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for WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS OF LONG RANGE RIFLE SHOOTING PREAMBLE 1.1. The origin of the World Fullbore Rifle team Championships dates back to the 9th November 1875, when the Board of Directors of the NRA of America resolved “That in furtherance of the steps already taken for a Grand International Competition on the occasion of the Centennial Anniversary of American Independence, and for a proper observation of such Anniversary on the part of this Association, a series of Rifle matches be inaugurated to take place during the Summer or Autumn of 1876, and a general invitation be and hereby is extended to riflemen of all Countries to participate”. 1.2. This first match was fired in September 1876 and the prize was a trophy, similar to a Roman banner, which was originally called the Grand Centennial Trophy or the International Rifle Trophy. This later became known as the “Palma Trophy” because of the Latin word Palma (which replaced the Roman letters SPQR), signifying prominence, valour and victory. This first era of competition for the Palma Trophy continued sporadically until 1928, when the record shows the match fell into abeyance. 1.3. The revival of the Palma Trophy match was due to another Centennial, that of Canada, unfortunately without the actual Palma Trophy, which was lost after 1928. This second era began in 1966 and, since then, a regular competitive series has continued. The World Long Range Rifle Championships include the Palma Trophy team match and also now the individual Long Range Target Rifle Championship, which started in 1992. 1.4. In 2002 the newly formed world governing body for fullbore rifle shooting, the International Confederation of Fullbore Rifle Associations (ICFRA), took the World Championships under its wing. In the future, Fullbore Rifle World Championships are planned to include all distances, in both team and individual matches. 3 2. GOVERNANCE 2.1. The governance of these championships is vested in the Council of the International Confederation of Fullbore Rifle Associations (ICFRA), which delegates to its World Championships Committee (“The Committee”) full responsibility for the rules and conduct of these World Championships. 2.2. This committee will consist of one representative appointed by each National Rifle Association/ Federation or approved regional grouping which has participated in three or more past World Championship team matches. 2.3. Other ICFRA member bodies not yet meeting this qualification, or interested in participating in future World Championships, may participate in the Committee but without a vote. 2.4. The Committee, as of 23 August 2003, consists of representatives of: 2.4.1. Australia, 2.4.2. Canada, 2.4.3. Continental Europe, 2.4.4. Germany, 2.4.5. Great Britain, 2.4.6. Kenya, 2.4.7. New Zealand, 2.4.8. South Africa, 2.4.9. The Channel Islands, 2.4.10. The United States of America, 2.4.11. The West Indies, 2.4.12. Zimbabwe. 2.5. The Committee Chairman will be elected by and from the Committee for a term of four years commencing from immediately after the completion of the impending Championship until immediately after completion of the following World Championship. 2.6. The Committee will meet during the immediate run up to the World Championships, at the championship venue. 2.7. The Committee may meet at other times, with the agreement of a majority of the committee members. 2.8. The Committee Chairman will convene and chair all meetings of the Committee. 2.9. The Committee will perform its own secretariat function (which includes the writing of minutes and the preparation of the agendas for meetings etc). A copy of the minutes of its meetings will be passed to the Secretary General of ICFRA, who will keep a copy on file. 2.10. The Committee Chairman will be the focal point for the passage of information between member nations and the Secretary General of ICFRA should be copied in on such exchanges. 2.11. If there is a requirement for a rule change or amendment, the Committee will conduct a postal and/or email vote. All rule or match condition changes must be completed, approved by the Committee and ratified by the ICFRA Council, within one year of the conclusion of the last World Championship. 2.12. In consultation with the host nation, the Committee will ensure that information and specifications, which may be peculiar to the host nation's rules or laws, are passed to member nations at least two years before the date of the next matches. 2.13. The Committee will record and report to the ICFRA Council, through the Secretary General, the final minutes of all committee meetings. 