..........................................................................24^th. August 2007

Dear addressee,

....................................last years letter began with “summer has been dry, for a period blisteringly hot”, we think we can all agree that this year was a little different! But this is not the only change from last year: As those of you have shot before in these competitions will know Terence and Les have, after many years sterling service in running this competition taken a “back seat”, in order to let us “young bucks” have a go. (OK maybe not so young…..) We are sure you will join us in thanking them for their hard work, and tireless sharing of knowledge, along with all of the other volunteer markers and other contributors. They will be on hand to us for reference, guidance and we suspect on occasion arbitration!
Terence will continue to maintain the Rifleman website, which is an absolute goldmine of information surrounding the subject of miniature and target rifles which are the focus of this event By way of introduction we would like to give you a few words about “the team” if we may: Tony Walker will need no introduction to many people, but for those of you who do not know him he has been involved in shooting and running clubs for a couple of decades, and is currently Hon Sec for both the Brighton and Patcham Rifles and Pistol Clubs. If you are a regular to visitor to Bisley he is usually to be found running a club shoot or a corporate day - He has also recently become an RFD. Chris on the other hand has dipped in and out of shooting for a similar period of time, is an avid collector of military rifles and is currently a range officer for the two aforementioned clubs as well as being a keen “hanger on” at the HBSA. Mike and Linda Welsh are going to continue to score the standing league cards – a service for which we are very grateful. We fully intend to continue to run this competition in the spirit that it has been (and enjoyed over the last three years) and will crave your indulgence in advance should things go slightly awry during our maiden year In order to save time and postage we are enclosing this years entry forms and small poster for your club notice board. Please pass these to your Club Hon Sec. and feel free to copy the entry form if you have any friends or colleagues who would like to try their hand at the Leagues this winter. Your club may quite possibly hold eligible rifles for the use of members who do not possess their own. We look forward to receiving your entry/entries for next winter, and remind everyone that the Leagues are intended to provide an opportunity to use and research our many and various historic miniature rifles, whilst at the same time offering a significant degree of pleasure therein. Competitive the events may be between friends (or opponents) shooting similar rifles; but the nature of the shooting, and the many different rifles in use, mean that the results should not be taken too seriously. Additionally, the Match system involves a levelling element of luck The setting out of divisions and results sheets is time consuming and complicated. If a competitor fails to complete their cards, it is difficult to adjust divisions satisfactorily (and unfair to other competitors). Whilst no-one can know for certain what might befall them over the Winter months, please consider carefully your ability to fulfil an entry in the light of any other future commitments that you know you may have. The fact that failing to shoot your cards will give a walkover to those against whom you should have shot is actually disadvantageous to the others in your division. P.S. Occasionally comments have been received from those shooting that they no longer enter the Service competitions using open sights because of a deteriorating sight picture. It can be possible to become competitive again by dint of the employment of an Orthoptic aperture. Put simply, this is a small disk with an hole of about 1mm in it, fitted behind, or even in front of, your glasses or shooting prescription lens. This can simply be made at home, or an adjustable pistol type iris may also be used. These can be obtained from A.G.Parker of Birmingham for under £10. If you have not done so already, this is really worth a try for both small and full-bore use. For more information, view "Orthoptics" on the website.
Best regards,

Tony and Chris et al at HARC-MRL
Any HARC Miniature League enquiries to:

HARC-MRL, 151 Denton Drive Hollingbury, Brighton BN1 8DL or e-mail: HARC-MRL@rifleman.org.uk

Please direct any queries relating to the Leagues to: HARC-MRL ~ Leagues' admin 1

Enquiries concerning the website & historic rifle reference pages should be directed to: Miniature-Calibre-Rifles@rifleman.org.uk