The 2023 Spring Action Weekend The first of three newly revamped Gallery Rifle Action weekends held at Bisley throughout 2023 to encourage Gallery Rifle action shooting to include Centrefire and Smallbore, Long Barrelled Pistol and[...]
Joint Services Pistol Club 2023 Spring Open Shorts Championships Fully classified Matches for Timed & Precision 1 Multi – Target Phoenix A CentreFire and Small Bore Gallery Rifle and Long Barrelled Revolver and Pistol matches[...]
Budleigh Farm Speed Steel Challenge Falling plate target shooting competitions held at the Budleigh Farm Shooting ground in the glorious rolling hills of the Dartmoor National park in Devon. The last two years have been a[...]
The Army Target Shooting Club Open Meeting The Army Target Shooting (ATSC) Club’s annual Club Championships and Open Meeting is at a mid April timeslot for 2023. The meeting contains a mixture Gallery Rifle and[...]
Gallery Rifle & Pistol Bianchi Course Outline Agenda A specific Bianchi course will be run on Butt Zero and Cheylesmore range – Bisley, in the lead up to the Phoenix Meeting – a rare opportunity[...]
The MATTERSEY Gallery Rifle OPEN Competitions for T&P and MT for LBR, LBP, GRCF, GRSB and Target Shotgun including Classic. 1500 for LBR, LBP, GRCF and GRSB. Enter now Online Paper Forms also available |[...]
The 2023 Basildon Open Another three days for again 2023 – however a week later than the Early May Bank Holiday weekend. Basildon put on an excellent shoot with plenty of space to camp overnight[...]
The FDPC Rimfire Festival A Rimfire Festival held at FDPC’s Shepton Mallet range complex. Five matches – T&P1, Multi-Target, The Granet Match, The America Match and a 1020. Appropriate matches above will be classified. Entries[...]
The 2023 Phoenix Meeting Something for everybody at the Phoenix. The 2023 Phoenix meeting is its 26th anniversary The meeting will be held across its traditional long weekend slot, 25th – 28th May. Entry forms [...]
The 142nd Aberdeen Wapinschaw PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF DATE General Meeting Details and Full details of match specific Rules & Regulations are now available Please be invited to the Wapinschaw competition which is[...]
The 2023 Derby Open 1500 and Shorts Entry Forms here and via the Derby Website Entry Form Share this:Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in[...]
The 2023 NASRPC Irish Open and IGRF Gallery Rifle Open CF Lever Action Rifle + SB Gallery Rifle – Individual & Team events Pistol & Shotgun Events Irish Leg of the IGRF International Matches in[...]
Scottish open Gallery Rifle Championships The 2023 Scottish Gallery Rifle and Pistol Championship will be held on the 7-9th July at JSPC Ranges near Galashiels where a series of short events will be held. The[...]
NRA Imperial Historic Arms Meeting. Original or spirit of the original welcome at this meeting. A plethora of events for Rifle, Pistol and Gallery Rifle. Don’t think this meeting is just for the historians and[...]
The Gallery Rifle and Pistol meeting at the Imperial. The meeting contains a mixture of squadded trophy matches and unlimited entry events. The meeting will run from Thursday to Sunday. Unlimited entry events will run throughout the meeting with[...]
The Welsh Open 1500 and Shorts Championships To be held at Haverfordwest Target Shooting Club – Pembrokeshire’s finest shooting ground. 4th – 6th August 2023 This year we’re happy to get back to hosting a[...]
The Mid Ulster Open Gallery Rifle and Handgun Festival of Shooting It is intended to offer an NRA registered match and the possibly of a WA 1500 registered match for handguns (currently under negotiation) Shooters[...]
The Cottesloe Practical Shotgun Challenge The Cottesloe Heath Challenge (Bisley) will also be a round of the 2023 NRA Shotgun League. This match can be shot on either Saturday or Sunday with some places on[...]
The Derby Handgun Challenge The Club is pleased to announce that for 2023 the DERBY HANDGUN CHALLENGE will be held on Saturday and Sunday August 19/20. This Open event will be for LBPs and LBRs[...]
The 2023 Gallery Rifle National OPEN Championships A weekend to compete and be crowned a National Champion. This event is predominantly for Gallery Rifles, (Centrefire and Smallbore) and Long Barrelled Revolvers and Pistols. Competitions available[...]
The 2023 Police Meeting @ Bisley A plethora of shooting events on offer for this meeting. To include On Melville Ranges – Advancing Target, T&P1, Multi target for both GRCF, GRSB, LBP and LBR Black[...]
