A friendly company with a professional approach … Great friendly service, good communication … A rare breed of online business with full traditional personal telephone service.
These are a few of the many positive comments from Pellpax customers, reflecting the efficient and reliable delivery service that’s unique to Pellpax. You may have been on the receiving end of this delivery process, or you may be considering a first-time purchase. But have you ever wondered how it all works?
Legislation has always stipulated that shotguns, rifles, and associated ammunition are sold on a face-to-face basis by a registered firearms dealer (RFD). There is now a law that requires all air guns and silencers to be sold under the same conditions. As a registered firearms dealer, Pellpax has a legal requirement to deliver these products, in person, to the customer; items that don’t fall into this category, such as pellets and clothing, are dispatched immediately, by courier, and will be delivered within a few days.
Every weekend, Pellpax’s fleet of vehicles sets out to deliver to households all over England and Wales. Between Friday lunchtime and Tuesday afternoon, Pellpax drivers will have visited up to 300 addresses, and it’s not uncommon for one driver to cover more than 1,000 miles. This huge task is achieved by putting into practice the teamwork and open communication that sets Pellpax in a class of its own.
Having taken an order, the sales team will mark the delivery location on a map of the UK, using colour-coded pins. The IT department provides information for the customer, using sophisticated software that can calculate routes and the approximate intervals between drops – assuming that a driver doesn’t lose his way! This can happen, of course, and so can delays caused by roadworks, accidents, and traffic congestion.
In these cases, the driver will make a phone call to the customer, with an apology and an explanation, and will provide a new estimated time of arrival. In a case where the time cannot be made up, the driver will also contact the customer next on the list. The Pellpax driver will always keep customers informed regarding the time of their delivery.
If your order is placed before midday on a Tuesday, it will be delivered to your door between the Friday of that week and the following Tuesday. An order placed after midday on Tuesday might still be dispatched for delivery three days later, or it may be delivered during the following weekend, depending on your location. In all cases, though, Pellpax staff will keep you up to date with information, and if you have any queries, they will be pleased to help.
Friday noon is a busy time at Pellpax headquarters. Every item has already been double-checked; all guns have been assembled, zeroed in, and tested, so they’re ready to shoot when you take them out of the box; and each package has the customer’s name written clearly on it. The packages are loaded into the vehicles in reverse order of delivery, locked in safely, under the eye of a security camera. Each driver takes with him a folder, containing all the paperwork for each delivery, and taped to the front of the folder is Pellpax’s Certificate of Registration as a Firearms Dealer.
When a driver sets out, he programmes the post code of the first drop into the satnav and checks that the estimated arrival time displayed is approximately the same as that shown on the paperwork. After each drop, the driver enters the next post code, and so the process goes on throughout the weekend. Because Pellpax has a policy of personal service, intervals between drops are calculated with the inclusion of a considerable period of time for customer care.
Pellpax drivers are not just couriers, but are an integral part of the team, working closely with all other departments. Like all members of the Pellpax staff, drivers are knowledgeable about the products they deliver and about the sales process. In the event that a driver is ill, and unable to work, it is not unusual for a staff member from another department to take on the role of driver for a weekend.
Here are some more comments from Pellpax customers:
Great delivery driver, so helpful, kept me updated on when and what time my delivery was coming … Another perfect delivery from Pellpax, on time as usual, would recommend 100%.
Target shooting is the most accessible, inclusive, and integrated of all mainstream sports. With a little innovation and lateral thinking, the sport can be adapted to accommodate a wide range of disabilities and special requirements.
One of the leading lights in the campaign for disabled-friendly shooting clubs is the Disabled Shooting Project (DSP), and at its head is co-ordinator, Elizabeth (Liz) Woodall.
Beginnings
I asked Liz about the conception of the DSP – how and why it came into being. Her story begins in 2005. When Liz was unexpectedly made redundant, she took on a temporary administrative role with the National Small-bore Rifle Association (NSRA), helping to sort out gift-aid on membership.
“Working through the records, I realised that there were a lot of sad letters from people about not being able to continue their membership because of old age or disability. It seemed such a shame that they were giving up the sport they loved and the social life that goes with it. Some of the letters went into quite a lot of detail, and their stories affected me. I thought, ‘I’m certain there are ways to help some of these people to continue shooting.’
