The Manx Acoustic Shooting Club, established on February 13, 2014, commemorated its remarkable decade-long journey this month.
This pioneering club has provided a platform for individuals who are blind or visually impaired to engage in target shooting, achieving notable success over the past decade.
Notably, the club has fostered talented shooters, with several members earning prestigious medals from the National Small-Bore Rifle Association (NSRA) Visually Impaired Shooting league.
Shooting
Acoustic shooting, tailored for individuals with visual impairments, employs specially adapted target air rifles equipped with unique sights and sensors. These sights emit sound signals whose pitch alters, enabling shooters to pinpoint and aim at their targets.
Regular club sessions, typically held twice a month, attract an average of 12 dedicated participants.
In 2023, Sight Matters organized 23 shooting sessions at Corrin Court, the organisation’s headquarters, comprising 164 individual shooting sessions lasting approximately an hour.
Participants fired over 4000 shots at more than 800 targets during these sessions.
Celebrate 10th Birthday
To celebrate the club’s milestone anniversary, Sight Matters hosted a “Them and Us” shooting competition, inviting community partners who have supported their cause alongside club members.
Figures such as Rob Callister, Onchan MHK, Mark Christian, Chief Fire Officer, Dan Davies, Chief Executive of the Department of Home Affairs, Dawn Kinnish, MLC, and John Philips, Police Superintendent, represented the “Them” team.
The “Us” team comprised dedicated club members Angela Bridson, Roger Ingrey, and Bridget Le Moignan, with additional support from two fire officers.
Lady Lorimer, already a proficient shot, attended and had a go – though was unfortunately unable to stay for the competition.
Under the supervision of Dave Wilson, Sight Matters’ Accessibility and Technology Lead, the competition went ahead without a hitch.
It was a proud moment for Sight Matters as the “Us” team emerged victorious, although the “Thems” provided stiff competition.
Any insinuations about the fire officers being “ringers” were dismissed as baseless.
Beyond celebrating a decade of progress, the competition showcased the remarkable achievements of club members when equipped with appropriate resources and support.
It underscored the transformative impact of inclusive initiatives like the Manx Acoustic Shooting Club.
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