The Annual Newsletter of Marple Rifle & Pistol Club
December 2010
Another Christmas is shortly upon us and I am sure you are like me wondering why we, yet again, have problems with road, rail and air travel. I have to say however that the roads do appear to be better organised than earlier on this year.
Down to the club side of my ramblings. We have had a land valuation and put in a fairly complicated offer for the eventual freehold purchase of the land we currently rent from Stockport Council. The initial feed back is, to say the least, not hopeful and to this end we, without urgency, will start a hunt for another site. Bear in mind we still have 15 years to run on our lease and guaranteed tenure.
The social events, barbecues and curry nights were a success, thanks to Elizabeth and her helpers.
The shooting competitions and visits to Sealand were well supported and we had some success.
We will shortly be going technical and computerised!! It is intended to eventually enable members to pay subscriptions online and for renewals and most Club correspondence to be done electronically. To aid our progress in this direction it would be helpful if those of you with email addresses would let the Club know.
It is our intention to send out renewals electronically in the future so please help us save money, post and paper by forwarding the information requested.
I wish you on behalf of the Officers and Committee a Happy Christmas and New Year and thank you for your support and help.
Best Wishes .......... John C Shonfeld
Ron Turnbull came second in Division 4 of the Summer 2010 Wirral Rifle League
Nick Purcell won the Class B Rifle Championship at the Lancashire Airgun Open Championships at Blackburn Shooting Centre in May 2010.
Richard Torkington came second.
As email is the quickest and cheapest method of contacting members with items of Club news, can all members please send their current email address to:
enquiries@marplerifleandpistolclub.org.uk
and indicate if you wish to go on the monthly News Mailing. (If not, you will just get occasional notices, such as the date of the AGM etc. No Spam! )
Starting in the New Year there are to be a series of Target Shooting instruction courses running over a 5 week period, with one hour per week on a Friday between 19:30 and 20:30. Dates will be shown on the notice board and in the Stats Office.
A perennial problem with most shooting clubs is that of a shortage of Range Control Officers. Everyone wants to shoot, but it seems nobody much wants to be a Range Officer. Please remember that if we don’t have RCOs then NOBODY shoots!
In an effort to address the problem, starting in early 2011, there will be a series of short courses on how to become a Club-qualified RCO for all disciplines. Dates will be shown on the notice board and in the Stats Office.
We were hoping to use the MOD range at Llansilin in 2011, but just before Christmas we learned that, due to the activity of a Noise Nuisance Group, we can no longer use the Llansilin Range, so we have rebooked for Sealand on the revised dates below :
(All dates are Saturdays.)
23 Apr Sealand on 100 metre
7 May Sealand on 300 metre
4 Jun Sealand on 300 metre
2 Jul Sealand on 300 metre
6 Aug Sealand on 300 metre
3 Sep Sealand on 300 metre
1 Oct Sealand on 100 metre
5 Nov Sealand on 300 metre
3 Dec Sealand on 100 metre
Sealand is about 1 hour from MRPC by car.
In order to comply with the NRA's requirement that all persons shooting on MOD ranges be trained in their Safe Shooting System, a series of training sessions will be held at the Club on Sundays between 10:00 and 11:00.
In order to get a Shooters Certificate of Competence for the 2011 season it will be necessary for everyone to attend one of these short courses, even if you have previously shot on MOD ranges.
Dates will be shown on the notice board and in the Stats Office.
The Club still needs more NRA certified Range Conducting Officers (RCOs) for shooting on MOD ranges and especially blackpowder-trained RCOs, as we only have one at the moment. If you are interested in undertaking this type of training, you will need to have at least two years shooting experience, have shot on MOD ranges before, be a regular attender at the Club and be willing to act as RCO several times a year when we visit Sealand. If you would like to be considered, put your name on the list on the notice board in the Social Area.
Ooops !
“Blessed are those who, in the face of Death, focus on the front sight.” - Jeff Cooper