Summer is often seen as competition season in the world of shooting, as sharpshooters don their glasses, take aim and test their accuracy to the limits.
Whilst the hunting season tends to take place throughout the year, depending on the region and particular game, many events tend to take place from spring until early autumn, with the most prestigious of them all occupying much of the month of July.
What Was The First Ever Major Shooting Competition?
Whilst there have been archery and ranged shooting contests since the invention of the bow, the first ever shooting contest was the Imperial Meeting, which is also the oldest and most prestigious shooting meet on the calendar.
Founded by the then-new National Rifle Association of Great Britain, the Imperial Meeting was initially founded as a way to improve the marksmanship of the nation in an era of an increasingly expanding British Empire and concerns about a potential war with France.
The solution was to establish a Volunteer Force (now part of the Territorial Army), but as civilian marksmanship was seen to be relatively poor, the National Rifle Association wanted to improve that standard and would ultimately put together the first shooting competition towards that aim.
The first shot fired at the Imperial Meeting was by Queen Victoria, using a then-new Whitworth Rifle mounted to a mechanical rest, which meant that she could simply pull a cord to fire it without having to hold it or take aim herself.
She would also be the sponsor of a special Queen’s Prize match with a prize of £250 (£27,000 adjusted for inflation) for the best marksman of the day. The first prize went to Edward Ross, a 17-year-old member of the 7th North Yorkshire Volunteers.
At one point, the Imperial was not only the most prestigious shooting competition but also one of the most highly-publicised sporting events in the UK, and this led to press attention and the development of both weaponry and equipment showcased during the contest.
How Do You Prepare For A Shooting Competition?
Whilst challengers at the Imperial simply turned up with a rifle and did their best, modern competitors work for months to perfect their technique and prepare both mentally and physically for a particular meet, especially if it has prestige.
Here are some tips to prepare for a contest:
- Practice consistently, using all of the equipment you intend to use for the competition such as eye guards, hearing protection and rifle sights.
- Perfect your grip, stance, sight alignment and trigger control.
- Visualise every stage of the competition and regularly engage in breathing exercises to steady your nerves and your aim.
- Engage in a fitness regime that incorporates strength building, cardiovascular exercise, flexibility and balance.
- Check your gun, ammo, range bag and appropriate clothing for the contest to build yourself for success.