3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 3.1. The aims and objectives of ICFRA, to be furthered by these championships are:- 3.1.1. To sustain the tradition of a competition in Fullbore Target Rifle to generate mutual understanding, friendship, goodwill and sportsmanship among marksmen of the world, 3.1.2. To provide for a meeting on a mutually agreed basis, for the purpose of conducting individual and team competitions where, in order to emphasise marksmanship skill, the conditions are the same for all participants and the equipment is similar by meeting agreed specifications, 3.1.3. To stimulate interest in the arts and skills of long-range rifle marksmanship and participate in the interchange of marksmanship ideas, 3.1.4. To publicise long-range rifle shooting as a healthy competitive sport, 3.1.5. To encourage additional fullbore rifle associations/federations, which regulate this form of shooting, to enter these matches. 4. MATCH SCHEDULING AND INVITATIONS 4.1. The World Championships will be conducted on a regular schedule, with no less than three years and no more than five years between competitions. 4.2. At each committee meeting, held at the time of the World Championships, the Committee will:- 4.2.1. confirm the venue and dates for the next championships, 4.2.2. confirm the squadding/firing system to be used in the individual match (Rule 7.3) at the next championships, 4.2.3. decide upon the year and host nation for the next succeeding championships thereafter. 4.3. Applicant(s) under rule 4.2.3. must satisfy the Committee that their association(s) have the infrastructure capable of hosting a match of this magnitude. The applicant(s) must agree to the conditions in Rule 4.11. 4.4. The norm for the team match is sixteen shooters, with four targets per team. If the proposed range has insufficient targets and the prospective host nation proposes a reduction in team size, it must be agreed by the Committee at this stage. This should be a last resort. 4.5. The host nation will notify the Committee of the maximum number of individuals and teams that it can accommodate on the designated range after which the host nation will extend invitations to all ICFRA-member National Rifle Associations or Federations, with any guidance from the Committee as to the degree to which smaller associations may opt to participate as regional groupings. 4.6. Applications to participate must be addressed to the host nation. 4.7. Should a greater number of applications be received by the host nation than can be accommodated, the criteria for selection of those individuals and teams to participate will be set by the Committee. 4.8. No less than eighteen months prior to each championship, the host nation must provide to the Committee full details of additional awards and minor changes to targets or rules, that fall within the scope of these rules. 4.9. For each World Championship, the Committee will appoint a Referee who is not a competitor in the Championship, to ensure that the matches are conducted in accordance with these rules and conditions agreed to by the Committee. This may be a different person for the team and individual matches. 4.10. For each World Championship, the Committee Chairman will appoint a Match Committee consisting of himself, the Match Director, the Match Referee, the Chief Range Officer and three Members of the World Championship Committee (failing which, the balance up to three will be drawn from the hostcountry organising committee). This Match Committee will have the prerogatives of the Match Committee as described in the ICFRA Technical Rules (including disciplinary matters) and, specifically, will rule on any changes to the duration of a match or its course of fire occasioned by adverse weather or other external circumstances. In the event of disciplinary action against a member of a national team, his team captain, or the captain's nominee, may attend the Match Committee meeting as an observer. If one of 6 the Match Committee members is the representative of the country concerned, he must stand down from the deliberations. 4.11. The acceptance of appointment as ‘host nation’ carries with it the responsibility for organising the individual and team matches in accordance with these rules and any additional guidelines provided by the Committee. This responsibility includes the following:- 4.11.1. appointment of a dedicated Match Director, who will be responsible for the running of the matches, 4.11.2. appointment of a Chief Range Officer, who will be responsible for safety on the ranges, 4.11.3. organisation of an appropriate formal opening ceremony, 4.11.4. provision of suitable range facilities with rest areas for competitors, 4.11.5. catering, which should include the on-range availability of beverages & snacks, 4.11.6. provision of three match days for the individual match, (note: a practice day prior to the individual match is strongly recommended, if at all possible), 4.11.7. provision of one practice day immediately prior to the team match, 4.11.8. provision of two match days for the World Championship Team Match, 4.11.9. organisation and hosting of an appropriate reception for all team members, 4.11.10. acceptance that the cost of the reception is to be borne by the host nation. 