Message from the Chairman
Dear NRANZ Members
From 26 January to 10 February 2019 NRANZ is hosting the NRANZ Nationals, the Individual World Championships and the Palma, Veterans, U25, U21 teams matches.
The opportunities to compete in the prestigious Long Range World Championships (LRWC) and their associated events come only a few times in our lifetimes. The opportunity to shoot shoulder to shoulder with world class shooters is rare.
All our normal events, trophies and medals associated with our Nationals will be on offer in 2019. Only the regional and Inter island TR teams matches will likely be affected as many TR shooters will be competing in the Veterans, NZ and Undies teams matches.
However, if sufficient F Class shooters attend there will still be the opportunity to hold Inter Island/Regional F Class teams matches on Monday 28 January and F Class Club Teams on Saturday 2 February.
For our F Class shooters, the opportunity to compete in significant events like this is useful preparation for F Class World Championships.
It would be great to see F Class teams compete at the next F Class World Championships in South Africa in 2021.
As someone who has volunteered, coached and competed from Oceania to Commonwealth Games and Athens Paralympics I can vouch that attending such events will change your attitude and appreciation of your shooting.
I seriously suggest that those who think the 2019 LRWC and Nationals are only for International Shooters are mistaken. All grades of TR and F Class can still compete at the NRANZ Nationals.
If there are vacancies for Individual LRWC entries, uncoached shooters in grades lower than B may still be able to enter.
I recommend:
- Make the effort to save up so that you can attend the events.
- Sample a World Championship.
- Become enthused to reach out to the 2021 and 2023 LRWCs and go for a NZ Team in South Africa.
You won't regret it. It will be fun.
Kind regards
Ross Mason
Chairman, NRANZ