The National Rifle shoot - Sunday 31st May, 2009
By Paul Hogan

The Irish Deer Society annual shoot was held in glorious sunshine - accompanied by a light headwind - in the Midlands National Shooting Centre of Ireland which is located off the Birr Rd - a few miles outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. We had generous sponsorship from the following, Aidan Murphy, Dave Tracey, Pierce O’Brien, Mark Kopik and many others.

 

Every time we attend the shooting grounds there is more building work taking place and this year they have made a start on an impressive new clubhouse. It is wonderful to see what a dedicated few have achieved considering shooting is a relatively small sport and they deserve our support and it augers well for things to come.

There were a  a large group  of participants considering it was a bank holiday week end and  many of our usual competitors were not available due to family commitments over the long weekend.

 

 

There was a vast array of prizes on offer thanks to all our generous sponsors, which included 2 rifle scopes, a shooting stick, wine, gun slips, shooting clothing and paraphernalia  mementos for the various branch competitions and the perpetual trophies for the National, Leinster and Connaught competitions as well as a prize for a non member to encourage participation.

It was run very efficiently  which was helped by participants arriving on time  as organisers were  conscious of the fact that  many had travelled long distances to be there and most of the competitors were on  their way home  at lunchtime while some chose to stay to enjoy the wonderful shooting facilities and practice for next year!.

 

There were some competitors who had never shot in a competition before and they were coached through the procedures while another participant had a bullet that would not go into his rifle due to being stood on inadvertently earlier! Another competitor managed to fire a few shots but due to a faulty safety or damaged bolt which he had been unaware of up to then could not fire, and had to withdraw in the middle of the competition. A competition throws up these quirks and it is a great way to test ones self and ones rifle while under a small but enjoyable amount of pressure. It is certainly good practice for stalking and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. The target was a deer target with an x ray showing the vital areas which was scored afterwards using a plastic template. The smart guys took their targets home to use for more practice!

 

There were a vast array of different rifles on show  including some sniper style rifles which were  only allowed provided that the competitor  verified that he uses it normally for stalking and in fact they can  be more difficult to use for the unrested  details due to their additional weight. Similarly, no target ammunition was allowed and everyone entered the spirit of the competition as a stalkers competition and there were no disputes over what was or was not provided for in the rules. The minimum calibre allowed was .240 - in line with IDS policy - notwithstanding the fact that .there there are other legal calibres for deer.

 

Every year sees an increase in the use of sound moderators as members are more conscious of the potential for damage to hearing and to avoid causing disturbance to wildlife and domestic stock. However they can be unwieldy and one needs strong arms to hold a rifle and moderator in position over 12 shots. The zeroes can be different with and without the moderator and many stalkers do not think that it is worth the extra effort involved and prefer to keep things simple and an occasion such as this is a golden opportunity to disuses all the merits and demerits of various configurations and items of equipment with men (we would like some female participants) of experience.


The treasurer Patricia Young performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes and fed all who turned up with a cold venison buffet and desert at no cost and thanks to Patricia for her generosity and helping to make it a most enjoyable shooting day and a social occasion.

 

 

All who participated enjoyed a great days shooting combined with good experience and good craic with our colleagues from around the country and most  went away with  a prize  and all went away with great  memories or perhaps a memory of  an occasional  bad experience of the shot that was pulled !

The results are as follows:

Overall IDS winner - Frank Brophy

Leinster Branch - 1st Ian McCollugh,  2nd Mark Kopik and 3rd David Brady.

Connaught Branch - 1st Pat White,  2nd Bill Doherty and 3rd Mark Quinlan.

Donegal Branch - winner Brian Moore.

Guest Prize - Pat Pettit

 

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