4.11.11. provision of register keepers on the scale of 1 per target for the team match. “Spare” team squad members and unengaged competitors from an attached World Individual Championships may be used, but should not keep register for their national team. 4.12. Team and individual entry fees will be set by the host nation but must be cleared with the ICFRA Secretary General before publication. The final entry fees must be published no later than twelve months in advance of the matches. 4.13. The host nation will agree with ICFRA Anti Doping Committee the regime of dope testing to be employed, the costs of which may be recovered from the entry fee. 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS ATTACHING TO WORLD FULLBORE RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIPS 5.1. Teams will be selected by the National Sport Governing Body (NSGB) that regulates fullbore target rifle shooting within that country. 5.2. NSGBs will sanction their members who wish to compete in the World Championship individual matches to the host nation. This is to ensure that all competitors are of a sufficiently high standard of marksmanship. 5.3. The host nation will not accept individual entries without national sanction or ratification. 5.4. The World Championships shall be fired after any and all other host events (e.g. national and open championships) have been completed. 5.5. The individual match will precede the team match. 5.6. Before the first distance on each day, provision must be made for a ten-minute period before the targets are exposed, for all competitors wishing to do so to fire blow-off (fouling) shots. Alternatively, there must be a designated area where competitors can safely fire blow-off shots before the start of the day’s matches. 5.7. Prior to the start of the World Championship Team Match, the Referee will convene and chair a meeting of all the team captains, with the Match Director, the Chief Range Officer and Chairman of the Committee attending. Each team captain may bring no more than two other members of his/her team. Unless recognised by the Chairman, only the team captain may speak and make proposals. Each team has one vote. This meeting has no power to change any rules that have been approved by the Committee. The main purpose this meeting is to:- 5.7.1. up-date the team captains on rule interpretations and modifications, necessitated by range equipment or safety factors, 5.7.2. determine what circumstances should lead to a temporary suspension of shooting or the cancellation of part of the programme, 5.7.3. confirm the daily starting times and the length of breaks between distances. 5.8. Further such meetings may be called by the Referee, when he deems necessary. 5.9. Equipment controls will be conducted as follows:- 5.9.1. Prior to the start of the championships there will be a general equipment check and appropriate stickers will be placed on acceptable rifles, 5.9.2. At random, during the World Championships, Range Officers, when instructed by the Chief Range Officer, will check rifles, equipment, accessories, ammunition and procedures in use to ensure compliance with all applicable conditions and rules. The CRO may initiate this action at his/her own discretion or when requested by the Referee or the Match Director or any team captain during the team match. 5.10. In the event of adverse weather conditions resulting in the cancellation of one or more distances or whole day's firing, the match may be shortened if so approved by the Match Committee. 6. THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP LONG RANGE TEAM MATCH 6.1. The team match will only be designated as a World Championship if at least four countries/approved regional groups participate. A USA team must take part in order for the Palma Trophy to be awarded. (This relates to the ownership of the trophy and the registered trademarks of the name and logo.) The match will normally be fired over a period of two days, with the complete course of fire being conducted on each day. 6.2. Team members must be citizens or permanent residents of the country represented by that team and must not have competed against that country in the previous three years. 6.3. A World Championship team will consist of a maximum of 26 members, consisting of:- 6.3.1. 1 Team Captain, 6.3.2. 1 Adjutant, 6.3.3. 16 Shooters, 6.3.4. 2 Alternates, 6.3.5. 1 Main Coach/Co-ordinator, 6.3.6. 