JSPC 2023 Autumn Open Shorts Championships Fully classified Matches for Timed & Precision 1 Multi – Target Phoenix A CentreFire and Small Bore Gallery Rifle and Long Barrelled Revolver and Pistol matches available Details and[...]
The SLG Bisley 1500 and Shorts A return to Melville in late September for some 1500 and shorts matches organized by SLG Bisley. Just a one day event but cheap accommodation should be easily available[...]
The 2023 Autumn Target Shotgun Festival @ Bisley The format for this increasingly popular weekend competition is: Saturday morning – T&P1 and Multi-Target (all classes), NRA Embassy Cup. Sunday, all day – Practical Shotgun. To[...]
Budleigh Farm Rimfire Festival Falling plate target shooting competitions held at the Budleigh Farm Shooting ground in the glorious rolling hills of the Dartmoor National park in Devon. Designed to be both fun and challenging it[...]
The County of Lancaster LSR (GRSB) Open Held at Burnley Rifle Club 25m Precision, 50m Precision, Precision Aggregate, Multi-Target, and Timed & Precision 1 Registered event for National Gallery Rifle Ranking tables 25m Precision 50m[...]
Gallery Rifle & Pistol Intro Course This course will introduce you to specific techniques needed for Gallery Rifle and Pistol shooting at a Club level, as well as providing guidance to those wishing to progress[...]
The 2023 Trafalgar Meeting Shooters with a historical inclination will turn towards the Trafalgar Meeting as memories of the Imperial fade. “Spirit of the Original” is the ethos of the meeting so don’t be fooled[...]
The 2023 Autumn Action Weekend This is the last of the years main Gallery Rifle Action Weekends that encourages Gallery Rifle shooting for the Gallery Rifle community who visit Bisley. This meeting includes competitions for[...]
The IGRF Gallery Rifle Championships (and 2023 German Open) Held at the Leitmar Range Complex in Germany. Also including Shorts and 1500 matches. Share this:Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to[...]
Published March 2023. This handbook supersedes previous editions. Changes from the 2022 edition are marked up appropriately. They are listed within and are summarised below
A3.2.8f Update to the LBR clearance procedure A3.5.1 Added reference to artificial supports B6.1.1 Update to the term Benched B6.9 Update to the rules of Benched shooting B14.1.4-5 Update to Open Meeting requirements
Event Condition Changes
25m Precision Benchrest Change to Targetry
50m Precision Benchrest Change to Targetry
Timed & Precision 1 Update to Classifications
Timed & Precision 2 Update to Classifications
Multi-Target Update to Classifications
Phoenix A Update to Classifications
Multi-Target 3 Update to Practice 1 Ready Position and Reloading Procedures
1500 Update to Classifications
1020 Update to Ties, Procedural Penalties and Classifications
Bianchi Change to Practical Match Practice 4 distance and timings
WA48 Update to Tie rules
Advancing Target Update to Classifications
Sporting Rifle Statics Update to maximum rifle weight
400/ 500/ 600 Yards Change to Targetry
Mini McQueen Update to Sights, Position, Rests, Practice and Tie Shoots
McQueen Update to Position, Rests and Tie Shoots
C3.2.5 Update to Team scorecard policy C3.4.3 Update to team scorecard procedure
Advancing Target Unlimited Updates to Targetry, Scoring & Ties
America Match Unlimited Update to Practice 1 timings
Free Gallery Rifle Unlimited Sighting shots included
Police Unlimited Update to Targetry and Grand Master score
Scott Unlimited Update to Ties
Service Unlimited Update to Targetry and Grand Master score
Silhouettes Unlimited Update to Ties
Gallery Rifle Smallbore Match Update to Scoring procedure
Following a season or two of negotiation and many years of informal pistol and revolver shooting overseas its a great pleasure to announce the NRA has now formally endorsed an international Handgun team. The team will officially represent GB in Centre Fire Pistol and Revolver matches overseas (shot under the auspices of the WA1500).
It can also be confirmed that NRA Council have recently supported the appointment of Dave Harris as the Captain of that team for 2023. Dave has appointed Alan Podevin as his vice Captain. Dave (and Alan) come with many years experience shooting both rifle and pistol on the national and international competitive circuit.
He and his squad look forward to participation (and hopefully success) at the WA1500 World Cup in Sweden, later in the year.