“I approached two people from the NSRA: Charlie Blow, who was on the Board of Management, and Dave Froggett, the Coaching and Development Manager. They clicked with the whole concept. The three of us put the thing together, and Charlie was prepared to push the Board to take this seriously.”
Liz, Charlie, and Dave organised a consultation meeting in Wolverhampton.
Launching The Project
“We invited all the people we knew, who had anything to do with disabled shooting. The purpose was to see if there was enough genuine interest in our concept – to find out how far people would actually support it with their own resources – i.e. their time, effort, and money. There was an overwhelming vote to go for it, and so the next step was to put together an outline plan for getting it all off the ground.”
The project was launched. Liz and her husband, Brian, came up with an idea for a logo, and they spent an evening together doing all the artwork; there was, of course, no money available for professional services. (I think it’s a super logo!) Brian was running the NSRA website and editing the NSRA magazine, The Rifleman, so there was no difficulty in spreading the word via those media. The initial introductory leaflet was also a home brew, and Charlie Blow’s company generously paid for it to be printed.
“Right from the start, the DSP had a voluntary Steering Group that met every four to eight weeks to collaborate on, and oversee, the various areas of work that we were involved in. It consisted of representatives of the main target shooting disciplines, National Governing Bodies, and coaches. These people were fantastically important in making the DSP a success, by promoting and encouraging its work within their own fields. In addition, the Steering Group was truly remarkable for being the first and only fully pan-discipline co-operative body operating in the sport.”
Alongside her admin job, Liz worked at helping people with disabilities to continue with, or to take up, shooting. Eventually, the paid work came to an end, but Liz continued to work with the DSP. When Sport England heard about the project, they expressed an interest in funding it, provided that it was taken over by British Shooting. Liz and Charlie agreed, and Liz applied (successfully) for the job of co-ordinator.
How the DSP Works
I asked Liz, “How does the DSP work?”
“Well, a shooting club will contact us for advice. This might be general advice, like how to adapt the clubhouse for wheelchair users, or advice about helping a particular individual to take part, which might involve special equipment. We pass on information via email and telephone, and sometimes we’ll pay a visit, to see what’s already in place and to talk to members about their requirements. A lot of it is about motivation.
“We’re also contacted by a lot of individuals: disabled people, their relatives, friends, or carers – and even specialist medical professionals working with them. They want to know if target shooting could be an option for them; the answer is invariably “yes”. Then they ask how and where they can get involved. The three key requirements are: a welcoming club, suitable equipment, and a sympathetic coach – so, from the start, we set about making sure that those would all be available to as many people as possible.”
The Buddy System
“A club established in the DSP system will partner a club that’s new to it, giving advice and support.For example: a new clubhouse is being built, with disabled access in mind. A club that’s already gone through this process can offer advice based on their own experience. It’s not difficult; it just needs a bit of knowledge. The same system applies to coaches who are learning how to work with disabled shooters and need a more experienced mentor; and also to individual shooters, who can buddy-up with someone who has a similar disability, so they can help each other along. This scheme is particularly valuable where a club or shooter is geographically isolated – they can be helped via phone, email, skype, etc.”
Liz gave a lovely example of the buddy system.
“The longest-distance help we provided was to the Falkland Islands, where a disabled chap wanted to join the Port Stanley club. After contacting us, not only was the club coach buddied-up with coaches in Britain, but several clubs over here invited the Port Stanley people to take part in postal competitions, which was a huge boost to that club’s activities.”
Challenges of Funding
In July 2014, Sport England’s funding came to an end, and although the NSRA would have liked to take it on, this was not financially feasible. It was agreed that Liz could hang onto the logo and the website, and the DSP went back to being operated on a voluntary basis.
One of the most important services provided by the DSP is the development of equipment for individual shooters. Those working with the project devote a lot of time to sourcing off-the-shelf equipment that would be particularly suitable for those with some disabilities, and also finding ways of adapting it to suit even more people.
Even so, some shooters, particularly those with more severe disabilities, really need one-off pieces of equipment, tailor-made for them. In some cases, these aids have enabled shooters with disabilities to reach very high standards, and to compete in national and international competitions. One of the leading experts in this field is John Kelman (featured in our previous blog), who joined the DSP at the initial consultation meeting in Wolverhampton.
