I am pleased to report another satisfactory year of progress, with a number of improvements to the club facilities and also in influx of new members, to whom I would like to extend a personal warm welcome.

The major works have been the lighting and ventilation as well as the new firing point positions which you will see shortly. We have been offered an extension for 50 years to our lease: not sure that is quite what I asked for, but a step in the right direction.

I would like to take this opportunity to ask for at least TEN volunteers - yes TEN -for Range Officer duties, so that we can plan for the future and look to use Friday night as a shooting evening. We are getting quite crowded on Sunday and Wednesday and this needs to be addressed. Remember that if we can't get them, then the club will not function properly. Initially, if you are interested give your name to Mike Von Achten.

The finances are in good order and we continue to save money for our roof/ building fund. On this note I would like to point out that a number of your officers are not as young as they used to be and we need to appoint, over the next few years, a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. Now this is not going to happen tomorrow, but I believe the time has come to have assistants for all these jobs and would ask for the Committee to consider this proposal.

We all owe a great debt of gratitude to those members who contribute to the running of the club, as without them where would we be? I would also like a lady Committee member to take on the role of Social Secretary to help organise the fun side of our club. This is a new post which reflects the increase in lady members, all of whom are most welcome, and which recognises their contribution.

Finally I wish each and every one of you all the best for the festive season and good shooting in 2007.

John C Shonfeld

Text Box: This Newsletter is produced by the Committee of MRPC, but it is NOT the Committee’s Newsletter. It belongs to YOU, the members of MRPC. All articles, anecdotes, cartoons or indeed any items which you feel might amaze, amuse, inform or entertain other Club members should be passed to

Mick Tilley for inclusion

Courses Of Instruction

There will be a series of instructional courses held at the club starting on Sunday 7th January 2007 and lasting for about an hour. The course will run for five consecutive weeks and cover all aspects of target shooting. The cost is the standard range fee of Ł2.00 and the courses are open to all members and probationary members.

All enquiries to Michael Williams at the club

MRPC Successes In Competitions 2006

Marple “B” finished 3rd in Division 5 of the Cheshire League.

Marple “C” finished 3rd in Division 6 of the Cheshire League.

Kevin Newton finished 3rd in Division 11 of the Wirral League.

Brian Kenworthy finished 2nd in Divison 13 of the Wirral League.

Will all members who have e-mail addresses please advise Michael Williams accordingly at enquiries@marplerifleandpistolclub.org.uk. This enables the Club to contact you quickly . . . and cheaply!! (If you have already done so, no need to do so again unless you’ve changed your e-mail address recently.)

One for All?

The summer of 2006 saw tripartite talks attended by representatives of the National Rifle Association, the National Smallbore Rifle Association and the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association. The idea was to set up one overall governing body for the sport of target shooting in the UK, to be called the National Association for Target Shooting Sports (NATSS).

The internal infighting and politics of the various governing bodies over the last many years make murky and rather depressing reading, so it is good to see them at least making the attempt to bury their differences and come out as a strong and united body representing all UK target shooters. There has as yet been no final announcement that a merger is imminent, but the long-term indicators seem to be somewhat encouraging.

That said, target shooters of all persuasions and disciplines have a long way to go before they can match the success and the political clout of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, which represents the UK’s deerstalkers, game and wildfowl shooters. BASC’s still-growing membership of over 123,000 dwarfs the total combined membership of the NRA, NSRA and CPSA and it is reported that the somewhat autocratic Chief Executive of BASC, John Swift, has little interest at present in becoming involved in the merger talks.

Get The Knowledge

Many of our members will already be aware of the existence of a document entitled Firearms Law:Guidance To The Police 2002. It is published by the Home Office and, as its title states, it is the official Home Office guidance to all police forces in England and Wales on the uniform application of the law concerning firearms. It should be stressed that the guidance does not itself have the force of law, but most police forces do adhere to its recommendations. We are certainly not encouraging our members to become barrack room lawyers or to adopt a confrontational attitude to the police, but it is a sad fact that a number of cases do arise from time to time in the UK where some forces, or individual officers, take it upon themselves to extend the provisions of the Firearms Acts beyond the letter and spirit of the law. In such cases reference to the Guidance can prove extremely valuable.

From The Chair

John C Shonfeld

Courses Of Instruction

Get The Knowledge