The Great Britain Gallery Rifle squad announced for 2023
Pending the formal squad announcement which will be reported in the Spring NRA Journal and gbgr.org website, also informally on various Social Media sites and below, the Great Britain Gallery Rifle squad and support team are announced.
The 2023 captain is Morné van Dalen – an experienced GR&P competition shooter and former captain of the England Gallery Rifle team.
The 2023 GB Gallery Rifle Squad
Captain: Morné van Dalen Vice Captain: Jonny Cormie
Shooters:
Andy Summers
Chris West
Dave Hackett
David Guest
David Morrow
Gerry Betteridge
Jake Mossom
Joseph Pugh
Keith Cox
Keith Kilvington
Malcolm Stewart
Mel Beard
Peter Keegan
Peter Watts
Phil Wood
Robert J Tonner
Robert L Tonner
Robert Wheeler
Scott Lyon
Stephen Lamb
GB Admin Committee:
Ash Dagger
Charles Murton
Jacky Lamb
Morné van Dalen
One to note for McQueen GRSB (also known as Mini McQueen) shooters.
It has been decided to classify the Mini McQueen events into three divisions. The classification formula will follow that of the main events using the three year sliding window format.
Classification boundaries have been set for the 2023 season as follows:
Currently the Bianchi match is only shot at the Phoenix and the Nationals. For the last few years the ‘standard’ range set up on Stickledown Butt Zero has been Barricades, Mover, Plates and the Practical match. The Plates and Practical match were squeezed in on the right hand side of Butt Zero at the speed steels end of the range. The pedantic may well appreciate it was a modified version of the Practical match being shot – distances of 10, 15, 20 and 25m – (as opposed to 10, 15 25 and 50m) were utilized to coincide with the plates distances and allow Plates and Practical to be shot at the same time.
For various reasons, after the Phoenix Meeting in 2022, it was decided to move the Practical Match to the Barricades range on the left hand side of butt zero. Anyone who shot Bianchi at the Nationals 2022 would have noticed this. The modified Practical Match distances of 10, 15, 20 and 25m were kept however these distances do not align with the Barricade match distances of 10, 15, 25 and 35m.
Although the matches are separate parts of the overall Bianchi competition the decision has been taken to align the distances of the Barricade and Practical parts to allow for a more efficient running of the range. Timings for the 10, 15 and 25m stages will be as documented for the appropriate distances. The 35m distance for Practical is new therefore will be modified to suit.
For the 35m practical stage the CoF and timings will be:
Stage 4 35m
6 seconds – 1 shot on each target
8 sec – 2 shots on each target
10 secs – 3 shots on each target
This will be documented in the 2023 GR&P handbook.
Classification breakpoints are reviewed annually and it has been decided to amend the class boundaries across most of the events in an attempt to spread shooters more fairly across the divisions offered. The majority of changes are just tweaks to the class boundaries – some raised – some lowered. However two major changes should be noted:
The T&P2 LBR competition (0904) has been changed from three divisions to one – essentially its now unclassified. There were not enough people submitting scores (19 over three seasons) to justify splitting it.
1020 LBP and LBR competitions (1621 and 1622) are now classified into three divisions which aligns with the rifle events.
The new breakpoints for the start of the 2023 season are below. Areas of change have been highlighted in red. If anyone needs to refer to the previous set of breakpoints they are archived here.
Shooter classifications will be automatically re-aligned to the new boundaries before the first competition of the 2023 season. Match Directors and stats gurus need to ensure they amend their scoring software to reflect the numbers below if they offer prizes or awards in any of these events.
A number of new record scores were achieved throughout the 2022 season. As and when results come in from the season’s competitions, or as notified, the scores are recognized and recorded on-line in the following locations:
121 | 25m Precision LBP | Steve Lane | Bisley September 2022 – 291.12
721 | T&P1 LBP | Steve Lane | Bisley Sept 2022 – 300.23 **
1504 | 1500 GRCF Classic | Rob Wheeler | Bisley, May 2022 – 1493.107
4704 | Imp. Silhouettes GRCF Classic | Keith Kilvington | Bisley May 2022 – 298.17
6304 | 200yd GRCF Classic | Neil Francis | Bisley August 2022 – 79.0
** Joint with Pete Watts; Bisley Oct 2018
The above scores will be updated and recorded in the 2023 GR&P handbook. If there any other record scores to be claimed for 2022 please indicate as soon as possible
After another successful tour to the Leitmar ranges near Marsberg in Germany by British and Irish teams the reactions of all who attended overwhelmingly declared the event another very enjoyable and competitive weekend of Gallery Rifle shooting.
