Please read our Rules and Regulations before entering our leagues.

Introduction

This set of Rules has been produced to enable Clubs to plan their shooting year around the competitions run by the Suffolk County Rifle Association Small-Bore Section, hereafter called SBS, and to set out the Rules and Regulations.

All clubs must ensure that all those responsible for dealing with the SBS Leagues have a copy for reference, i.e. Captain, Scorer, Stats. Officer.

All shooting will be in accordance with NSRA Rules and Regulations, except where stated.

Winter Leagues - November to March

• Short Range Team and Individual
• Rapid Fire Individual
• Macrae Individual Handicap for the John Sinclair Trophy
• 50 metres/50 yards
• Individual (Frostbite)
• Macrae Individual Handicap for the Jackie Hunter Trophy
• .177 Air Rifle Individual

Summer Leagues-  May to September            

• Short Range Team and Individual
• Rapid Fire Individual
• 50 metres/50 yards Team and Individual
• 100 yards Team and Individual
• .177 Air Rifle Individual

County Competitions

Through The Ranges (TTR) - 1st weekend in April (unless Easter when 3rd weekend). If April 1st occurs on a Sunday, this counts as a weekend. Course of Fire and Prizes: published on the entry form.

County Prize and Open Meeting (CPM) - 29th and 30th September 2018. Course of Fire and Prizes: published on the entry form.

County Team Competitions

Six Counties - 2nd Sunday in April (unless Easter when 3rd Sunday in April)
Teams of up to 24 from Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.   
Teams are selected by the County Captains.  
Course of Fire: decided by the host County.
Suffolk is to host this event every 6 years.

Queen Alexandra - Individuals are invited by the County Captain to enter the preliminary rounds to decide who will represent the County Team. There are three stages at Club and County level, with the top 6 shooters representing the County in the third stage.

The Final takes place during the first Saturday of the NSRA National Meeting and is contested by the top 8 counties from the preliminary rounds.

Triangular Match - 3rd Sunday in September
Teams of up to 24 - Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.   
Teams are selected by the County Captains.  
Course of Fire: decided by the host County.
Suffolk is to host this event every 3 years.

BSA Cup/BSA Minor Counties Cup - County Captain to decide on date and venue between April and end of September.
Team of 12 selected by the County Captain.
Course of Fire: 20 shots @ 25 yards

Counties Cup/Minor Counties Cup - County Captain to decide on date and venue between April and end of September.
Team is selected by the County Captain. The number of team members depends on whether the County is shooting in the Counties Cup or Minor Counties Cup.
Course of Fire: 20 shots @ 50m + 20 shots @ 100 yards

Other Competitions within the County

Bury St. Edmunds Opens    
Spring: Scottish Match    
Course of Fire: 60 Shots @ 100 yards
Autumn: English Match        
Course of Fire: 60 Shots @ 50 metres

Rules and Regulations

1    AFFILIATION/MEMBERSHIP

1.1    Club Teams wishing to enter the County Leagues and Competitions must be affiliated to the Small-bore Section (SBS).

1.2    Individuals wishing to enter the County Leagues and Competitions must be members of the Suffolk County Rifle Association.

2    LEAGUES AND COMPETITIONS

2.1   Summer Leagues

2.1.1   Short Range Teams:  Teams of four at 15, 20 or 25 yards.

2.1.2   Long Range Teams:  Teams of four at 50 metres/yards and at 100 yards.

2.1.3   Individual:  Individual competitions at Short Range, 50 metres/yards and 100 yards.  
These may be shot concurrently with Team competition 2.1.1 or 2.1.2.

2.1.4   Rapid Fire:  Individual competition at Short Range (See Appendix C).

2.1.5 .177 Air Rifle:  Individual competition at 10 metres.

2.2   Winter Leagues

2.2.1  Short Range Teams:  Teams of four at 15, 20 or 25 yards.

2.2.2  Individual:  Shot at Short Range and may be shot concurrently with 2.2.1.
The John Sinclair Memorial Trophy competition will be shot concurrently and the trophy will be awarded to the shooter with the most improved average over the ten rounds for those shooters who have paid to enter.

