Dear Team Captain,
This is an abridged
version the text of the final information pack for the event. Please read
through very carefully and brief your teams.
As ever, there are a few differences from last year! There is
additional information in the full version contained in the pack.
Between now and 17th
October:
Remember that it is
your responsibility as the person in charge of the team to satisfy yourself
that each entrant is able to cope with the competition and to obtain and bring
written parental permission to take part for all entrants under the age of 18.
Take particular care over any “last minute” substitutions.
·
If you are bringing
any of your own airguns to the competition, you will need to bring your DC’s
permission letter with you unless your DC signed your entry form. The case of
each rifle or pistol is to be labelled with the type and serial number of the
gun and the owner’s name and Group and
when and by whom it is to be used. A list showing this information for all
guns to be handed in is to be prepared in duplicate – one copy for you and one
for the Armourer. This letter constitutes your written permission from me, the
NRA and NSRA for you to bring those air rifles and pistols onto the site.
Please complete a car
pass for each vehicle (photocopy as necessary) and issue one to be displayed in
the windscreen of every vehicle from its arrival at Bisley Camp and throughout
the weekend. The Car Pass is in the version of this letter mailed to you.
Please ask Scouts to bring
a needle and purple thread with them so they can sew the Event badge onto their
uniforms to wear at the presentation ceremony.
The badges can be worn on uniform for three months afterwards. Please
ensure your Scouts wear correct uniform at the presentation ceremony. Pictures
of Scouts in scruffy part-uniform are of no use for PR purposes. This is a
National Scout Event and Scouting is on display to the many other people who
will be at Bisley this weekend.
Don’t forget
your Nights Away Notification. Bisley is in the Surrey Heath District.
On arrival
at Bisley Camp display a car pass. Go along King’s Way and turn Left to the
reporting point and check in. The enclosed plans show where you will be
camping. You will be directed to the car park. Within 30 minutes of arrival
send a representative to the Lord Roberts Centre to:
·
Confirm details of
all persons on site, Connaught Team allocation etc.
·
Register any Range
Officer qualifications not already recorded,
·
Collect your badges
for the competition, one for each shooter.
·
Bring the parental
permission forms in respect of all shooters aged under 18 and be prepared to
show them. The booking in point will
close at 2300hrs. If you arrive after
that time, check for any late instructions posted at the reporting point and
complete the admin formalities at the Lord Roberts Centre between 0830 and 0900 on Saturday morning. Remember that for safety reasons we need to
know who is on site and we also need the opportunity to see parental permission
forms. No competition scores will be
counted until the team has registered their arrival.
·
Rifles and Pistols for “Own Airgun” events are to be taken to the Lord Roberts Centre, either before
2245hrs on Friday or at the first opportunity on Saturday morning. Bring both
copies of the list of firearms to be handed in. One copy will be returned to
you.
Squadding details
are given on an enclosed sheet. Please ensure that every competitor knows
their competitor number - they will need to write it on their targets and
scorecards. Please check the details very carefully for correct spelling of
names, right ages, Connaught Teams, any conflict over shared “own weapons” etc.
and to see that I have not tried to put anyone in two places at once. If there are any problems, please phone or
e-mail me.
Briefing:
There will be a briefing for all Leaders and Competitors in
Hall D of the Lord Roberts Centre at 0800hrs on Saturday morning. Bisley
is an operating high power rifle range complex and will be very busy as the
NRA’s Trafalgar Meeting is also taking place this weekend. Everyone must attend to be briefed on
safety. Hall D is on the ground floor.
There are over 750 shooters taking part. This means that everybody will have to be very time
conscious throughout the weekend. There is enough time for everybody to
do everything they have entered for but only if the ranges run to time. This
means that everyone must turn up at the right place at the right time with the
right kit. Whilst on the subject of kit, all air gun and small-bore shooting
takes place on indoor ranges or under a covered firing point: no boots or muddy footwear will be
permitted anywhere within the Lord Roberts centre. Clean outdoor footwear
is OK. Full-bore shooting takes place on Century Range, well away from the Lord
Roberts Centre and shooters will need outdoor clothing as appropriate to the
weather.
As last year all shoots are time limited.
Locations, time limits and other details follow:
All 6yd “paper target” classes, including “6yd own airgun” will be fired in Hall
E, on the ground floor. Automatic target changers eliminate the need to go
forward of the firing point and the range will operate on a continuous basis.
15 minutes for 20 shots (Rifle) or 15 shots (Pistol) including target changing.
Also in Hall E will be Archery and the briefing areas for Field Target and the Summer Biathlon, both of which are
fired onto the 50-metre range outside.
Own Pistol will be
fired on Air 8 targets, which have smaller scoring rings than those used for
Main Event Pistol. The best 8 Own Pistol shooters will qualify for an Olympic
Final, which will be shot in Hall A at 1345hrs.
Own Airgun
competitors should report to the Armoury
(on the Ground floor in Hall E) at least 10 minutes before their allocated
time to collect their equipment. Remember that entrants aged under 14 are not
permitted to have unsupervised possession of an airgun and if they are to carry
it themselves must be supervised by an adult over 21 when collecting their gun.
Alternatively it is permissible for a Scout over 14 to carry it for them.
In Field Target, competitors score for
each other. Five sessions each of two minutes in which four shots are to be
fired. The time allowed for each lane change during the shoot is 30 seconds.
One further minute is allowed for movement onto the range to begin and one
minute to change firers or clear the range at the end of the shoot. This makes
the total of four minutes for movement. Although the firing points are under
cover, they could get wet if it is raining hard.