Liz also mentioned the charity, Remap (http://www.remap.org.uk/). Remap recruits retired scientists and engineers, who will construct one-off pieces of kit that can improve the quality of life for disabled people. This work is all done on a voluntary basis.
The Future of the DSP
So what does the future look like for the Disabled Shooting Project?
“My hope is that many of my colleagues on the Steering Group will be prepared to re-form it as soon as it’s possible to do so. This may be dependent on some grant or sponsorship, as they are geographically widely spread, and their travelling expenses really ought to be covered, as they were in the past. As you can see, there is going to be a lot for me to do to get the whole thing running properly again on a voluntary basis.”
If you would like to know more about the work of the DSP, visit the website: http://disabledshooting.org.uk. Plans are in hand to up-grade and up-date this site over the coming months. To contact the DSP, email [email protected] or phone 07527 579 686.
The Pellpax Bullet, accompanied by our very own road hog….
It’s been a busy summer for the Pellpax Bullet. Designed and built by skilled craftsmen at GSG Shepherds’ Huts, in Norwich, our bespoke trailer has certainly turned a few heads at shows and carnivals this year.
About two years ago, we decided that it would be good to get out and about a bit – to be a part of some of Norfolk’s marvellous events – and therefore we needed a trailer. Our trailer had to be big enough to display equipment, with storage space for additional stock, and standing room for staff. It had to be fully mobile, stable, spectacular, and safe … and it had to be shaped like a bullet.
Bullet’s Construction
The Bullet’s frame is constructed from semi-circular plywood ribs, which are joined together to form hoops, and the exterior cladding comprises narrow strips of Accoya, giving the illusion of a curve. Accoya is the world’s leading brand of acetylated softwood – a material that is dimensionally stable, extremely durable, and resistant to decay. The interior cladding is painted softwood, and the floor is made of engineered oak. The Bullet’s coned nose is a complex structure of studwork and cladding.
Out on show
A customer checks out the Bullet’s offerings.
On the weekend of June 24th and 25th, we took the Bullet to the Suffolk Armed Forces Week celebrations in Felixstowe. Our next-door neighbours were the Royal Marine Association (RMA), with their zero-danger firing range, and it was a pleasure to talk to these guys about the work that the RMA does for the Royal Marine family. This was a particularly busy and exciting weekend, as the Royal Marines’ Darell’s Day celebrations were being held in Felixstowe at the same time.
In August, we joined thousands of others at the ever-popular annual Cromer Carnival, famous, among other things, for an aerobatic display by the Red Arrows. Since the 1950s, the focus of Cromer Carnival has been a parade of floats on the Wednesday of carnival week; but during the first half of the 20th century, all the fun happened on the new pier, built in 1901. Amazingly, Cromer has been enjoying an annual week-long fair since the 1280s!
One of the most popular events in Norfolk is the Aylsham Agricultural Show, held each August Bank Holiday Monday at the Blickling Estate. The only problem with this one-day show is that you’re hard pressed to fit everything in! This year there were classic cars, military vehicles, marching bands, dog training displays, rural crafts, art exhibitions, cookery theatre, hot-air balloon rides, sheepdog trials …
And alongside all of this, we were delighted to welcome people to the Pellpax Bullet, and we received some lovely comments. Our favourite was from a little boy, who asked us if the Bullet was a submarine!
Stay tuned to the blog for details of further adventures on the Pellpax Bullet. To learn more about the construction of the Bullet, go to GSG Shepherd’s Huts.
This month our correspondent Hazel Randall takes a close look at the world of disabled shooting….
Target shooting is one of the most inclusive and adaptable sports. In the last 20 years, there’s been a tremendous change in attitude towards disabled sport in general, heavily influenced by dedicated individuals who join together to form strong support systems. To understand where it all began, let’s go back to the 1940s, to the father of the Paralympic Games…
The Paralympic Games
Sir Ludwig Guttmann (1899-1980) was a brilliant German neurologist and passionate advocate of physical exercise as a means of therapy for injured military personnel. Dr Guttmann, a Jewish refugee, set up the National Spine Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, in Buckinghamshire. This specialist unit, opened in February 1944, became the birthplace of revolutionary new therapeutic systems, which focussed on the building of physical strength and self-respect.
