I've run a few rimfire matches with the WBSF target, small 10 ring.
I ran two classes target rifle and factory rimfire class so not modifications to the rifle except tune the trigger, of course while I used a factory CZ452 I put myself in the target rifle class.

The highlight for a lot of the factory shooters was a wipout and to recall everyone had some, they did see what experience and a good rifle can do as I managed a 670 12x with the CZ. The highest factory score was 551 4x and while not high all shooters came back for another go.

I think a level playing field is the crucial thing to get people coming back and also to make it fun. Even using a factory rifle I put myself in target rifle class as I think experience counts for a lot.

Years ago there was a team postal shoot going and I got a few NZ shooters to participate, this was in factory class. Well one shooter bailed at the last minute and didn't turn up so I used my BSA MK II and managed a better score at 100yds with the 22 than the others got with their centrefire rifles, needless to say I couldn't convince them to come and compete again...........all I had to do was drop a few more points and the fun may have continued.

Rimfire shooting is fun, but I really enjoyed it when we shot 50yd and 100yd rimfire group competitions, there was nothing like watching that bullet curve through the air and watching it go through the target.

Good luck in getting the rimfire shooting included.

Ian

Hey Calvin, That's a good shooting CZ but I just can't get over how big your 10 ring is. It looks about the size of our 9 ring.

On our target if you just touch the dot the other side of your bullet is touching the 9 ring, we are using the WBSF rimfire target.

One of the things the Aussies do is run state teams at their Nationals, and I think WA has won that several years in a row.

All the Aussie competitors also sign competitor agreements and work very well together for team events.

I think to achieve at WBC all team members have to work together and help each other, everyone now has competitive equipment and components so the only thing that is going to set the difference now is how the competitors work as a team.

We're giving some thoughts about 2017.  Lots to do between now and then but certainly considering it.

Have a question,  How do you manage a world shoot with only 20 benches.

Jeff--Are you making it to Kelbly's this year  and the camping spot beside us?


Dave & Vicky  (your backup scorer for 2015)

Dave the minimum number of benches required to host a World Championship is 25, at present Nelson has 20 we will be extending that to 25 for the WBC competition.

2017 is still a ways off, but the range in Nelson was NOTHING like it is now 4 years prior to the 2001 WBC Champs, Graeme Smith and one or two others managed to organise an awesome venue and event for 2001, and will do the same for 2017.

Hope that answers your question.

Ian

Hi Ian,
 Can you give us a little info on the firearms regs for those interested in going to NZ in 2017. A little description of the surrounding area and sights?
John

At present the firearms regs for visitors with firearms are very minimal, you fill out a form and pay a $25.00 fee when you arrive, show your firearms licence and are issued with a temporary firearms licence.
Most likely, like last time this will be pre sorted and all the competitors will have to do is show their firearm and the paperwork will already be completed before you arrive.

So if everything is the same by 2017 then the regs won't be a problem. The range is about 10 - 15 mins drive from downtown Nelson.

Since Nelson is at the top of the South Island also this Island isn't that big, but it has some of the most diverse and spectacular scenery in the world.

Nelson is usually quite sunny and hot, you have wineries, the sea, Abel Tasman National Park, a nice walk to the centre of New Zealand (geographically), sea kayaking, Golden Bay, plus many many more activities and places to see.

A couple of websites to give you some ideas (maybe)
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Trending-g255678-t2-Nelson_Nelson_Tasman_Region_South_Island.html
http://www.tourism.net.nz/region/nelson/attractions-and-activities

For those that wanted to have a holiday and do some driving to see some of the South Islands most spectacular and diverse scenery, I could post some recommendations of where to fly into and what is a must see and do...but this would be based on Helen's and my personal experiences.
I could even post some photo's we have taken.

Cheers
Ian

I will get some up to date photos at Easter when I go up for Nationals.

At present there are 20 Benches and we will most likely be loading in a big marque tent as the present facilities only accommodate about 12 - 15 shooters.
We do not have power at the range, something to do with cost due to being several km's inside a working forest.

This thread has been a very interesting read, I can only imagine what it would be like to have more competitors than positions available for the WBC teams, and be in the position to come to a fair and unbiased selection criteria.

Since NZ has a small BR community, I got told while having dinner one evening during WBC in France (by the then WBSF president), to come up with a fair and unbiased selection criteria for the NZ WBC teams. It wouldn't be right if it seemed like I was putting myself in the "A" team all the time.

While we don't have the "East - West" thing we do seem to have a "North - South" thing where most of the South Island shooters travel North for the qualifying North Island shoot yet not many of the North Island competitors travel South for the South Island qualifying shoots. This means that there are usually less competitors at the South Island qualifying shoots, except for Nationals (which are held on the most central Benchrest range in NZ - Nelson)

This meant (using the US, Aussie or even the Canadian selection criteria) that the ones that attended the smaller shoots were disadvantaged, and I wasn't going to try and compare aggs for several different shoots, afterall aggs are only comparable on the same range on the same day.

I wanted a points system that rewarded consistency in the 2 gun (after all it's a 2 gun event) and came up with the following, the points are awarded on your 2 gun placing i.e 1 point for 1st, 2 points for 2nd, 10 points for 10th etc. and your 4 lowest scores from 8 qualifying shoots determine your place in the teams. This means the number of shooters at a competition doesn't come into it.

This (sort of) works for us......the reason I say sort of is, because since I didn't make the "A" team it was suggested by several of the competitors that I should be moved into the A team and one of the A team put down into the B team. I refused to alter the teams and was backed by our National body (NZDA) which didn't make me popular with some Benchrest shooters.....I got told I was doing things to benefit myself.

I think no matter what the selection criteria is someone will think it disadvantages some competitors, yet an alternative selection criteria may disadvantage other competitors.

WBC is a large financial and time commitment, if some only want to put their hat in the ring for selection when it's in their own backyard then given there is 4 years notice of where it is going to be they have 2 - 3 years to save so they can participate in the selection process.

These are just my thoughts and opinions.

Ian