Sightings for 2007

I cannot believe another year has gone by and I am yet again giving my annual report on our progress as a shooting club.

Firstly I have to inform you with deep sorrow of the passing of Mike McConnell, who died very suddenly a week after our May barbecue. Mike had been a very good friend to the club and his knowledge of police procedures was an invaluable help to us in renewals of fire arms certificates. Our thoughts are with Debbie at this Yule time.

We have a full committee and have a programme of improvements, the decorating and floor on the range, better lighting and new heaters . . . in fact a number of our taller members are now showing very healthy tans and donning sun glasses, but I am sure you will join me in agreeing that the improvements are much appreciated.

We still require more help with both range matters and general maintenance, and that Ladies and Gentlemen means you???

Over the last few years we have had an influx of new members and have broken the magic 150 number, and are now opening up the range on a Friday night.

I would also like to propose a five and ten year plan for the club so that we can ensure the continuity of the club and to this end I have approached the council with a lease purchase proposal.

Well that’s all folks! Have a happy Christmas and hope for a prosperous New Year for everyone.

John C. Shonfeld

Chairman

Course Of Instruction

Michael Williams will once again be offering a course of instruction in the New Year. If you cannot consistently keep all your shots in the black of a PL12 target when firing from an unsupported standing position at 25 metres, then you need this instruction! The course will run for five weeks, and, if you wish to take part, please contact Michael at the range between now and mid-January.

Honours Board

The following MRPC members were successful in League competition this year.

Kevin Newton came third in Division 5 of the Wirral Rifle League

Peter Sharpe came second in Division 9 of the Wirral Rifle League

Mick Tilley came second in Division 13 of the Wirral Rifle League

John Holme came second in Division 14 of the Wirral Rifle League

John Shonfeld came second in Division 15 of the Wirral Rifle League

Roger Short came third in Division 15 of the Wirral Rifle League

Jemma Grime won Division 16 of the Wirral Rifle League

Joanne Morrison came second in Division 16 of the Wirral Rifle League

In addition, the following Marple shooters picked up trophies at the Wirral League Confined Shoot at Appleton Range on Sunday 23^rd September 2007.

Jemma Grime came second in C Class

Dave Stopford won D Class

John Holme came third in D Class

I.T. Matters

Would all members having access to email please let Michael Williams have their current email address so that they can be kept informed of important Club news? Rest assured that you will not be bombarded with spam as there are normally no more than three or four items per year.

Will anyone wishing to be included on the monthly email list of shooting-related news items also let Michael know? If you are already on it there is no need to ask again, but do be warned that if you do not have broadband, many of the files are quite large.

As Members will know, at MRPC we cater for all tastes - some even involving shooting! Our Full-Bore outings to Sealand Ranges at Chester this year have been a very mixed bag: some perfect sunny days in beautiful surroundings on the Dee estuary, some (too many!) cancelled by the Army at short or zero notice.

However, these latter minor inconveniences pale into insignificance alongside a recent (end of October) decision by the MoD to reduce the allowed muzzle energy of guns used by Civilians on all MoD ranges from 7000 Joules (5160 ft lbs) to 3800 Joules (2804 ft lbs) - virtually HALF the previous limit.

In practical terms, this outlaws most historic military rifle/cartridge combinations favoured by Shooters - even the WW2 7.92mm Mauser - and many currently available high-powered sporting rifles.

Although at this point in time intended to be a PROPOSAL, the way in which it has been introduced is almost beyond belief in what we fondly consider to be our democratic society. In fact, Altcar range at Southport, which we used to frequent, has arbitrarily imposed the new limit with IMMEDIATE effect.

Make no mistake, this dictatorial imposition constitutes the biggest threat that civilian shooters have EVER faced to their legitimate sporting activities.

For further details of the background to this perilous situation, and of the NRA's current response - which, by the way, includes colluding with this exclusion process by requiring each full-bore shooter to be certified as competent to handle EVERY ONE of his guns - buy the December issue of Target Sports magazine or check out the NRA website.