Blind shooters show off their skills
BLIND shooters chased a 1001 point target as they demonstrated how visually-impaired people can enjoy the rifle range at an open day at their club.
BLIND shooters chased a 1001 point target as they demonstrated how visually-impaired people can enjoy the rifle range at an open day at their club.
Members of the public were offered the chance to try the equipment, which enables shooters to shoot by sound rather than sight.
Felixstowe Sound Shooters - the biggest rifle club for blind and visually-impaired people in the country - held the day as part of a sponsored challenge to score 1001 points and let people find out more about the club.
Around 25 keen shooters take part regularly in competitions against other teams from all over Britain as well as using the range and specially-designed guns at Felixstowe Rifle Club in Walton High Road for practice and club events.
One of the guests at the day was Ken Nash, vice chairman of the National Small-Bore Rifle Association, who first introduced blind shooting to Britain 15 years ago.
“I went to see these new rifles at an event in Holland and knew then that we had to have it here,” he said.
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“There are around 100 blind and visually-impaired people across the country now shooting regularly with 50 to 60 taking part in competitions.”
The shooters wear headphones and listen for the signal pitch from a hi-tech light meter fixed on the rifle - the targets are graded in colour and when the aim is focused on the white centre the highest frequency is heard.