The indoor range complex and very comfortable clubroom surroundings of Leitmar offer worthy facilities to visitors and, for many, the final competitive shoot of the GR&P season is one firmly cemented into the calendar.
Individual, team and International shooting opportunities are available at the event. In 2015 the IGRF World Cup was held at Leitmar with touring Great Britain teams taking both the Smallbore and Centrefire trophies.
In 2022 it was shown to be a very exciting and productive few days in Germany for GB shooters. The Great Britain GR Team are again triumphant and finished the season by completing the double again in this 2022 German Open.
The GRSB Match was decisive with GB scoring 5877 (327), followed by Germany 5854 (332) and Ireland 5783 (279).
The GBCF Match however was a real nail biter with GB scoring 5938 (344), followed by Germany 5937 (392) and Ireland 5888 (335). It just goes to show that every point really does count!
Full results for the Open can be seen at the links below and more generally over on the on the results page.
After two relatively full seasons in the position GB Gallery Rifle captain (spanning a 3 year period – we all know why) Gary Bowden will be standing down at the end of 2022. Gary’s last tour will be to the German Gallery Rifle Open to compete against German and Irish opposition on the indoor range complex at Leitmar, near Marsberg
The new GB Captain for 2023 will be Morné van Dalen – a well known and respected shooter who has competed with and supported the team and Gallery Rifle in general, for many years. Morné has previously captained the England GR team, from 2015 to 2017. In his new role, he will be working with the GB GR Team Committee to review shooter performances over the past years and name a new squad for 2023. If anyone feels they have the track record of capability, consistency and commitment in GR 1500 events and want to be considered for the squad, contact Morné or the Gallery Rifle rep Ash Dagger.
The 25th Phoenix meeting, held over the long weekend of the 26th – 29th May at the National Shooting Centre, Bisley, also hosted the fifth iteration of the IGRF World Championships. This biennial event welcomes shooters from all IGRF nations to compete for the title of IGRF World Champions or Champion. Originated in 2013 for Gallery Rifle Small Bore (GRSB) and Gallery Rifle Centrefire (GRCF) team events, the championships were widened in 2017 to include individual championship opportunities for GRSB and GRCF gun types in aggregates spread across four discrete competitions. There were both team events and individual events included in 2022.
Legacy
The IGRF is the International Gallery Rifle Federation. It was founded by Great Britain, Ireland and Germany as the European Gallery Rifle Federation in 2006, and became International in 2010 with the addition of South Africa. Australia (2013) and Zimbabwe (2018) joined later
The inaugural World Championship event was held in 2013 at Bisley, with the GRSB honours going to Great Britain and the GRCF winners being Ireland. In 2015 Great Britain Gallery Rifle Teams travelled to Leitmar in Germany where both trophies were brought back by the touring British teams. In 2017 Ireland hosted the event at the Midlands National Shooting Centre. On home territory the Irish swept the board winning both GRSB and GRCF team trophies, beating Great Britain, Germany, South Africa and Australia. They also took both of the inaugural individual World Championships with Ray Holohan winning the GRSB class and Jeff Kehoe winning in GRCF.
The last IGRF World Championships were held in South Africa in 2019 at the Excalibur Shooting ranges near Welkom with GB, Ireland, Germany and Australia competing with the hosts. Home turf again proved to be the dominating factor as South Africa won both the GRSB and GRCF team events. Great Britain, however, claimed the very respectable runner-up slots for both calibres. Individual World Championships were taken by Australian shooter David McCarthy for GRCF Standard and Classic and Nico Roets (SA) for GRSB and GRCF Open. Anna Marie van Tonder (also SA) took GRSB and GRCF Standard top lady shooter and Anita Roets was the top GRCF Open division lady shooter.
IGRF World Championships 2022
The global COVID pandemic interrupted the planned return of the Championships to Bisley in 2021. The IGRF Council decided to defer for a year in the hope that International travel would be resumed. Although not all countries were able to attend, we were able to welcome Germany, Ireland and South Africa to compete in 2022.
Despite the rivalry, there is a strong community spirit across all the international teams and the crew, as they come together to enjoy the very best of our shared sport.
The team matches are shot shoulder to shoulder with specifically allocated range time. These were shot in Melville on the Sunday morning with the Great Britain, Ireland, Germany and South Africa teams, their supporters and a specially selected Range Crew, led by Ashley Dagger. The NRA provided the results on a large on-range screen for the first time and spectators were able to watch and be inspired. The atmosphere was excellent.
