Random Shots – latest news

Last month we had the first level 3 shotgun match of 2024 and from what I hear it was a great start to the competition year. Well done to all the NROI members for your work and of course to North Cotes for hosting a such a brilliant competition. A special shout out goes to Jonathan Appleton for all his efforts as a new Match Director!

We recently had the first ever level 2 UKPSA Shotgun match from Sterling Sports and will also have another level 2 from them soon, this time in Mini Rifle at Ham & Petersham. It is great to see new clubs stepping up and delivering national matches to our members. Well done Sterling! At the end of June we have the level 3 Scottish Masters, and I’ll look forward to seeing many of you there. This year the Masters looks like being the largest and most international match to date for Recoil Scotland, with competitors and crew from seven IPSC Regions.

We also have national matches coming up from Headley Park, and High Wycombe, and it is great to see the welcome return of Frome & District Pistol Club, with a Action Air match planned for October. I know level 2 and 3 matches are a little thin on the ground this year but our Regional Director, Kev Strowger and Jason Clarke, the NROI Secretary, are reaching out to clubs to encourage them to host more events and to let them know what support is available.

Just a reminder to NROI members that to complete your annual maintenance as a UKPSA match official it is necessary to work a minimum of one level 2 or 3 IPSC match in Great Britain per competition year (January to December). If you do not complete the minimum requirement you will need to work a supervised match to re-qualify in 2025 unless there are significant mitigating circumstances agreed with the NROI Committee. For example, illness or injury has prevented you being able to work as a match official.

On behalf of the NROI committee, I would like to congratulate Moe Willis on his attaining his Range Officer qualification and Milan Koria on his promotion to Range Master (Long Arms). Well done folks! On a slightly sadder note, our old friend Dave Peacock, after a last hurrah at the Shotgun World Shoot in Thailand, has decided to hang up his timer. Well known across Great Britain and internationally, as both a match official and founder of the Red Dragons, Dave’s infectious laugh will be much missed.

Take care and stay safe.

Martyn Spence

NROI President

On the range

Don’t forget if you or your club is interested in hosting a sanctioned IPSC match but you don’t know where to start, the UKPSA would be happy to help.

We have experienced Range Masters,  Regional Organizers and Ambassadors all happy to provide advice and support. The UKPSA also has grants available to help clubs get national and international competitions up and running.

For advice on hosting a match contact Jason.Clarke@ukpsa.org who has taken on the duties previously carried out by the Competition Secretary and if he can’t help he will point you in the right direction.

NROI Merchandise

From match official shirts and jackets, to beanie hats and bags, a whole range of UKPSA NROI merchandise is available to NROI members ONLY to order online.

We also have a stock of match official Ball Caps which are available free to NROI members. Please contact russell.hicks@ukpsa.org to arrange delivery to a match near you!

National Squad Competitor Uniform

NROI members may be aware that those representing the UKPSA as a match official at IPSC level 4 (Continental Championship) and level 5 (World Championship) events were traditionally provided with a single national shirt/uniform to wear while competing in the pre-match, and to recognise their contribution to the sport at the highest level. The UKPSA Council late last year decided to discontinue this practice. In the future the national squad uniform will only be available to UKPSA members who accept an allocated place as a competitor.

Developing you and your Institute

We now have four level 1 NROI/IROA (Range Officer) seminars planned for 2024 at various locations up and down the country. The one in June is now full, but we still have places on the following seminars:

19/20 July – Crocketford, Nr Dumfries

27/28 July – Richmond, Surrey

12/13 October – Barnsley, South Yorkshire

The training is free to UKPSA members who qualify and you can also claim reasonable expenses for travel and accommodation. For more information and to book a place contact NROI@UKPSA.org

Any clubs wanting to host a seminar are also very welcome to get in touch. Just email us at nroi@ukpsa.org

Want to progress as a match official?

I am pleased to report that our level 2 NROI/IROA (Chief Range Officer) Shotgun Seminar planned for October is now full to bursting and so we are now operating a waiting list.

If you qualify and haven’t got your name down yet and would be interested please contact us at nroi@ukpsa.org