On July 29th 1948, as the Olympic Games were officially kicked off in London, the very first Stoke Mandeville Games were being held at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. Organised by Dr Guttman, this competition was a sporting arena for wheelchair athletes from all over the UK – a harbinger of great things to come. When Dutch ex-servicemen joined the competition in 1952, the event became known as the International Stoke Mandeville Games.
In 1960, Dr Guttman held the 9th Annual International Stoke Mandeville Games in Rome, alongside the Olympic Games, and from then on, the newly named Paralympic Games have taken place every four years. Since the 1988 Games in Seoul, Korea, the Paralympics have been held in the same host city as the Olympic Games, and the two competitions have been united.
The word Paralympic is a blend of Olympic with the prefix para- (Greek: ‘beside’), denoting alteration or modification.
The Disabled Shooters Group
DSG President Adrian Last in action
Richard Scott was a keen skeet shooter. According to Mr Scott’s wishes, donations collected at his funeral in 1995 were used to fund a have-a-go disabled shooting event at Sandringham Shooting Ground, in Norfolk. At the time, Sandringham Shooting Ground was managed by Graham Brown, whose wife, Yvonne, arranged for participants to be accommodated overnight at a nearby nursing home, where she worked.
The success of this event led to others of its kind, and it was not long afterwards that the Disabled Shooters Group (DSG) was founded by Adrian Last and Brian Wilkie, two friends who first met at the event sponsored by the late Richard Scott. Brian Wilkie suffered from a severe form of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and died in 2005.
In 1984, at just 24 years old, Adrian Last had a serious motorcycle accident, which resulted in a paralysed right arm and the amputation of his right foot. The following year, having regained the use of his arm, Adrian got back on a bike and resumed the sport he loved: endurance racing.
“With my prosthetic foot, I had no toe movement, and couldn’t operate a foot brake, so my bike was adapted for me. The rear brake was controlled by a lever on the left handlebar, and I continued to compete in national competitions, alongside able-bodied motorcyclists.”
But in 1990, another terrible motorcycle accident left Adrian even more damaged. After lying unconsciousness for eight days, he awoke to discover that two of the vertebrae in his neck had been broken, and that he had lost the use his legs; he would never again be able to ride a motorcycle. But two years later, at the motorcycle club’s annual clay shoot, 32-year-old Adrian was launched into his next passion: clay shooting.
“I’d shot before. Being a farmer’s son, I was handling guns from 11 or 12 years old, shooting pigeons and rabbits on the farm. But it had been a while!”
Last year, Adrian won the World English Sporting and the World Sport Trap titles, bringing his total world golds to five. He has also won one European and many British gold medals, and was the first winner of the CPSA award for Disabled Shooter of the Year. Fifty-seven-year-old Adrian is the DSG’s life president and a determined campaigner for disabled shooting. Over the last 20 years, he has helped to bring the CPSA’s attention to this area of the sport, and his efforts have contributed to increased accessibility of shooting sports in the UK.
He said, “I don’t mind what you ask about my disabilities. If talking about this inspires somebody to get into shooting sports, then I’m happy.”
DSG Secretary Sam Nunn takes aim with some clay shooting
Sam Nunn is the DSG’s current secretary, responsible for organising shooting events. Three of Sam’s limbs are affected by a very rare syndrome called femur-fibular-ulna complex, and he has been using a prosthetic leg since he was just 15 months old. Sam, who won the CPSA’s Shooter of the Year award in 2014, has been shooting from the age of 12.
“I used to go out shooting rabbits and pigeons with my uncle. But when I was 17, I fancied having a go at clay target shooting, so I started looking around for a club. There were very few clubs that were accessible to disabled shooters, and certainly none near me.”
I asked Sam if things have changed in that respect.
“Yes. I’ve noticed, over the last few years, that attitudes towards disabled shooters have improved a lot. Of course, some disciplines are more accessible than others. For example, an Olympic Trap is shot from a concrete pad, which is easier for wheelchair users than grass.”
Sam told me that he has to choose his gun carefully.
“Because my arms are short, I opt for a gun with a shortened stock, which is typically designed for ladies; I’ve always been able to find something to suit me. For some, though, no gun off the shelf will be suitable, but it’s possible to obtain models with specially made stocks or electric triggers.”
