Torfaen Smallbore Rifle Club (TSRC) recently began club activities once again following a combination of COVID-19 restrictions and building developments that caused pauses in normal running. TRSC facilitates a range of target shooting disciplines, including; 25 Yard Prone, 50m prone, 3 Position, and 10m Airgun. The club is looking forward to getting back to a full complement of shooting activities in line with government restrictions and when their own facilities reopen for use.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all clubs in Wales, however TSRC was more recently prevented from returning to their own facilities due to building works at Pontypool Rugby Club that began in November 2020. TSRC have a partnership with the rugby club and their ranges are situated underneath the stands, so access was impossible whilst building work was ongoing. Steve Gurner (Assistant Secretary), pictured above with Alan Ainge, has commented on the building works and expressed the club’s excitement to return to their home facilities.
‘In November our landlord and partner, Pontypool Rugby Club took the big decision to accelerate their much needed renovation of the stand and started work. With the site ‘Ring fenced’ by the contractor, club access was impossible. But what a difference this work has made to the club. We are watertight at last. We can now start to rebuild the range due to damage from water ingress that wrecked the ceilings, floors and electrics. Much praise must go to Ben Jeffreys CEO of Pontypool Rugby Club for undertaking the work and keeping us up to date with the improvements.’
Throughout 2020, TSRC was frequently prevented from normal activities due to COVID-19 restrictions. Steve commented on the unprecedented gap in activities, saying ‘Its been one of the longest periods of inactivity and not shooting anywhere the club can remember.‘ TSRC were so keen to return to activities that they asked the local shooting community for help, Steve said: ‘we sent up a signal flare “Any ranges free Please?” and were met with a fantastic response and offers from Chepstow Rifle club and Abergavenny Rifle & Pistol Club, offers that were so gratefully received with many thanks, we chose to share Chepstow Range.’ Chepstow Rifle Club must be commended for their assistance in helping TSRC to safely return to some activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
TSRC are currently renting the privately run 50m range at Lower Parc, as pictured above. But with the rugby club developments soon to be finished, they hope to install a new 10m Airgun range as part of the club’s return to normal activity and may seek assistance from Sport Wales’ Be Active Wales Fund. Further information on the Be Active Wales fund and how it can support target shooting clubs in Wales can be found here.
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