The Individual Championships were shot concurrently with Phoenix events, whereby competitor’s individual scores are also utilised for the aggregate IGRF trophies. For 2022, individual competitions were held for GSRB, GRCF Standard and GRCF Classic gun types. The benefit of this approach is that everybody who entered the full set of aggregate events in the Phoenix was also competing for the Individual World Championships.
The individual aggregates were agreed by the IGRF Council in 2017 and were carefully chosen to include a balance of gallery rifle marksmanship skills. They include the most popular GR events: Timed and Precision 1 (T&P1) and Mult-Target (M-T). The 1500 and the 50m Precision events were included to increase the challenge and thus justify the ultimate title of World Champion.
Results
Great Britain teams and individual shooters did exceptionally well. Yet again home range advantage seemed to play out as the dominant force. So much so that all five headline trophies, Team and Individual, were presented to GB shooters this year – with the Individual trophies being spread uncannily fairly across the three mainland nations!
Individual World Champions
The GRSB World Champion is Jake Mossom from GB and England who topped the listings immediately ahead of three of his GB teammates. Dropping only 28 points from a possible 2220 across the four aggregate events, this was an impressive win in, arguably, the most challenging calibre. Top Under 25 shooter was Robert L.Tonner from Scotland and top lady shooter Anna-Marie van Tonder from South Africa.
The GRCF Standard World Champion is GB and Scotland shooter Jonny Cormie. GRCF Standard is the centre fire gun type of the International Team shoots so competition is intense. Top lady shooter was again Anna-Marie van Tonder from South Africa but unfortunately no junior shooter entered this gun type.
The GRCF Classic World Champion is Rob Wheeler from GB and Wales. He shot an outstanding 1500 score – a new British record with 1493 (just 7 points lost from 1500) and 107X, which was 15 points and 20x’s more than his closest rival in that event. This was outstanding shooting overall with iron sights. There were no U25 or lady shooters in this event; something to work on for the future.
Team World Championships
For the headline Team matches Great Britain Captain Gary Bowden chose exceptionally strong teams. All three Individual World Champions were members of the teams and all seemed to be well and truly on form.
GB were successful in reclaiming both GRSB and GRCF trophies, the first time they have both been held by GB since 2015. The smallbore match was close with South Africa only 19 points behind out of a possible 6000 maximum score. Germany and Ireland finished 3rd and 4th respectively. The centrefire match was close after the first three practices, but Great Britain eased ahead to a comfortable victory for the home nation. Germany finished as runners up with South Africa and Ireland in 3rd and 4th respectively.
Presentation and Reception
The last NRA Journal (Summer 2022) reported on the joint IGRF and ITSF (International Target Shotgun Federation) reception held at the Pavilion which was attended by all visiting teams and guests. Apart from conveying thanks again to the NRA for assisting in organizing this well received event, there is nothing further to add.
Prizegiving for the Phoenix meeting was held as usual late on the Sunday afternoon. Due to the revised weekend schedule, it meant all prizes could be awarded at this single presentation, the popularity of which was demonstrated by the number of people who attended – so many that extra chairs had to be brought in at the last minute!
The Club was pleased to announce that for 2022 there will be a new event in the Gallery Rifle calendar, the DERBY HANDGUN CHALLENGE, was held on Saturday and Sunday August 20/21.
This Open event was held for LBPs and LBRs and offered eight events plus a Practical Shoot run by Team Smoothy.
The events were: TP1, TP2, TP3, Multi-Target, Phoenix A, WA48, 1020, 1500.
Competition meetings such as the Nationals can’t run without the dedicated and friendly support of volunteer ROs and Range Crew.
For these competitions people are required for roles such as operating target controls, supervising safety and ensuring the competitors have a safe and enjoyable experience, along with wider non-range based support across the event.
In return for volunteering for a day or more we offer:
Hot breakfast and lunch buffet
On site accommodation
Up to £115 mileage reimbursement
Exclusive RO Shooting day on Friday 2 Sept
If you don’t need meals or accommodation? We’ll issue you credits towards future competition entries in place of those perks, up to £20 credit per day volunteered! You do not need to be a qualified RCO as support is offered by experienced, qualified NRA RCOs, making this an excellent opportunity for you to gain experience supporting a competition range.
After another successful tour to the Leitmar ranges near Marsberg in Germany by British and Irish teams the reactions of all who attended overwhelmingly declared the event another very enjoyable and competitive weekend of Gallery Rifle shooting.
