SARPA
You may have seen us at the Cardross and Scone Game Fairs. But for those who
have not - SARPA are the Scottish Air Rifle and Pistol Association.
We were founded in 1984 and are managed by a committee elected from members of
our associated clubs. We are one of the founder members of the British Field
Target Association and are recognised as a National Governing Body by the World
Field Target Federation.
Our main objectives are:
1. To promote the safe use of air rifles and pistols
2. To support, encourage and promote all aspects of the sport of competitive
target shooting with air rifles and air pistols and to encourage relevant
instruction courses
3. To issue rules and regulations to be observed in the sport, and safety rules
to be observed at all times by members
4. To encourage the formation of target air rifle and pistol clubs
With these in mind each year we organise the following events: Field Target
Championships, Bench Rest Championships, Long Range Championships, 3 Positional
Championships, Indoor & Outdoor Pistol championships, as well as the Harry Clegg
Memorial Shoot. We also select and support a Scottish team in the Home Countries
International.
Amongst the rifle shooting disciplines we support are Field Target and Hunter
Field Target. Very briefly the basic principles of each of these disiplines are
as follows:
Field Target (FT) shooting courses are usually composed of forty steel animal
silhouette targets. The animal silhouettes are rabbits, crows, squirrels and
rats. Within each target is a kill zone, forty millimetres in diameter, which
when struck by a competitors pellet, causes the target to fall over and scores
the competitor one point. The targets as placed at ranges of between eight and
fifty-five yards. Scores are recorded for each target that falls.
It all sounds simple, but at a range of fifty yards it is worth noting that a
simple one mph cross wind will cause the competitors’ pellet to drift and hit
the target one inch from point of aim.
If the wind speed doubles then so to does the drift, when the wind comes from
other directions, often simultaneously, then it makes for an interesting days
competition! Aiming off soon becomes second nature!
Hunter Field Target (HFT) shooting courses are usually composed of thirty steel
animal silhouette targets. The principles are similar to that of Field Target,
the main exceptions being the ranges of the targets, the scoring system and the
pe
rmitted shooting stances.
The maximum permitted range of targets is forty-five yards. Striking the target
faceplate scores one point and strikes which result in the target falling over
score two points. With the exception of the FT sitting stance, any stance may be
used.
The pistol shooting disciplines SARPA support are Police Pistol and Steel Plate.
Again, very briefly, the basic principles of each of these disciplines are as
follows:
Police Pistol consists of three details, each of which use
turning paper targets at ranges of between seven and twenty metres. Maximum
total possible score is 300 points.
The first detail, C1, is at a range of twenty metres. Here the competitor has
two minutes to fire twelve shots at the target. Maximum possible score is 120
points.
The second detail, C2, is at a range of fifteen metres. The competitor must fire
twelve shots at the target, this time the targets are turning and are exposed
twelve times, each time for three seconds, one shot per exposure.
Maximum possible score is 120 points.
The final detail, C3, is at a range of seven metres. The competitor must fire
six shots at the target, again the targets are turning and are exposed three
times, each time for three seconds, two shots per exposure. Maximum possible
score is 60 points.
Steel Plate requires competitors to shoot at, and hit, eleven steel plates as
quickly as possible. The plates are 200 millimetres square and vary in range
from seven metres to fifteen metres. They must be shot in sequence
and from three different firing points. Included with each timed run is one
compulsory magazine change.
Time penalties are incurred for foot faults, missing
targets, and shooting targets out of sequence. A skilled competitor
will have finished shooting long before you have read this paragraph - good
times are in the region of ten to twelve seconds, and there are those who do it
in less than ten seconds.
For more details about SARPA, and dates of our events visit our
website -
www.sarpa.org.uk