Target Shooting is Accessible, Inclusive, and Integrated
Mick Kirby, of the Sussex CPSA committee, who had his lower left arm amputated, following a stroke, has been instrumental in arranging have-a-go days for people with disabilities.
“We ran one of these events last September, which was really well attended. There was a boy with autism, who particularly enjoyed the experience, thanks mainly to one of our members, who forged a good connection with the boy. This lad’s father was really chuffed.”
Mick told me, “Sometimes I’ll bump into someone at a competition, who’s still shooting after being introduced to the sport at one of our events. I don’t know if this particular boy has continued to shoot. I hope so.”
Mick is a determined character and has worked out a way of loading his gun one-handed, with the aid of a hip holder. At national competitions, he has won gold and silver medals in British skeet and American skeet, and he is also a referee. Mick is committed to promoting shooting for people with disabilities, but actually has a very positive view of the sport’s inclusive nature.
“The majority of clubs include everyone, without discrimination. Over the last few years, I’ve seen a positive change in attitude.”
I asked Mick how he will continue to promote disabled shooting. His reply was simple.
“I promote the sport best by shooting as an able-bodied shooter.”
Matt Skelhon
Matt Skelhon is a 32-year-old Paralympic gold medallist, whose first experience of target shooting was at the annual Inter Spinal Unit Games at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium.
Matt spent four months at the Princess Royal Spinal Cord Injuries Centre, Sheffield, after breaking his back in a road traffic accident when he was just 21 years old. The injury caused paraplegia, which is paralysis of the lower body. With lots of support from family and friends, Matt’s outlook was optimistic, and he made every effort to hurry up his recovery so that he could get on with life.
“I was always positive; I never despaired. I was pretty lucky.”
As part of his rehabilitation, Matt had a go at wheelchair basketball and archery, but it was during the WheelPower Inter Spinal Unit Games at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium, in April 2006, that he discovered a passion for target shooting. And he was very good at it!
He told me, “I’m a bit of a perfectionist, and I like a challenge.”
Two years later, the British National Anthem was playing at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China, as Matt received a gold medal for the 10m air rifle event in the SH1 classification. SH1 is for competitors who do not require a shooting stand.
“I felt absolute elation. Leading up to the competition, I’d been focussing on training, just thinking about the job in hand. It had been all about the shooting. And then, suddenly, here I was, with a gold medal round my neck. It was surreal!”
At the 2012 Paralympics in London, Matt won silver and bronze in the 10m and 50m air rifle events respectively, and he also competed in the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was named Sportsman of the Year by the Peterborough Telegraph. The Pellpax team wishes him well for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
John Kelman
John Kelman is an amazing man. He takes the concept of thinking outside the box to a place where you can’t even remember what the box looks like.
When he began his coaching career, John was confronted with a hurdle that he has had to overcome many times during his life: dyslexia. Intelligent, compassionate, and innovative, John struggled with the reading and writing aspect of studying for coaching qualifications, but this difficulty was certainly not going to get the better of him. He persevered, and now holds the position of Regional Coach – the highest coaching level recognised by the National Small-bore Rifle Association.
John was determined to provide coaching to people with disabilities. “In the year 2000,” he said, “most shooting clubs didn’t want to know about anyone with a disability – so I started my own club.”
John has designed and constructed shooting aids for many very different needs, and each of his innovations must be ratified by the NSRA to ensure that users are not given an unfair advantage in competitions.
DSG Shooter Eirian uses his feet to aim and shoot.
Eirian, who had cerebral palsy, had very little control over most of his body, including his head. This meant that he couldn’t focus his sight on the target, aim the gun, and pull the trigger, all at the same time. John told me, “He was trapped in his own body.”
However, Eirian had good control of his ankles and feet – in fact, he propelled his wheelchair with his toes. So John devised a way for Eirian to manoeuvre the barrel of the gun by means of a treadle, which he also used to operate the trigger. John fixed a laser onto the barrel, so that Eirian only had to watch the target; when the laser hit the centre, he’d shoot.
Another student, also with cerebral palsy, was 21-year-old Paul, whose hands were turned outward at an extreme angle. “Paul can’t turn his hands,” the carer told John. “He’s never seen his palms.” John borrowed a lace from the carer’s shoe and looped it around Paul’s wrist; with assistance, Paul then had control over pulling the trigger.
