To give you some background, Bideford Target Shooting Club is a smallbore club in North Devon, England, shooting .22 rifle and air guns, and is more than 100 years old. For most of that time, the club rented or shared range facilities, until 2010, when the school whose range we used was closed and we were under notice to quit. However, we were determined to carry on as a club.
After more than two years of searching, we finally found a derelict 2½-acre site that looked suitable. The only problem was that it was going up for sale by auction in about two weeks. With little money in club funds, we appealed to our members for help. Incredibly, within a few days, we had enough money promised that we could go to the auction, and we were successful in our bid.
Then the hard work began. Over the next few years, we gradually transformed the site. We had to clear the site, removing tons of concrete structures, import about 14,000 tons of soil to level the site and build butts, erect a steel-framed building which included set-up areas, toilets and covered firing point, along with building the ranges up to 100 yards.
The amount of work which Bideford Target Shooting Club members put into the project was enormous, in both financial and practical ways. Once the steel frame of the building was erected, virtually all the work on every aspect of the build was carried out by club members, from the internal partitioning to cladding the building, from seeding the butts, to making target frames and much more. For many of us, it completely took over our lives. It was also vitally important that we kept the shooting side of the club going, so we travelled many miles each week to use other ranges so that we could continue to shoot in all the leagues and competitions we enjoy—it’s a testament to the commitment of our members that we lost none during that time.
Our new facility was opened (by Dave Walls of Accuracy International, Ltd.) in May 2017, and since then we have trebled the club membership. We have a continual stream of people interested in joining, and we run a structured program of instruction each year in prone rifle, benchrest rifle and air pistol—and have an excellent retention rate which we are proud of. Many of our members have recognized qualifications as instructors or coaches, range conducting officers and scorers, and a wide range of abilities from complete beginner to international standard, with ages ranging from 12 to well more than 90 years old. As you would expect, all parts of our ranges have full disabled access, which means that there is no restriction on less able or older folk being able to shoot on completely equal terms.
As well as a very full program of competitive shooting, we often welcome groups from local organizations, such as Rotary, the local Stroke Club, etc., and we have also given a full day’s shooting experience to a group of young carers, as well as having a stall at local fetes, etc.
About two years ago, we also took a rather radical side-ways step and built two polytunnel ranges, one for 25 yards and one for 10 meters, which give us some protection from winter weather conditions. We believe these are the only such ranges in England, and incorporate the use of rubber crumb in the bullet-catchers, which is not only quite innovative but also environmentally friendly; both the ranges themselves and the rubber crumb have attracted much interest from other clubs.
The Big Dream
As good as the current facilities are at Bideford Target Shooting Club, the fact remains that most of our ranges are outdoors and shooting during the winter months can be quite challenging, as well as making it difficult to be competitive against clubs with indoor ranges. Older and less-able members find it particularly hard, and there is also a real need for social spaces, not only for our own members, but also for visitors and the wider community.
Thus, our next step—the big dream—is to build full indoor facilities, with a 25-meter and a 10-meter range, clubroom, set-up areas and armories, office space and additional toilet facilities, all linked together. We have full planning permission already in place, and so much enthusiasm and commitment. If we achieve this, we shall have one of the best ranges in England and a real legacy, not only to Bideford Target Shooting Club, but to competition shooting sports.
But we do need some help to get there. We know that shooters are incredibly supportive and generous people, and we are appealing to you all to be part of the project and help us achieve our dream.
We’re not asking for actual money at this stage, but for a pledge to contribute as and when the project gets under way. For more details about how to pledge a contribution for the club, please visit bidefordtargetshootingclub.org/pledge.
As a small thank you, Bideford Target Shooting Club is offering a range of incentives, and the names of all contributors will also be included in the structure of a new building as a permanent appreciation.
Would you, or your Club, be able to help us achieve our big dream? Thank you for reading this—and good shooting to you all!
—From all the members of Bideford Target Shooting Club
Head to the Bideford Target Shooting Club website for more information about the club.
About the author: Mog Thomson is an icon in the British shooting sports world. Not only has she been active in her home club for decades, she has been on the Great Britain Randle Team and a longtime official of same. Thomson is also a famous artist, with her prints of scenes at the Bisley Range well-known in her native United Kingdom and around the world.
Most Popular
