Rules 2023

1. The Scout Rifle Championships are open to all Members & Associate Members of the Scout Association as defined in POR (both youth and adult) aged ten years and above and qualified under Rule 2 below.
   • Cub Scouts aged 10 may attend with the Troop if working for their Moving-on Award.
   • Members compete both as individuals and in “Group etc.” teams representing the Group, District or County through which their HQ Membership subscription is paid. However, adults may compete for any Group etc. in which they have a current role as shown on “Compass” and Young Leaders working with a Troop or members of an Explorer Scout Unit attached to a specific Group may be counted as part of that Group’s team entry instead of (but not in addition to) their ESU.
   • Occasional Helpers who are not Members & Associate Members of the Scout Association may take part on an “Honours Only” basis.
   • The Scout Association membership number of each entrant aged 18 and above must be declared on the entry form.

2. It is the responsibility of the Scouter in charge of each team:
   1. to satisfy themselves that each entrant is physically capable of cocking, loading and aiming an air rifle and air pistol safely and unaided, is mentally capable of understanding the need for safety rules and is willing to obey them and has received sufficient practical instruction beforehand and has sufficient experience not to need constant correction on the range to the detriment of other shooters and
   2. to ensure that all shooters (and, for shooters aged under 18, also their parents) are aware of these Rules and accept them, and
   3. to obtain written parental permission to take part for all entrants under the age of 18, to ensure that the permission covers all classes of shooting an individual has entered, and bring these forms to Bisley and to have them available for inspection and
   4. to make their own notifications to their own District Commissioners in accordance with the “Nights Away” rules (POR 9.2) and
   5. to maintain due control and discipline over their team members at all times when they are not under the control of a Range Officer and
   6. to ensure their team’s compliance with the Scout Association’s Policy, Organisation & Rules in all respects.

3. The Bisley Range Complex will be in use for live firing during the weekend. Scouts are free to move around Bisley Camp in a careful and responsible manner and to enjoy its unique atmosphere. All Ranges, other than those in use for the Scout Championships and associated Guest day “Experience shoots” are Out of Bounds. Infringement of this or any Range Safety rule, any form of attempted cheating, or any other conduct likely to damage the good name of Scouting may result in the offender being disqualified and removed from the Camp, possibly with the remainder of their Group/Unit.
4. A variety of types of range will be in use for the Championships, both indoor and outdoor. Outdoor shooting is subject to the vagaries of the weather. Competitors are required to dress appropriately for the conditions prevailing at the time on the ranges to which they are allocated and to treat the inevitable variations in a sportsmanlike manner.
5. The Range Officer’s decision is final in all matters relating to safety, equipment and range conduct.

6. Entries must be made through the online system provided. This system will save all data entered so that the Scouter in charge may review and update all data up until commitment of those entries via the submission process. The system will do the entry fee calculations and check initial entries for compliance with these Rules.
7. Entry fees must be paid by electronic transfer (details to be provided with the overall entry instructions). Late entries, substitutions or refunds for non-participants will be allowed only in exceptional circumstances and at the organiser’s absolute discretion. Substitutions must comply with these Rules (note particularly Rules 1, 2, 9 and 14).
8. The competitors age on the first day of the competition is used to classify Juniors and Seniors. The date of birth of each entrant shall be declared on the entry form. Entrants aged over 25 may withhold their date of birth but shall then be assigned a notional date of birth of 1st Jan 1900 (see rule 20 for consequence of this). “Senior” means aged 14 and over; “Junior” means under 14.
9. There are limits on the numbers of entrants to the Main Competition permitted from any one Scout Group or ESU, or from the central team of any one District or County/Area. Qualified Range Officers will not count towards these totals provided that they are entered as such and perform their given duties

Note 1: One or two “Under 18” places allocated to Scout Groups may be used by Under-14s in addition to the 7 shown above, provided that the total of competitors aged under 18 years on the qualifying date shall not exceed 9.

Note 2: Adult members competing as individuals in Own Airgun competitions, the Target Sprint and the cartridge rifle shoots without entering the Main Competition do not count towards the team size. Group/Unit etc. name must still be declared on the “Team” entry.