John went on to construct a tidier and safer mechanism for Paul to use – “I called this the Equaliser, as it made disabled shooters equal with able-bodied shooters.” But it was probably that first taste of achievement that brought Paul back again for another go.
And then there was Vic.
A close up of shooter Vic Morris, in action
“I was approached one day by an elderly gentleman who said he’d read an article about me in the local paper. ‘Can you get my son shooting?’ he said. I said, ‘I’ll give it a go.’ I was expecting a little lad, but then in comes a grown man, operating his wheelchair with his chin. I went to shake his hand, and he said, ‘Nothing works, mate.’ Within a week I had this man shooting; within 12 months he was entering national competitions.”
Vic Morris was 28, married, and a father of two little girls when his neck was broken in a rugby scrum, leaving him paralysed from the neck down.
John built a complex machine, whereby the gun was fixed into a support, and the end of the barrel was weighted. A butt plate supported a bracket that in turn supported the stock, and because Vic had excellent control of his head muscles, he could press the stock down with his chin, levering the other end up. Vic’s wife loaded the gun for him, and the trigger was connected to a switch, which Vic operated with his tongue.
Vic Morris became a very good shooter, and he and John were close friends. Vic died in July this year.
As I thanked John for taking the time to talk to me, he said, “I have a challenge for anybody with a disability. Come and see me, and I’ll do my very best to get you shooting – whatever your disability. Just contact me at [email protected].”
British Blind Sport
Trial shooter, Paul, takes aim with the specialist equipment
A quarter of a century ago, nobody in the UK with visual impairment was shooting, but in 1994, Ken Nash, a life member of both the National Small-bore Rifle Association (NRSA) and British Blind Sport (BBS), introduced shooting for the blind into the UK. There are now more than 30 centres across the country that welcome visually impaired shooters. Working alongside these clubs, BBS organises competitions, supports the education of school teachers, and provides classifications to blind and partially sighted athletes.
In the Summer 2017 issue of the NSRA’s in-house magazine, On Target, Ken introduces Ecoaims Vis500, a new audio aiming device that has been chosen by the NSRA for visually impaired shooting in the UK. An infrared LED is placed near the target, and the Vis500 converts the infrared signals to audio waves. Via his sense of hearing, the shooter’s skills of calculation, concentration, and steadiness can be tested to the same extent as those of a sighted shooter.
Michael Whapples
One of the experts involved in the selection of the Vis500 was Michael Whapples. Michael has been almost totally blind since birth. He attended a special school for visually impaired children, where he first experienced the joys of target shooting. He showed enormous aptitude for the sport, and it became his passion.
Studying physics at Nottingham University posed problems – and not only for Michael. One of his tutors, Janette Dunn, published a paper entitled Teaching a Physics Laboratory Module to Blind Students, in which she analysed the problems posed by lack of vision. Michael was one of two subjects in her case study, and, in reading this interesting article, it becomes apparent that a huge adversity like blindness does not always outweigh copious amounts of talent, common sense, and intelligence.
Michael’s ‘day job’ is developing software for producing brail documents. Other software projects include a Smart phone app that provides an audio compass for visually impaired sailing, and an app to allow configuration of the VIASS aiming system. But Michael, like so many of the experts I’ve spoken to, embraces the flexibility of this sport.
“In target shooting, visual impairment doesn’t necessarily have to go down the audio route. Shooting can be adapted in so many ways – for example, those with some useful vision can do disciplines such as benchrest shooting, where a scope is permitted. Also, when thinking about this, whilst I know of no shooter using it, blind archers use the ‘back of the hand’ tactile sighting system, which provides a reference point for elevation. Maybe this method can be adapted for shooters.”
Steven Richardson
Last year, I had the pleasure of talking to Steven Richardson, who lost both legs and five fingers in an IED explosion in Afghanistan in 2010. Steven was part of an eight-man team who cycled 3051 miles across the USA, raising £100,000 for Help for Heroes. He participates in several sports, including shooting. You can read The Big Interview: Steven Richardson here.
In Memoriam, Vic Morris
Many thanks to Dave Froggett, the NSRA (National Small-bore Rifle Association) Coaching and Development Manager, for putting me in touch with many of the people who contributed to this article.
A marching band performing at Suffolk Armed Forces Week. Credit: Felixstowe Forward.