2.2.3    Frostbite:  Individual competition shot at 50 metres/yards.
The Jackie Hunter Trophy competition will be shot concurrently and the trophy will be awarded to the shooter with the most improved average over the ten rounds. No entry fee is required.

2.2.4     Rapid Fire:  Individual competition at Short Range (See Appendix C).

2.2.5    .177 Air Rifle:  Individual competition at 10 metres.

2.3    Course of Fire

2.3.1    Short & Long Range Teams: 10 rounds of 10 shots per round per shooter (ex 400).

2.3.2    Short & Long Range Individual: 10 rounds of 10 shots per round (ex 100).

2.3.3    Frostbite Competition: 10 rounds of 20 shots per round (ex 200) – both cards to be shot on the same day.

2.3.4    Rapid Fire: 5 rounds to coincide with rounds 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 of the League.
One 10-bull short-range card to be shot in 90 seconds plus one Skirmisher card to be shot in 60 seconds, per round (ex 200).

2.3.5    .177 Air Rifle: 5 rounds to coincide with rounds 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 of the League.  
Six Air 3/89, Air 2/89 or small Kruger targets per round with 5 shots per target (ex 300).

3    PRIZES

3.1    Teams           
All four members of the winning team in each Division will receive a gold medal.
All four members of the runner-up team in each Division will receive a silver medal.

3.2    Individual     
The winner of each Division will receive a gold medal.
The runner-up of each Division will receive a silver medal.

3.3    Trophies
The winners of Divisions 1, 2 and 3 in the Short Range Teams event in the Winter Leagues will receive a trophy, which will be presented at the CPM.
The John Sinclair Memorial trophy will be presented to the winner at the CPM.
The Jackie Hunter trophy will be presented to the winner at the CPM. 

4    ENTRIES
    
4.1    Nominated Official:
Each club will nominate the Captain/Scorer and a deputy who will be the only persons with access (via his/her password) to the on-line scoring system to enter all the scores for the club.
    All members of any club can, however, look at the website at any time to see all the results for the League.
    
4.2    Entry forms:
The Captain/Scorer at each club is responsible for completing all entries on-line.
Prior to each League, a reminder will be emailed to the Captain/Scorer at each club by the County Stats Officer with the date of the availability of the forms and the cut-off date for completion of the entries.
    Entries received after the closing date WILL NOT be accepted.
      
4.3    Concurrent shooting:  The Captain/Scorer at each club is responsible for entering the correct data for all concurrent shooting into the on-line system.
    
4.4    Entry Fees:  The cost of entries will be published with the on-line entry forms for each League. The Captain/Scorer at each club is responsible for sending a cheque to the County Stats Officer to cover the total fees for the League plus the postage of the stickers, together with a print-out of the on-line entry forms for the club.

5    AVERAGES

5.1    On the on-line entry form, there is provision to enter the average of a shooter who is taking part in a SBS League for the first time at any distance.
    
5.2    Once a shooter has completed a League, his/her average is calculated automatically for the next League, based on the scores in the last SBS League at the appropriate distance.
    
5.3    Team averages are calculated automatically and are expressed as the average of the four averages of the Team members.

6    CARDS

6.1    Only current NSRA cards are to be used.

6.2    All shot cards must be signed by the shooter, then signed and dated by a witness.

7    PERSONNEL OF TEAMS

7.1    Team members are to remain unchanged throughout the League, except for rule 7.2.

7.2    Reserves:  A Reserve may be included in any Team if the original shooter is unable to shoot for a valid reason.
The County Stats Officer must be informed, giving the reason for the change and the current average for the Reserve at the appropriate distance on the first occasion that he/she shoots for the Team.
If the average of the Reserve exceeds the average of the substituted shooter, the score of the Reserve will be reduced by the difference between the two averages, rounded to the nearest whole number.

8    STICKERS

8.1    The Captain/Scorer is responsible for checking that the correct stickers (see Appendix A) have been produced for the club’s entries in each League. Stickers can be checked on-line against the relevant Score Sheet.