Note 3: ESUs may include members aged between 13½ and 14 years within their “Under 18” total of 6.

Note 4: One, two or three “18-24” places allocated to a Scout County may be transferred to Under-18s in addition to the 3 shown above, provided that the total of competitors aged under 25 years on the qualifying date shall not exceed six. Note 3 above applies to County-based ESUs.

Note 5: Additional places may be applied for using a supplementary entry sheet to be submitted with the main entry and which will be considered once all entries received by the closing date have been processed. Applicants under this scheme will be considered in the order in which they are listed on the supplementary entry form and by the order in which their Group’s entry was received. Places allocated will be notified by email or phone. Entry Fees for supplementary entries should not be sent with the initial entry but will be called for when places have been allocated.

Notes:

1. Disabled shooters may use a loader or their own rifle or pistol where any special equipment authorised is incompatible with that supplied.
2. Bench rests will be supplied to competitors in Small-bore Class B
3. Competitors in Small-bore Class X who choose to shoot with their own rifle must supply their own ammunition; those shooting with a rifle provided must shoot with the ammunition supplied.
4. For carriage only – NOT to be used as a shooting aid.
5. Use of personal stereos of any kind is forbidden in any class.
6. Where an item is described as both “Optional” and “Supplied”, competitors may use their own equipment of that type providing that it complies with the relevant base rule (NSRA, NRA, ISSF or Sporter as appropriate).

12. If in any rifle event the Range Officer considers that a shooter in any age group is unable by reason of size to handle the usually allocated rifle type safely, that shooter will be directed to use an alternative at the RO’s discretion. For the purposes of the “Most improved trophies, “Improvement” shall be determined by simple subtraction.

13. The course of fire for the Main Event 6yds standing Air Rifle competition is 15 shots; 5 at each of three Air 7 cards. The best 2 cards will be taken for the competition score (i.e. ex-100). Rifles will be supplied. They will be pre-charged with dioptre sights: Air Arms S200Ts for under-12s and Air-Arms MPR Sporters for all others. The team event score in the Main event 6yds standing Air Rifle competition will be the aggregate of the best four individual scores by members of the same Scout Group provided that the team shall comprise at least three competitors aged under 14.

14. The HRH The Duke of Connaught’s Challenge Shields will be awarded for the highest combined aggregate score by a pre-nominated team of three from the same Group, Unit, etc. in Main Event Standing Air Rifle, Air Pistol and Field Target events. There are two trophies: Junior and Senior. A Junior team will comprise three members all aged under 14 from the same Scout Group. A Senior team will comprise three members from the same “Group etc.” team as defined in Rule 1 above, all aged under 25 and at least two of whom shall be aged under 18. A Junior may be selected for a Senior team but cannot be included in a Junior team as well. Groups, Units, Districts & Counties/Areas may enter as many Connaught teams as they wish but no one may be in more than one Connaught Team. Teams must be identified as “SA” (for Senior – A), “SB”, “JA”, “JB” etc on the entry form. If a nominated team member is unavailable, competitors may be promoted (e.g. from “B” to “A” etc.) but not demoted. All such substitutions must be declared to Central Statistics and entered in the official log before any member of the Group/Unit etc. concerned has fired in any of the constituent events.

15. In the aggregate competition there will be three individual trophies as follows: The Chief’s Prize to the best individual shooter aged under 14, The NSRA Cup to the best individual shooter aged 14 or over.

16. The Pistol competition will be fired on Air 8 Targets. Scores shall be based on the best two of three cards. (i.e. ex 100). In all Pistol events competitors aged 13 and over shall shoot using only one hand. Those aged under 13 may support the pistol with two hands. Pistols will be supplied. They will be Hammerli AP20s pre-charged pistols with handed grips. Pistol Classes will comprise Senior, Junior and Group Team. A Group Team shall be composed in the same way as for Main Event 6yds standing Air Rifle (Rule 13).

17. The Field Target event is a timed shoot at various distances. It is an Outdoor shoot using the spring guns provided. Scores shall be ex-20 but for the purposes of the aggregate competitions shall be multiplied by 2.5 to give them an total out of 50. There will be Senior and Junior Classes, with a trophy awarded in each class. Ties for medal places shall be decided by shoot-off.

