GREAT BRITAIN GALLERY RIFLE TEAM

The team is selected from competitors who are identified by performance over the preceding season – looking at averages, consistency and commitment in the Gallery Rifle Centre Fire 1500. It is recognised as the GB team by the National Governing Body, the National Rifle Association.

Prospective team members should first demonstrate ability and determination. Attend as many fully classified open meetings as you can throughout the year. The national classification system is designed to ensure that your efforts are recorded and the results are used as a basis for selecting the team.

Given that there aren’t too many opportunities to take part – the four weekends at the National Shooting Centre and some open meetings around the country – it’s difficult to be precise about how many meetings you should attend. Common sense dictates that a single appearance won’t demonstrate measurable ability or commitment. At least two attendances in a season will be required, but the more times you turn out the better.

The GB Gallery Rifle Team is selected by the National Rifle Association elected Gallery Rifle Discipline Representative using the data available in the national classification system.

There are additional qualifying conditions and criteria. Every team member must be a member of the National Rifle Association. There must always be sufficient team members present to compete at the three international matches and this involves travelling to Germany and the Republic of Ireland. Team members must therefore give an undertaking to be available for some, if not all, of the matches. They must also be prepared to attend some of the meetings and coaching and training sessions throughout the year. The Team meets as many times as possible, usually during competitions at Bisley or at regional clubs, for coaching and practice.

The Team Captain has sole responsibility for selecting which members of the Team will actually shoot in any match. In his selection he will try to strike a balance between choosing the best team on the day with giving as many of the Team as possible experience of shooting under international match conditions.

NATIONAL GALLERY RIFLE TEAMS

There are three National Gallery Rifle Teams – England, Scotland and Wales. Each Team is responsible to its National Governing Body and is governed by its rules. The NGBs are as follows:

English Twenty Club
Scottish Pistol Association
Welsh Rifle Association

The teams are chosen according to the criteria of each country and will generally involve a combination of performance, commitment and selection shoots.

Eligibility for the National Teams is based on the criteria laid down in the NRA Rules of Shooting Appendix 8, paragraph 3:

(a) The test of nationality shall be either:
(1) Country of birth, or
(2) Descent from parents or grandparents who were qualified by country of birth, or
(3) Country of residence for a continuous period of not less than five years immediately preceding the date of the match.

(b) A person who has shot for one of the nationalities specified (England, Scotland or Wales) in any match under the direction or control of the NRA shall not thereafter be eligible to shoot for another nationality in the Gallery Rifle Home Countries National Match.

(c) A person who has established eligibility for a nationality under paragraph (b) of this rule and shot against that nationality, or against Great Britain, in any match under the direction or control of the NRA may not shoot in the Gallery Rifle Home Countries National Match during the following two and a half years.

(d) A person who has shot for a particular country under the rules in force at that time shall remain qualified to shoot for that country in perpetuity.

Further information will be found on the individual country pages.