8.2    One sticker will be issued for a shooter shooting Teams and Individual concurrently.  

8.3    Stickers should cover the copyright wording on the front of the card.
For Skirmisher cards, cover the NSRA logo in the top left-hand corner of the card.
For Air 3/89, Air 2/89 or small Kruger cards, place the sticker on the front of the card over the NSRA Logo.

8.4    All stickers must be over-stamped with the Club name or initialled across one edge by the Captain/Scorer before the cards are issued to the shooter.

8.5    There is no requirement to write the competitor’s name on the card.

9    MAKE-UP OF DIVISIONS

9.1    Short & Long Range Teams: Usually six per division.

9.2    Short & Long Range Individual: Usually ten per division.

9.3    Rapid Fire and Air Rifle: Usually six per division.

10    SCORING OF CARDS

10.1    Scores for each round must be entered on-line by the Captain/Scorer, who will use his/her password to gain access to that part of the system which allows the entry of scores.

10.2    Scores for Teams and Individual competitions must be entered as ‘points dropped ex 100’.

10.3    Scores for Frostbite (50m/yds) competitions must be entered as ‘points dropped ex 200’.

10.4    Scores for Air Rifle competitions must be entered as ‘points scored ex 300’.

10.5    Scores for Rapid Fire competitions must be entered as ‘points scored ex 200’.

10.6  If a shooter has not shot a card, leave the space blank on the score sheet.

10.7    The Last Date for Shooting each round will be published by the County Stats Officer and will also be visible to all shooters on-line.

10.8  The Captain/Scorer at each club is responsible for entering the scores on-line before the Round End date, which will be one week after the Last Date for Shooting. The time limit for submitting scores for every round will be at midnight on the Round End date, which will normally be every second Monday during the League with an allowance for Christmas and the New Year.  Scores will not be accepted for cards that have been shot in time but the Captain/Scorer has failed to enter the scores in time.

10.9    Extensions will be granted, if requested, provided that a valid reason is given and an extension date is agreed between the Captain/Scorer and the County Stats. Officer and that scores are submitted by that agreed date. If no date is agreed, an extension of 10 days will be granted.

10.10    Should the Captain/Scorer not be able to enter scores online for any reason, scores must be sent to the County Stats. Officer by email at least one day before the Round End date.

10.11    Scores entered into the online database cannot be edited except by the County Stats. Officer. Should incorrect scores have been entered, the Captain/Scorer must notify the County Stats. Officer. The card relative to the score discrepancy may be required to be sent to the County Stats. Officer for checking before any editing is carried out.

10.12    Scorers must ensure that the correct penalty points are applied and indicated appropriately on the card. (See Appendix B).

10.13    Only NSRA supplied gauges are to be used. The oversize gauge must be used on all cards (short-range, 50metres/yards, 100 yards, air rifle), except when gauging a shot which is in the outer rings of the aiming mark and where there is no printed line which the gauge can touch.

10.14    Any card which is difficult to score may be sent to the County Stats. Officer who will score it and his score will be binding.
10.15    All cards must be retained at the end of each League and must NOT be destroyed before the beginning of the next League.

11    POINTS

11.1    The scores for each round for all Teams and Individuals in each division are ranked and points awarded accordingly.  Thus, for a division with ten Individuals:
    Highest score        10 points
    Next highest score    9 points
    Next highest score    8 points
    Next highest score    7 points
    Next highest score    6 points
    Next highest score    5 points
    Next highest score    4 points
    Next highest score    3 points
    Next highest score    2 points
    Lowest score        1 point
    Equal scores are awarded the same number of points.

12    VERIFICATION OF SCORES

12.1    A County Committee member may visit a Club during a League to check shot cards and to ensure that the Club is complying with these Rules.

12.2    At the end of each League, the cards for all winners and runners-up in all divisions MUST be sent for verification to the correct Committee member within two weeks of the issue of the Provisional list of winners and runners-up.

12.3     Failure to comply with 12.2 will result in the disqualification of scores.

12.4    When posting cards for verification, a Post Office receipt must be obtained as proof of posting which contains the postcode of the address to which the cards were sent.

