Debevec - the Olympic Champion and World Record Holder in 3x40 - can be found here, along with some suggestions for where to make representations if you do not support these proposals.

Sports Club of the Year Awards

22nd May 2003

Aberdeen’s Bon Accord Small-Bore Rifle Club has been awarded 3^rd prize in the 10^th Sports Club of the Year Awards. The awards ceremony took place at a celebration dinner during the annual conference of the Central Council of Physical Recreation at Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire on Tuesday 20 May. The award, a commemorative brass plaque and a cheque for £1000, was presented by Grattan Endicott OBE, Secretary of The Foundation for Sport and the Arts, and was received on behalf of the Club by Trevor Hastings and Charles Allan.

This achievement for a Scottish target shooting club was particularly noteworthy, as there had been an overwhelming number of nominations with particularly high standards from a wide range of sports clubs from all over Britain.

The competition organisers were looking for clubs that:

· Encourage more people to take part in sport or recreation

· Set standards in excellence that other clubs aspire to

· Have a proven track record in working with schools, local authorities and other community organisations

· Have already succeeded in attracting grants and sponsorship

Bon Accord Small-Bore Rifle Club’s nomination for the award was enthusiastically endorsed by the NSRA and reflected the Club’s achievements in many areas. With a membership in excess of 80 ranging in age from 13 to senior citizens, the Club encourages people in all walks of life to take part in target shooting in a safe and friendly environment. The Club’s home, Denwood Target Shooting Centre, has the best target shooting facilities in Scotland and is a regular venue for SSRA Grand Prix and Championship events, including some of the NSRA's National Squad selection circuit.

Bon Accord Small-Bore Rifle Club has an enviable reputation. Recent achievements include winning the Scottish Cup, Division 1 of the British Short-Range League, and the British Team of 6 and Team of 8 Knockout Competitions. The Club boasts several international shooters and its teams currently hold 4 Scottish records. Several Club members hold Scottish records at junior and senior level.

Some of the most enthusiastic members are those from the Grampian Society for the Blind who shoot with considerable success at national and international level using audio signals and specialised equipment. The Club has a close involvement with local schools, through the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, and the Aberdeen Pony Club who receive coaching in air pistol to enable them to compete in the tetrathlon.

Bon Accord Small-bore Rifle Club’s achievements have not gone unnoticed at local level – the Club has been awarded Aberdeen Sports Council’s Amateur Team of the Year Award on several occasions in recent years.

Scottish Universities News

14th May 2003

The Scottish Universities Long Range Championships were held at Denwood on 4th May. There were dominated by Edinburgh, who won the team of eight and the ladies team of three. The individual title went to Adam Brown of Edinburgh, with team mate Piers Foster second. Third place was a joint affair between Graham Rudd of Aberdeen and Edinburgh's Tom Bamford. The ladies individual went to Martina Smekal of Edinburgh.

The British Universities championship was held a week later at Appleton in Cheshire, and was also successful for the Scottish Uni's. Edinburgh picked up the main team event, while St Andrews won the ladies team. The individual title was won by Piers Foster, with Martina Smekal winning the ladies (both Edinburgh).

National League Round-Up

13th May 2003

Bon Accord were the only Scottish team to come out on top of the NSRA's winter national leagues, with a win in division one of the Short Range Prone league - just ahead of EU Alumni. The Alumni also picked up second places in division one of the Standing & Kneeling and Women's Prone leagues, while Glenrothes came second in division one of the 10m Air Rifle league.

British Team Selections

9th May 2003

A number of Scots have been selected for the British teams to compete at the ISSF World Cup matches to be held in Zagreb and Munich next month. Susan Jackson (3x20) & Donald McIntosh (3x40 & Prone) will compete at both, Jon Hammond (3x40 & Prone) at Zagreb; Martin Sinclair (3x40 & Prone), Jim Cole-Hamilton (Prone) and David Rattray (Air) at Munich.

Scottish medals at the English Open

8th May 2003

Martin Sinclair added the English Open prone title to his Scottish and British ISSF championships, with a win at the ESSU Open at Bisley last weekend. Overcoming the disappointment of dropping out of the medals in the 3x40 event courtesy of a cross-shot and two penalty points for firing 41 shots standing, Martin entered the prone final with a score of 589, and extended his one point lead with the best final.

