BR News > WBSF - World Benchrest Shooting Federation Events

New Zealand 2017

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IanOwen:
This thread has been a very interesting read, I can only imagine what it would be like to have more competitors than positions available for the WBC teams, and be in the position to come to a fair and unbiased selection criteria.

Since NZ has a small BR community, I got told while having dinner one evening during WBC in France (by the then WBSF president), to come up with a fair and unbiased selection criteria for the NZ WBC teams. It wouldn't be right if it seemed like I was putting myself in the "A" team all the time.

While we don't have the "East - West" thing we do seem to have a "North - South" thing where most of the South Island shooters travel North for the qualifying North Island shoot yet not many of the North Island competitors travel South for the South Island qualifying shoots. This means that there are usually less competitors at the South Island qualifying shoots, except for Nationals (which are held on the most central Benchrest range in NZ - Nelson)

This meant (using the US, Aussie or even the Canadian selection criteria) that the ones that attended the smaller shoots were disadvantaged, and I wasn't going to try and compare aggs for several different shoots, afterall aggs are only comparable on the same range on the same day.

I wanted a points system that rewarded consistency in the 2 gun (after all it's a 2 gun event) and came up with the following, the points are awarded on your 2 gun placing i.e 1 point for 1st, 2 points for 2nd, 10 points for 10th etc. and your 4 lowest scores from 8 qualifying shoots determine your place in the teams. This means the number of shooters at a competition doesn't come into it.

This (sort of) works for us......the reason I say sort of is, because since I didn't make the "A" team it was suggested by several of the competitors that I should be moved into the A team and one of the A team put down into the B team. I refused to alter the teams and was backed by our National body (NZDA) which didn't make me popular with some Benchrest shooters.....I got told I was doing things to benefit myself.

I think no matter what the selection criteria is someone will think it disadvantages some competitors, yet an alternative selection criteria may disadvantage other competitors.

WBC is a large financial and time commitment, if some only want to put their hat in the ring for selection when it's in their own backyard then given there is 4 years notice of where it is going to be they have 2 - 3 years to save so they can participate in the selection process.

These are just my thoughts and opinions.

Ian

IanOwen:
Well since there is so much interest in getting onto the Canada team for 2015 I thought I'd post a pic of the Nelson Range which will host the 2017 WBC.............see if I can encourage as much interest in attending when it's in New Zealand.

A couple of years ago all the trees you see were logged, so it looks a bit different now but there will be some small trees present by 2017.......Ian

rpollock:
Hi Ian, thanks for the picture. Do you have any pictures of the firing line or other facilities?

BobR:
Awesome picture, makes me want to book holiday + tours now... will need to wait for qualifying to be confirmed first.

Hey, I think I see Bilbo Baggins behind the berm  :o

IanOwen:
I will get some up to date photos at Easter when I go up for Nationals.

At present there are 20 Benches and we will most likely be loading in a big marque tent as the present facilities only accommodate about 12 - 15 shooters.
We do not have power at the range, something to do with cost due to being several km's inside a working forest.

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