12.5    If the cards are lost in the post, the scores originally submitted will be allowed to count, provided the Post Office receipt is produced.

13    WHERE CARDS CAN BE SHOT

13.1     Teams Competitions:  All members of a team must shoot their cards on the same range.

13.2    Individual Competitions:  Cards may be shot on any range.

14    PROBLEMS

14.1    Any problems concerning the Leagues should be referred to the County Stats. Officer, whose decision will be binding.

15    APPEALS

15.1    An appeal may be made at any time by a Club Official to the County Secretary and it will be heard as soon as possible.

Appendix A   

STICKERS

The sticker contains the following information:

•    League
•    Round number
•    Competition
•    Shooter’s name
•    Team or Individual

There is no need to write the competitor’s name on the card.

The information on the stickers may be in a different format due to computer design.

Appendix B

PENALTIES

5.2 SCORING – RIFLE POSTAL

5.2.1 In any competition, individual or team, where a shooter places more than the specified number of shots on any target on his own card or cards, but not more than the number specified in the competition, full credit shall be given for every shot which can distinctly be seen, subject to a penalty of one point for each shot in excess on any particular target.
5.2.2 Where a card has on it fewer than the required number of shots, any shot deficient shall be deemed a miss unless the witness can certify of his own knowledge that a shot was fired in error on the target of another shooter. The shot on the other shooter’s target may be scored provided:
5.2.2.1 the witness provides a written explanation of the occurrence and a photocopy of the card containing the cross-shot; and either
5.2.2.2 the witness certifies that a particular shot was the cross-shot, in which case that shot shall be scored on the basis of its apparent value as seen in the photocopy, subject to a penalty of two points; or
5.2.2.3 the witness certifies that a cross-shot was fired, but cannot identify the particular shot, in which case the shot of lowest value on the relevant target shall be scored, subject to a penalty of two points.
5.2.2.4 Evidence in the form of a backing card from behind the card receiving the cross-shot will also be accepted in determining the cross-shot.
5.2.3 Subject to Rule 5.2.1, where a card has on it more than the required number of shots, the scorer shall score the appropriate number of shots with the lowest value. A penalty of one point will be deducted for each excess shot. Where, however, the procedure in Rule 5.2.2 is followed, the shot credited to the other shooter shall be ignored.

Appendix C

RAPID FIRE

Card 1 – Timed

A 10-bull short-range card is used.

90 seconds are allowed to fire one shot at each aiming mark.

The shooter may hold one round in the fingers before the command ‘Commence’, but the hand must be touching the floor of the firing point.

The timer should call out every ten seconds and count down every second for the last 10 seconds until the ‘Cease Fire’ command is given.

Card 2 – The Skirmisher

The Skirmisher card is used with eight small oval aiming marks, each contained in a rectangular area.  

60 seconds are allowed to fire as many shots as possible.

The shooter may hold one round in the fingers before the command ‘Commence’, but the hand must be touching the floor of the firing point.

On the command ‘Commence’, fire up to 2 shots at each oval. 

When two shots have been fired at all eight ovals, a third shot may be fired at any oval.

If there are more than two shot holes in any rectangular area and all areas have not been attempted, the value of the two lowest-scoring shot holes in that area will count i.e. if there are three holes, two of which are misses and one is a hit, the score for that area is 0.

The timer should call out every ten seconds and count down every second for the last 10 seconds until the ‘Cease Fire’ command is given.

General

Normal rules of signing, witnessing & dating cards apply. On the Skirmisher card, this data may be placed anywhere on the front of the card.

Scoring

The normal (under-sized) gauge should be used to determine if a shot has touched the outer edge of an oval, in which case it counts as a ‘hit’. Each ‘hit’ shall score 1 point.

Penalties

1.    The full possible value of one shot for loading before the command ‘Commence’ is given.
2.    The full possible value of any shots fired after the command ‘Cease Fire’ is given.
3.    For Skirmisher cards, a cross-shot is recorded as a miss and no penalty points are deducted.