David Rattray was the other Scot in the medals, picking up second place in the Air Rifle, just 0.1 ahead of a fifteen year old shooter!

Scottish records fall at Denwood

5th May 2003

Having demolished the Junior Ladies records with the Air Rifle over the winter, Emma Cole-Hamilton kicked off her summer season with new Scottish records in the 3 Positions event, scoring 553 to add 11 points to the 3x20 record. Susan Jackson kicked off her season with a win in the 3x20 Grand Prix, her score of 568 a comfortable GB Squad Minimum Qualifying Score, and her combined final score of 664.7 a new Scottish record - overhauling Shirley McIntosh's six year old score.

In the 3x40 event, Donald McIntosh also recorded a GB MQS, with 1147 including a personal best in the standing section of the match. Simon Clark took second place, adding 28 points to his personal best with 1118.

The 3P shooters dominated the prone competitions at the Denwood Open - Donald McIntosh winning the Class A with 591, a point ahead of Susan Jackson with 590 (also a GB squad MQS). Local knowledge was the key in B & C classes - with wins for Trevor Hastings and Charles Allan respectively, with Bruce McIntosh winning Class D.

In the C&D Grand Prix, John Campbell edged ahead of Charles Allan on count-back (both with 389), while the main Grand Prix was won by Simon Clark with 594 - Donald McIntosh a point behind with 593 and Gordon Motion third with 590.

GB Selections for Fort Benning World Cup

5th May 2003

Jon Hammond is completing his academic year in the US this week, representing Great Britain at the ISSF World Cup in Fort Benning. Jon will shoot in the 3x40 match.

Scottish 50m Prone Classifications

1st May 2003

The annual classification for the Open Meeting parts of the Prone Grand Prix series is now available. As in previous years, this classification is based on performances at the same meetings in the previous year, with 25% of the shooters who took part in these events allocated to each class. It is not related to NSRA National Meeting classification. Anyone not appearing in this list should submit an average when entering their first meeting of the year.

The classes are as follows:

Class A
Bremner	D H		Watten
Brown	W F		Chobham
Bruce	A S		Alloa & District
Cole-Hamilton	W M J		Bon Accord
Copland	W A		Banff/Macduff
Danskin	C		Forfar
De Jonckheere	C G		Dumfries
Jackson	S J	Mrs	E U Alumni
McIntosh	D A M		Alloa
Motion	G		Callander
Ogle	C W C		EU Alumni
Ross	S		Chobham
Sharp	S M	Ms	Bon Accord
Silver	K		Bon Accord
Sinclair	J R		Wick Old Stagers
Sinclair	M		EU Alumni
Spence	R R		Orkney SBRC
Stirton	N		Bon Accord

Class B
Baker	N B		Watsonians
Caughey	D		St Andrews
Clark	S J		Bon Accord
Hamilton	W F		Watsonians
Hastings	T S		Bon Accord
Henderson	J A		Watten
Hunter	T		Bon Accord
Lavety	J		Bon Accord
Long	W J		Steeple
Parr	K		Croydon
Rudd	G A		Watsonians
Simpson	H		Wick Old Stagers
Simpson	H A		Wick Old Stagers
Sinclair	L J	Mrs	EU Alumni
Thomson	C I H		Watsonians
Thomson	M I		George Watsons College
Vaughan	W T		Selkirk
Vincent	H M	Ms	Burnley
Watt	E G		Bon Accord

Class C
Aitken	I S		Orkney SBRC
Allan	C E T		Bon Accord
Campbell	J G		Halkirk
Henderson	D		Balerno & Currie
Jess	P		St Andrews
Johnston	K		GWC
Jones	E H		IoMSC
Jones	W		IoMSC
Melvin	M	Mrs	Bon Accord
Moonie	W		Callander
Nilsen	R L		St Andrews
Rae	H		Perth C & C
Rudd	H E	Miss	George Watsons College
Scott	R T W		GWC
Sime	C		Ellon
Simpson	D		Wick Old Stagers
Vincent	J R		Burnley

Class D
Batchelor	S	Forfar
Brown	E	AUSAC
Champion	D S	George Watsons College
Cooper	J L	St Andrews
Cutts	P	Croydon
Farquhar	B A	Huntly
Fletcher	R E A	Durris
Gray	P M	Steeple
Honhold	R	George Watsons College
Hunter	S K C	Bon Accord
Mackie	B	Banchory
McGregor	G H	Banchory
McIntosh	B	St Andrews
Silver	C	Bon Accord
Sinclair	D W	Orkney SBRC
Spence	Bobby	Orkney SBRC
Swanson	J A	Watten

NSRA E-mail

30th April 2003

The NSRA have e-mail back online as of this evening.