4 Target Coaches, 6.3.7. 1 Armourer, (who is not to perform any other function in a full strength team). 6.4. If a team has less than the full complement, the Armourer may also be used in another capacity. All team officials, other than the Armourer in a full-strength team, may be used as shooting members. This makes it possible, with duplication of functions, for a sixteen-member team to compete in the match. 6.5. The names of each team’s members must be submitted to the host organisation by a date set by the Committee, after which the only permitted changes will be in cases of illness or a personal emergency. Any change MUST be approved by the Referee. 6.6. Designation of the team members who will actually fire, arrangements of their squadding and control of their sequence of fire will be by the respective team captains. 6.7. The list of team members designated to shoot will be handed to the Match Referee at a pre-arranged place and time, after the completion of the practice day. For each shooter, the serial number of the rifle he is to use must be shown. Any subsequent switch of rifle can only be authorised by the Referee, under the specific conditions laid out in Rule 8.3.1. 9 6.8. No shooter substitutions may be made after the first shot of the match is fired except for emergencies such as accident or illness, and then only if approved by the Referee. All shots fired by the replaced shooter count; the replacement fires only the uncompleted portion of the replaced shooter's course of fire; no additional sighing shots are permitted. The replacement may use his/her own rifle. The serial number will be added to the team register in place of that of the replaced shooter’s rifle. 6.9. The course of fire for each shooter, on each of the two days, consists of two convertible sighting shots and fifteen shots to count at each range 800, 900 and 1000 yards, slow fire, prone position. For metric ranges, the course of fire will be the same, at ranges of 700, 800 and 900 metres. Four shooters will be squadded to a target and the team time allowance will be 100 minutes per distance. 6.10. Team captains may have bona fide team members, except the Armourer, on the firing point as assistant coaches, score book plotters, etc. There is no limitation as to the number that may be on the point at one time, provided there is no interference with safe range operation, or with any member of another team, or the register keepers. 6.11. A hard-wired communication system between coaches is permitted, but not one using radio transmission. 6.12. Ties will be counted out under the ICFRA rules for TR shooting. 7. THE INDIVIDUAL WORLD LONG RANGE CHAMPIONSHIP 7.1. The Individual World Long Range Championships will precede the team match and will take place over three days. The daily course of fire will be identical to that in the team match, i.e. 2 convertible sighting shots and 15 shots to count at each of 800, 900 & 1000 yards (or 700, 800 & 900 metres). After the final stage, the ten leading scorers will fire a shoulder-to-shoulder final comprising 2 convertible sighters and 15 shots to count at 1000 yards/900 metres. The scores obtained in this final will be added to the grand aggregate of each of the finalists to determine the ranking of the top ten places. 7.2. Ties for either of the first two championship medals (rule 13.7.3), and for the last place(s) in the final will be shot off under the ICFRA rules for TR shooting. 7.3. The decision as to whether the individual match will be shot one, two or three shooters to a target will have been taken by the Committee at its meeting dealing with host nation selection, when proposals by the applicant host nations will have been tabled. 7.4. If the squadding is three to a target, the maximum time allowance will be 45 seconds per shot. If two to a target it will be 60 seconds. When the match is fired single-string, the time per shooter will be 21 minutes for his 2 sighters plus 15 shots to count. 10 7.5. Should the number of applicants to compete in the individual World Championship exceed the range target capacity, the Committee will determine the cut-off point based on the list of priorities in Rule 7.6. 7.6. The initial qualifying order of priority to compete in the Individual World Championships, is as follows:- 7.6.1. members of the competing World Championship teams, 7.6.2. shooters who finished in the top 100 in the individual match at the previous World Championships, 7.6.3. members of official World Championship National Veterans teams, 7.6.4. members of official Under-25 National teams, * 7.6.5. members of official Under-21 National teams, * 7.6.6. members of official Under-19 National teams, * *when their respective World Team Championships take place concurrently with the World Championships, or during the same Meeting. 