On the weekend of June 24th and 25th, the Pellpax Bullet took part in the Suffolk Armed Forces Week celebrations in Felixstowe, where the Royal Marines were celebrating one of their earliest victories.
As proud sponsors of the Royal Marines Association (RMA), an organisation that offers support and friendship to the entire Royal Marines Family, we were keen to find out more about the marines, their history, and the special network of support that is spread worldwide.
The Admiral’s Regiment
On October 28th 1664, The Duke of York and Albany’s Maritime Regiment of Foot was formed, under the leadership of the Duke of York and Albany (the future James II of England), who had been appointed Lord High Admiral at the age of three – a nominal, rather than operational, position. Almost from the beginning, the abbreviation, “The Admiral’s Regiment” was frequently used.
Towards the end of the second Anglo-Dutch Wars (March 1665 to July 1667), Landguard Fort, near Felixstowe, was successfully defended by the marines, under the leadership of Captain Nathaniel Darell, in a battle against Holland’s Regiment de Marine, a new corps formed in December 1665. This first land battle honour for The Admiral’s Regiment – which, in 1775, became His Majesty’s Marine Forces, and later, the Royal Marines – is recorded as one of the last opposed attacks on England.
As a defeat would have left the country poorly placed in the peace negotiations that followed, Captain Darell is considered a hero, and is honoured annually on ‘Darell’s Day’ at Felixstowe.
The Battle of Landguard Anniversary
This year marks the 350th anniversary of the Battle of Landguard and the first major land victory of the marines. So, this year, the Suffolk regional Armed Forces Week celebrations were centred around that historic event, resulting in a spectacular weekend.
More scenes from the main stage at Suffolk Armed Forces Week. Photo: Felixstowe Forward.
Taking part in the celebrations were members of the Royal Marines Association, founded immediately after WWII to help marines who had been injured, or who were suffering from what is today recognised as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Lieutenant Colonel Mark Rundle, who served in the Royal Marines for 33 years, is President of the East Anglia Region of the RMA. He explained what this voluntary organisation is all about.
“The RMA is run by members, for members, offering practical and emotional support to cadets, servicemen, reservists and veterans – and also to their families. Because of recruiting nationally, and from Commonwealth countries, former marines are scattered all over the UK and, indeed, the world. The RMA helps to keep us all within the fold of the Royal Marines family.”
The Work of the RMA
Mark has been active in the RMA for many years. He talked to me about some of the ways in which members of the Royal Marines family are given assistance.
“Some veterans are men who have lived productive civilian lives since retiring from military service. But then, when they grow old, and their wives are ageing too, they might need a bit of help with shopping and housework; maybe they’re widowed, and are just in need of company; and there are those, of course, who need full-time care. Having been self-reliant all their lives, these are, of course, also the very last people ever to dream of asking for any help.
Historical re-enactment during Suffolk Armed Forces Week. Photo courtesy of Felixstowe Forward.
“Not all veterans are old. Some are young men who have been physically damaged in recent conflicts. The NHS is brilliant at saving lives and putting our wounded servicemen on the road to rehabilitation. But the prosthetic legs provided by our stretched health service are basic; they’re just made for walking. Our young amputees want to run; they want to row boats and ride bikes, climb up mountains, and ski down them.”
Mark explained that to provide the men with this quality of prosthesis, we must raise funds and look to the USA, where top-of-the-range legs can easily cost $50,000 a pair (and for complex needs can cost much more). This is an area where funding is so vital, where quality of life hangs in the balance. Mark told me about Captain Jon White, who lost three limbs – two legs above the knee, and his right arm – in an explosion in Afghanistan.
“Royal Marines charities made a grant of £97,500 to enable him to travel to the USA for the fitting of, and training with, the specialised limbs required. He is just one of many who need our support.”
The RMA also cares for the families of marines. Mark told me about a Norfolk couple whose son was killed in Afghanistan just a few years ago.
“They focused on their grief, not realising that they were surrounded by the Royal Marines family. With the couple’s permission, an acquaintance arranged for RMA volunteers to attend the funeral, and the Association was able to provide some support during following years.”
The stalls at the event, including the Pellpax Bullet, in the distance. Photo courtesy of Felixstowe Forward.