18. There will be two classes of Reactive Target Knockout: Senior and Junior. In all rounds before the semi-finals, shooters will compete shoulder to shoulder to be the first to hit all of their own set of five reactive targets. The first to hit all five targets wins the tie. Both time and pellets will be limited (to 2 minutes and 10 pellets respectively). If neither shooter has hit all five targets at the end of the time allowed the shooter who has hit more will be the winner. If both have hit the same number of targets then the shooter with more pellets remaining will be the winner. If this does not resolve the tie, the matter will be decided by the toss of a coin. The semi-finals and final of the Knockout will be as above except that they will be shot over ten targets with limits of four minutes and 20 pellets. A tie will be decided as above except that a tie which is unresolved after both target and pellet counts will be decided by a re-shoot over one series of five targets. Should a tie still exist, targets will be reset again and the winner will be the first to hit a single target.

19. The Target Sprint (running and shooting) classes, are open to Main Event Competitors, Range Staff and Adult Leaders camping with Groups.

Target Sprint comprises two shoots separating three running stages, each of ~400m. The International (ISSF) rules may be found at: https://www.issf-sports.org/getfile.aspx?mod=docf&pane=1&inst=513&file=2021_Version_ISSF-Target-Sprint-Rules.pdf

21. The Own Airgun Classes are open to Main Event Competitors, Range Staff and Adults and Young Leaders camping with Groups. Entrants supply their own rifles and pistols. Some classes require use of own ammunition. All airguns brought to the site must comply with POR Rule 9.11.5, must not require a Firearms Certificate, must be transported in accordance with the Law and POR and handed to the Competition Armoury promptly on arrival. The case is to be labelled at an end edge (all detail on same end) with the type and serial number of the airgun and the owner’s Group/Unit. A list showing serial numbers and the names of those permitted to withdraw each from the Armoury is to be prepared in duplicate and one copy handed in with the guns. The Leader in charge should keep the other copy. No guns of any type other than those to be used in the competition may be brought onto the site without the express permission of the Organiser (this prohibition includes replicas & toys). S.1 rifles must have the necessary FAC details (or proof) / letter of authority to be lodged with the armoury. Letter of authority to clearly show FAC number and club or member.

22. The classes will be as follows:

Own Rifles may be used in the following classes:

23. In the 6yard Own Airgun events the competitors shall have a five minute detail in which they may fire unlimited sighting shots at a single target card followed by four five minute details in each of which they shall fire 5 shots to count. The “Mick Gault” Trophy will be awarded for the best performance in the “Own Pistol class” by a shooter aged under 18, the ”Bill Cook” challenge trophy will be awarded in the Vintage Rifle class and the “Jim Dunn Memorial Trophy” in the 6-yard own rifle Senior class.

24. In the 10m Own Rifle classes, competitors will have 5 minutes of preparation time followed by 20 minutes to fire unlimited sighters and 20 shots to count (in 3-P, in each position). A shooter will be disqualified on firing a second “frame hit” (a shot outside the scoring area of an electronic target). The “Sporter” and “Open” classes are separate and entry to both classes is permitted, subject to Rule 30 below. The Beckett Trophy will be awarded to the 10m champion. Challenge Trophies will also be awarded to the “Most Improved” 10m shot and for the best performance by a shooter who has not achieved a top eight placing of the competition in any previous year. There will be separate “Sporter” and “Open” classes for 10m 3-Position air rifle, only one of which may be entered by any individual. A 3-P team may consist of a mix of shooters from various Groups or ESUs etc from within a single Scout County, provided that at least one member shall shoot under “Sporter” conditions.

25. In Own Airgun events other than 3P and Advanced Field Target guns may be shared by up to four members of the same Group/Unit in the same class. In Advanced Field Target, rifles may be shared by no more than two team members and in 3P by no more than three. Rifles used in more than one class may be used on a maximum of four occasions in total. Where airguns are to be shared, identify each shared gun as “Shared Gun No.1, 2, etc.” and show this on the entry form so the timetabling may avoid clashes. Compressed air cylinders brought to camp must be stored securely and kept away from young people. The filling of pre-charged rifles and pistols may be undertaken only by or under the close supervision of competent adults.