7.6.7. individual members of ICFRA member associations on a scale of equitable distribution based on a ratio of the member association’s membership to ICFRA’s, and who have been nominated under the requirements of Rule 5.2. 7.7. The host nation in consultation with the Committee may allocate remaining places to local shooters meeting the requirement of Rule 5.2. 8. RIFLES AND EQUIPMENT 8.1. Competitors from each country will use their own rifles which must conform to ICFRA TR specifications. Except for the specifications below, equipment that is legal in the host nation’s NSGB’s Rules will be legal for the World Championships and any accompanying matches. 8.2. Except as provided below, the ICFRA Rules for Target Rifle Shooting will apply. 8.3. In the World Championship Team Match, each shooter must use the rifle with which he/she started, throughout the match, unless:- 8.3.1. There is a mechanical breakdown of the rifle or sights and the Referee is satisfied that such is the case. The competitor will then be allowed to use his/her own spare rifle, with no additional sighting shots being permitted, 8.3.2. If the shooter does not have a spare rifle, he may use the spare rifle of one of the other team members, 8.3.3. Only under exceptional circumstances, and with the approval of the Referee, will two shooters be permitted to use the same rifle, 8.3.4. Spare rifles will not be permitted on the firing point and should be kept outside the roped-off team area behind the mound until required. 11 8.4. The weight of the trigger pull will conform to the requirements of the rules of the host nation. 8.5. All questions of admissability of rifles or equipment will be dealt with under the equipment control procedures of Rule 5.9. 9. AMMUNITION 9.1. 7.62mm NATO/.308 Win ammunition as specified under ICFRA TR Rules will be used, and may be handloaded. Competitors’ ammunition is liable for test under, and in accordance with, those rules. 10. TARGETS 10.1. The standard target for the World Long Range Championships is the NRA of America Long Range Target, which has a 20-inch bull in a 44-inch Aiming Mark, on a 72-inch square target. The details are listed in NRA of America High Power Rulebook 4.7. In the event that local wind conditions dictate, the host nation may use a wider target frame with the additional ring scoring 5 points. 10.2. Electronic or other remote marking and scoring systems which have been approved by the host Association or Federation for use in their National Championship competition, may be used. Otherwise, all shots will be marked from the butts. 10.3. When conventional manually-marked targets are used, new targets or target centres will be furnished for each distance. 10.4. For the World Long Range Championship Team Match:- 10.4.1. a target will be provided for each 4 shooters, 10.4.2. the total firing time will be 100 minutes per distance, 10.4.3. a team may use less than the allotted number of targets, at its discretion, at any time during the match, 10.4.4. a shooter may fire on more than one target, if the register keeper is informed prior to the firing of each shot. 10.5. Target allocation will be by a predetermined rotation of range positions following an initial drawing of lots that will ensure, if possible, that no team will shoot more than once on the same bank of targets. For each session, allocations will not be divulged until the markers and observers are in the butts. 10.6. Each team area will be roped off on both sides and at the rear of the firing point to prevent interference from adjacent teams and to prevent spectators from approaching within 12 metres from the target number pegs at the front of the firing point. 12 11. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM MATCH – MARKING 11.1. Each team may have a designated observer in the butts to verify the marking of the targets. Observers may accompany the butt officer during action on challenges, rectification of errors and the like. These observers must enter the butts before the team target allocations are known. It is essential that no one in the butts is aware of which team will be shooting on which targets.
