Target calling and checking procedure
Following on from the problems we had at a recent UKAHFT shoot we are trialling a system that will hopefully reduce the number of calls on targets that are working correctly whilst still allowing shooters to call targets that may be faulty. We don’t want to stop people calling targets altogether & we don’t want to go down the route of only allowing standard targets. The following will be tweaked as required for the remainder of the season before being written into next years rules.
If a target is called as possibly being faulty by a competitor then a head marshal will check the target using the UKAHFT target checker, the checker should be held securely in both hands when operating to ensure the kill is hit cleanly as missing the kill will look to the competitor as though the target is indeed faulty. If the faceplate is hit during a check then the competitor should be informed & the check carried out correctly. If the target fails to fall on the first correct check then that target is deemed as faulty, if the target falls on the first check then the target is deemed to be operating correctly & shooting can recommence. Faulty targets will whenever possible be repaired or replaced with a similar target, in cases where this isn’t possible then the target may be pulled from competition but only after consultation with one or both of the organisers, both the organisers & the senior Chief Marshal are contactable throughout the shoot via the chrono marshal who has a 2-way radio on a different frequency for that purpose.
If a target is being repeatedly called then wherever possible a marshal will be permanently placed to monitor that target after the 2nd call, if the target is called 5 times during a session then that target will be deemed “non callable” and may not be called again during that session. At the end of that session the organisers or their deputies, will inspect the target thoroughly to decide whether or not the target should be removed from competition, a “non callable” target may not be replaced.
If a target is called as possibly being faulty by a competitor then a head marshal will check the target using the UKAHFT target checker, the checker should be held securely in both hands when operating to ensure the kill is hit cleanly as missing the kill will look to the competitor as though the target is indeed faulty. If the faceplate is hit during a check then the competitor should be informed & the check carried out correctly. If the target fails to fall on the first correct check then that target is deemed as faulty, if the target falls on the first check then the target is deemed to be operating correctly & shooting can recommence. Faulty targets will whenever possible be repaired or replaced with a similar target, in cases where this isn’t possible then the target may be pulled from competition but only after consultation with one or both of the organisers, both the organisers & the senior Chief Marshal are contactable throughout the shoot via the chrono marshal who has a 2-way radio on a different frequency for that purpose.
If a target is being repeatedly called then wherever possible a marshal will be permanently placed to monitor that target after the 2nd call, if the target is called 5 times during a session then that target will be deemed “non callable” and may not be called again during that session. At the end of that session the organisers or their deputies, will inspect the target thoroughly to decide whether or not the target should be removed from competition, a “non callable” target may not be replaced.