British Record & Championship for Bon Accord

24th April 2003

The NSRA have confirmed that Bon Accord have equalled the British record for a team of six, twenty shots each on indoor prone targets. Their score of 1190 also supersedes the existing Scottish record, originally set by Stirling RI in season 1990/1.

Bon have also won the British Short Range team of 8 event - for the Mackworth Praed trophy - adding this to the "News of the World" team of 6 title won earlier this month.

Easter success for Martin Sinclair

24th April 2003

Martin Sinclair kicked off his summer season with a clean sweep of the prone and 3x40 events at the Isle of Man Easter Open.

NSRA Website & E-mail

23rd April 2003

Please note that not only is the NSRA website down, but they have been unable to receive e-mail for some time now, and it's not clear at this time if these messages are held on a server pending delivery, or if they are lost. Anyone who has sent e-mail to them in recent weeks but not received a reply would be well advised to contact them via other channels until further notice.

Proposed changes to ISSF rules

22nd April 2003

The ISSF News site contains details of proposed changes to the ISSF rules, which if implemented would take effect from 1st January 2005 - see here for details. These proposals include major changes to the construction of shooting jackets and trousers, and raise the possibility of shooting trousers and boots being banned completely. There are also changes to the use of headgear and eye blinders, based on the changes proposed for last year's World Championships.

The SSRA would ask that all visitors take the time to read these proposals, and make their views known to the ISSF via the published e-mail address.

Jon Hammond's University cuts Rifle Team

22nd April 2003

Scottish Squad member Jon Hammond faces an uncertain future as West Virginia University in the USA, where he has a shooting scholarship, has decided to cut the rifle team from it's list of supported sports. Details are available here, and there is an online petition here which Jon has requested that as many people as possible sign.

Scottish success at British Short Range championships

16th April 2003

The British Short Range Championships, held this year at Marple Rifle Club in Cheshire produced an all-Scottish final in the team of six event. E U Alumni defeated Bedford in one semi-final to face Bon Accord, who's opposition failed to turn up. The team title went to the Aberdeen club, with a gap of six points between the teams.

In the individual championship there were some good Scottish performances, with Ken Silver second, Tim Kinder fourth and Martin Sinclair fifth equal. In addition, Chris Silver secured the under-16 title.

Full results are available here.

Records galore for Emma Cole-Hamilton at Scottish Air Rifle Championships

16th April 2003

Emma Cole-Hamilton continued her improvement with the air rifle at the Scottish Championships, breaking all of her Scottish junior ladies records on her way to winning the senior ladies title at the Scottish Open at Inverclyde Sports Training Centre in Largs on the 5th and 6th of April. Emma had been shooting today with an elderly Feinwerkbau 300, but with the loan of a modern Walther LG300 from injured Tony Credland, she increased her PB for the 60 shot match by ten points to 568, and for the 40 shot match by nine points to 382.

In an otherwise poorly attended championship, David Rattray secured the Scottish Open and Confined titles - the latter for a record fourth consecutive year - with Hayley Platts winning the ladies open title. Full results are available here.

SSRA winter competitions completed

16th April 2003

The results of the SSRA individual winter competitions are now available. The Association silver medal has been won by Bill Brown, following a four way re-gauge with Jim Cole-Hamilton, Hugh Simpson and Alasdair Horne. Bill also picked up the A class salver, while classes B, C, D and Veteran were won by N McMillan, D Sinclair, B Spence and Cyril De Jonckheere respectively. Unfortunately there were no junior entries.

The CanDicap competition was won by Pat Gray, with Martin Sinclair winning the Short Range 3P with a superb total of 1168.

Full results are available here.