11.2. The Chief Range Officer must brief Range Officers each day not to identify teams in challenges or any other messages passed to the butts. The host nation is to supply one scorer (register keeper) per target. 11.3. Each team is required to maintain a scoreboard (blackboard or similar, provided by the host Country), at the back of their team enclosure during the match for the benefit of spectators. Scores of each individual team member are to be entered on these boards as soon as the shooter completes his/her shoot at each distance. 12. AWARDS - TROPHIES 12.1. The Palma Trophy will be awarded to the winning team in the World Championship Long Range Team Match and is to be held by the winners until the next Championship. This trophy is:- 12.1.1. the property of the NRA of America, 12.1.2. entrusted to ICFRA according to the terms of a bailment agreement, 12.1.3. the responsibility of the winning nation to safeguard, 12.1.4. the responsibility of the winning NSGB to ship the trophy to the next host nation one month prior to the start of the World Championships. The Palma Trophy will only be awarded if the USA is competing. 12.2. The Fulton Trophy - a trophy won by Art Jackson, USA, and re-presented by him with specific conditions for the World Championship (Palma) Team Match - will be awarded to the highest individual scorer in the team match. The trophy is named after Major Henry Fulton - Captain of the USA team in the first Palma Match in 1876. This trophy is:- 12.2.1. the property of the NRA of America, 12.2.2. entrusted to ICFRA according to the terms of a bailment agreement, 12.2.3. the responsibility of the winner to safeguard, 12.2.4. to be shipped to the next host nation, with the Palma Trophy, one month prior to the start of the next World Championships. 12.3. The Paterson Cup will be awarded to the winner of the World Championship Long Range Individual Match and may be held by the winner until the next championship. This trophy is:- 12.3.1. the property of the NRA of Great Britain, 13 12.3.2. entrusted to ICFRA according to the terms of a bailment agreement, 12.3.3. the responsibility of the winner, or his home association, to safeguard the trophy, 12.3.4. the responsibility of the winner or his/her NSGB to ship the trophy to the next host nation one month prior to the start of the next World Championships. 13. AWARDS - MEDALS AND BADGES 13.1. The host nation must provide all the under-mentioned awards, but their form and design must either emanate from, or be approved by, the Committee. The host nation may provide additional awards under conditions made known to the Committee in advance of each match as per Rule 4.8. 13.2. Each participant in the World Championship Long Range Team Match will be awarded a commemorative badge or medal of the agreed PALMA design. 13.3. Each participant in the Individual World Long Range Championship will be awarded a commemorative badge of appropriate design. 13.4. For the World Championship Long Range Team Match, medals of the approved design, based on that used in 1985, will be awarded as follows:- 13.4.1. First place team - Gold, 13.4.2. Second place team - Silver, 13.4.3. Third place team - Bronze. 13.5. 26 of each medal must be provided, one for each team member. Should a team have less than 26 members, each must receive a medal, but the remaining medals are not to be issued. 13.6. First, second and third place awards will be made even if only the minimum number of four teams compete. 13.7. For the World Championships Long Range Individual Match, the host nation will provide the following medals, of approved design:- 13.7.1. Daily prizes: One set of medals (gold, silver & bronze) for each of the three distances together with a fourth set for the daily aggregate for each of the three days, 13.7.2. Aggregate prizes: One set of medals for each the 700m,/800y; 800m/900y and 900m/1000y aggregates, 13.7.3. Championship prizes: A special gold medal for the Champion, a similar silver medal for the runner-up and eight similar bronze medals. The bronze medals must be engraved with the relative finishing positions (3rd to 10th). Note: The colour of the medals relates to the colour only and not to their metal content. 14. OTHER PROVISIONS 14.1. Regulations not specified herein shall be governed by the ICFRA technical rules of Target Rifle Shooting. Circumstances or conditions requiring temporary departures from these rules, which have not earlier been addressed by the Committee, will be resolved at the Referee’s meeting with the team captains and the results made known to all competitors, as rapidly as possible. 14.2. The host nation must ensure that any constraint of safety or security which must override either these rules or ICFRA Technical Rules, is to be notified to all participants no less than 18 months before the scheduled date of the Championships. Such notification must also contain details of any aspect of the ICFRA rifle specification which would NOT be allowed under domestic rules for any immediately-preceding domestic competition to which World Championship Competitors have been invited or are likely to take part. After this, no change should be made. 14.3. Changes to these rules or match conditions shall be agreed by representatives of the World Championship Committee, with consideration given to recommendations by other past or prospective participating NSGBs. |
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