The Summer Biathlon comprises three
shooting stages (fired standing, kneeling and prone respectively) each of five
shots at reactive targets, separating four running stages, each of
approximately 400 metres. For each target missed a penalty of 1 minute is added
to the competitor’s time. Competitors will be “counted out” after 25 minutes
(real time excluding penalties).
Small-bore takes
place on the 25 yard range set up at the extreme left-hand end of the 50-metre
range. Access from Hall E. Outdoor
clothing may be needed.
The Knockout (both Senior and Junior) will take place in the other ground floor hall, Hall D. Two minutes for up to 10
pellets at five targets. After the first round the progress of a knockout
competition is unpredictable and winners of each tie must check the time of
their next round and identify their next opponent before leaving the range.
Clashes with other events may occur so competitors still in the tournament
should attend the knockout range when possible for the opportunity of shooting
their next round early. This is a popular event for spectators.
Ten-metre
events are on the first floor in Hall A. These are 10m Own Rifle and
Three-Position Air Rifle. The 10-metre and Own pistol classes culminate in Olympic-type
Finals commencing at 1345hrs on Sunday. Come and see how the sport is practised
at the next level.
I am very sorry that
it will not be possible to run the Advanced Field Target this year. The BFTO
hopes to be able to offer this again next year. Entry fees to this class will be
refunded.
NSRA Showroom. On
the Ground floor, will be open on
Saturday and Sunday mornings; an ideal opportunity to enhance your Group’s (or
your own!) kit. Air Rifles & Pistols, Pellets, Targets, Clothing,
Accessories and Publications will all be available.
Full bore rifle
takes place on Century Range. Outdoor clothing will be needed. Century Range is
very exposed and can be very wet! This is a “Reverse Echelon” weekend, with
shooting from 600 yards on the left-hand side of the range, nearest to the
clubhouses. It is ESSENTIAL to follow
signs when approaching this range and to wait in the signed marshalling areas.
Jamboree on the Air and Jamboree on the Internet will be in the “Inns of Court Pavilion”. Follow the path to
the West from the Lord Roberts Centre.
Touring Bisley Camp. Scouts are
free to move around most of Bisley Camp (specifically the areas shown in white
on the site plan) in a careful and responsible manner and to enjoy its unique
atmosphere. Adherence to range safety rules and respect for other users of the
camp are essential and any offenders will be severely dealt with (see
competition Rule 3). Scouts may visit the areas shown in yellow on the plan if
accompanied by an adult Leader or by a member of the National Scout Rifle Squad
wearing the squad sweatshirt. The Bisley Pavilion and other areas shown in red
on the map are out of bounds. All clubhouses are out of bounds, except to their
existing members. For security reasons, Scouts should wear their Scout
scarf around the camp.
The Trafalgar Meeting
is taking place during the weekend and there will be the opportunity to see
many historic firearms in use.
NRA
Range Shop is open 0800 – 1800
each day. It stocks a good range of souvenirs.
Recreation Area. The grassed area
known as “Maple Acre” between “Club Row, “Century Way” and “Marjorie Foster’s
Way” is available for letting off steam. Although a fairly large area, care is
needed - there are roads and buildings with glass windows all around it! The
tent sites will be tightly packed and games may not be played near to the
tents.
Catering.
No wood fires (even altar fires). Barbecues are permitted but the only
acceptable fuel is charcoal. Gas or liquid fuel pressure stoves are strongly
recommended. Remember that it may be cold enough for butane stoves to refuse to
function.
Snack Bars. The
Lord Roberts Centre Snack Bar and “Jenny’s” will be available.
Please check the
enclosed site maps and ensure that everyone knows where everything is.
Range Officers and
identified Assistants are asked to come to the Lord Roberts Centre on Friday
evening if possible, to shoot their six-yard targets for both main and “own
airgun” events in advance and to receive any updates to the enclosed written
brief. The ranges will be open from 1730hrs onwards.
The paper target
events will result in over 30,000 shot holes to be scored and checked so please
be patient with the scorers. My thanks to
all the Range staff and scorers, without whom the competition would not be
possible. The need for Leaders to commit time to running ranges emphasises the
need for the Scouts to be organised and to look after themselves and each
other. Shooters on the whole are a self-disciplined bunch; the nature of the
sport itself requires this but it is
important to make clear to all Scouts that their good conduct throughout the
weekend is relied on and that they are responsible for their actions both on
and off the ranges. Draw their
attention to the rules. Even the
youngest Scout will be assumed to know them. This weekend is an opportunity for PLs and Explorer Scouts to
lead.
National Scout Rifle Squad. During the weekend,
look out for people wearing the distinctive black sweatshirts of the National
Scout Rifle Squad. Many will be working on running the ranges or escorting
parties of Scouts around the Camp. This squad competes at Bisley in small-bore
and air rifle and pistol in Open competition. It has been the development route
for many Junior International shooters. If you have any rimfire rifle shooters
in your team please introduce them to me during the weekend. These
Championships and the Inter-County Shoot (next at Aldersley on 13 April 2008)
are the main qualifying events for invitations to join the squad.
VIPs and Presentations. Our VIP guest this year will be Mick Gault,
OBE, Britain’s most successful pistol shooter with 15 Commonwealth Games
medals. He will be on site from mid morning on Sunday and will visit the ranges
and the campsite. You will obviously want to welcome him to your camp and let
him see it at its best. Presentations
are scheduled from 1500hrs to 1600hrs on Sunday.
I look forward to
seeing you at Bisley this year and wish you and your team “Good shooting”.
Next year’s event is
scheduled for the weekend 16th – 18th October 2009.
Please impress on your Scouts that we have been granted a great privilege in
holding our Scout Championships at Bisley, the traditional World Headquarters
of Target Shooting, and that being able to do so again next year depends upon
them.
Yours sincerely,
John
Dohoo