26. The minimum age for the small-bore shoot is 12. Hampshire Scout Rifle Club offers small-bore under “Guest Day” arrangements and the clubs’ Guest Day Registration Form must be completed for each entrant and submitted with the entry form – these may be as scanned images with an electronic entry and the originals brought to Bisley and handed in on arrival.

27. Small-bore. There will be three small-bore classes: Class B for beginners, Class A for the more advanced and Class X for the most expert. Competitors using their own rifle (including equipment specifically allocated to them from their own club) shall shoot in Class X. Members of the National Scout Rifle Squad who have previously shot this discipline and Medal Winners in any previous year shall shoot in Class A or X. Other shooters may choose to enter any class. Entrants in Class B aged over 18 shall shoot for “Honours Only”; i.e. they shall not be entitled to win any medal or trophy. Class B shall be shot with the rifle rested and assessed by group size. No sighting shots or spotting scopes shall be permitted in Class B. Classes A and X shall be assessed by score on 2510BM Targets under NSRA Rules. Class A shooters shall use equipment allocated to them from the pool provided. Class X shooters may use their own equipment or may select from the pool provided.

Course of Fire, small-bore, Class B: Competitors will shoot two five-shot groups at 25 yards within one 15-minute detail. All equipment supplied. Medals will be awarded to the top three competitors aged under 18, assessed by the smallest 5-shot group.

Course of Fire, small-bore Classes A & X: Competitors will shoot two 10-minute details each of up to 5 sighters and 10 shots to count on 2510BM targets at 25 yards. All equipment may be supplied (see Rule 11 and this rule above). The Sportsman’s Association Trophy will be awarded to the winner of Class A and the Dave Evans Memorial Trophy to the winner of Class X. Medals will be awarded to the top three in each class, assessed by the highest score.

Shooters bringing their own cartridge rifles are responsible for their security. They may choose to lodge them in the competition armoury in the same way as airguns but if they do so must retain the bolt or action in their own possession.

28. Time, daylight and distance constraints force the following limitations on the number and combinations of events that may be entered.

    1. For the purposes of this rule, Advanced Field Target is counted as 2 events. Three-Position Air Rifle is counted as three events.

    2. The maximum number of extra events that may be entered is five, and if entering the Main event classes no more than three may be drawn from the outdoor extra events: ISSF Target Sprint, Small-bore Rifle, Advanced Field Target (counts as 2).

    3. Crossbow will be available on a “queue and shoot” basis and does not count as an extra event.

    4. Entrants in the “Extra Classes” must give priority to these over the Knockout. In particular, competitors in Advanced Field Target, Full-bore Rifle and Three-Position Air Rifle must accept that the timings of these events may force them to scratch from the Knockout.

    5. Range Officers may enter a total of not more than five classes – the “main event” counts as four (or 3 if the Knockout is not entered).

    6. Members of the National Scout Rifle Squad may enter the Target Sprint Class B only if also entering Target Sprint Class A.

29. For security reasons Competitors and staff should arrive at and depart from Bisley in uniform and are to wear their Scout neckerchief at all times whilst on site away from their immediate campsite area. Uniform is to be worn at the presentation of Trophies. Holders of Scout Decorations are requested to wear them.

30. No alcohol is to be taken onto or consumed on any campsite area.

31. By entering, all entrants give permission for photographs to be taken at the event by authorised photographers for the purpose of the promotion of Scouting or of target shooting. Permission to use cameras in the Lord Roberts Centre must first be obtained from the event organisers. Flash photography is not permitted on ranges during shooting.

32. To avoid causing interference to electronic equipment such as ear defenders, mobile phones must be switched off or to “airplane mode” (not merely to “silent”) if taken onto any range during shooting times.

33. Results will be published at https://www.nationalscoutriflechampionships.org.uk and all entrants must give permission for the inclusion of their names and results. Team Captains are required to confirm, using the “Information Form” supplied with this Pack, that they have obtained the necessary individual consents from entrants or their parents or guardians as applicable in compliance with the General Data Processing Regulations.