When Mark first joined the Norfolk Branch of the RMA, he was amazed to learn that the members had coordinated their efforts to engage with the public at fund-raising events by using their very own “Zero-Danger-Area” Mobile Air Rifle Range. Having specialised in weapon training as a junior officer, and with years of experience of all manner of firearms, he was sceptical: “I couldn’t see how a portable air-rifle firing range could be made completely safe.”
Zero Danger Area Range
It seems, though, that the RMA Norfolk Branch really is in possession of a bone fide zero-danger-area range. Having to be seen to be believed, the Norfolk Branch RMA’s unique firing range is an inspired contraption, and the brainchild of one of its members, Jaime Graham. An air rifle is fired, completely safely, down a large-diameter pipe; after puncturing the target at the end of the pipe, the pellet passes into a sealed bullet-catcher through a thick carpet fabric, which absorbs much of the pellet’s energy; the pellet strikes a steel plate, set at a 45° down-angle, and is deflected downward into felt.
The whole arrangement completely prevents any possible chance of a backward ricochet. To complete the safety of this unit, which allows for three shooters at any one time, each air rifle muzzle is fixed into the firing end of its pipe, ensuring that pellets can only travel safely down the pipe and into the bullet-catcher.
Members of the public can therefore test their skills with real weapons, in complete safety, and they can do so on two levels: the relatively easy Rifleman competition, where scoring on a large bull is ‘inward’ (meaning that if a pellet touches a dividing line on the target, the competitor is awarded the higher score); and at the advanced, and much harder, outward-scoring Marksman level, on each of five, much smaller, bulls. Coaching by former Royal Marines helps to break the ice, as everybody naturally wishes to shoot just that little bit more accurately. Competition is often fierce, with many people returning time and again to better their scores and thus try to secure “bragging rights” among their friends!
The Pellpax Bullet makes it debut at the big event. Photo copyright Pellpax 2017.
However, despite its appearance at fund-raising events, the portable range was never intended to be purely a money-making tool. People are sometimes reticent about talking to military personnel; they are shy, maybe, of the uniforms and the medals, and wary of an organisation rooted in British history, yet unfamiliar to so many of us.
Mark told me: “The purpose of the range is to help us engage with the public. The target-shooting activity puts people at their ease, and interaction follows naturally, resulting in the general public’s greater understanding of how the organisation can support its members – but more importantly, an understanding of why this support is needed in the first place.”
Norwich 100 Bike Ride
In his four years as a member of the RMA, Martyn Holmes, former Chairman of the Norfolk branch and present Hon. Treasurer, has twice completed the 100-mile route of the popular Norwich 100 Bike Ride, raising over £2,000 for the cause.
“Since I left the Royal Marines in ’92, the war in the Middle East raised its ugly head, and our troops were so deployed. Since then, we’ve seen hundreds of deaths and horrendous injuries from all arms of our forces, as well as families who have been torn apart. If raising a few quid to add to the coffers helps in some small way, then that makes sense to me.”
Cycling 100 miles is a feat beyond the capabilities of most of us, but Martyn made the achievement despite being hampered by damaged hips.
Soldiers check out the guns, blades and archery equipment. Photo copyright Pellpax 2017.
“I developed osteoarthritis in both hips, almost certainly from yomping with 100-plus pounds on my back over the mountains of Arctic Norway, followed by 20 years on firearms ops within Norfolk Police. My active careers took a toll on my hips, and, as a result, I had bi-lateral hip resurfacing. That basically means I have metal hip joints. I did the ride with a good friend, who was there in case my hips seized up – and they nearly did!”
If you’re wondering what yomping is, it’s long distance marching, carrying full kit. This load comprises: a Bergan rucksack, usually weighing well over 100lbs; fighting order, containing basic survival kit, water, and ammunition; a helmet and body armour; a radio; and at least one weapon.
Yomp is the Royal Marines’ very own acronym of ‘your own marching pace’, but as any marine will tell you, it’s actually carried out at the much faster pace that your commander thinks you should be yomping at – which isn’t quite the same thing, really …
Pellpax Sponsorship
Thanks to the dedication of its members, the East Anglia Region RMA has, for the last seven consecutive years, raised more money than any other RMA region in the whole of the UK. And now Pellpax is lending a hand too, in the form of sponsorship. Pellpax has donated four air rifles for the mobile range, as well as regular donations of pellets, competition prizes, and rifle maintenance.
Talking about the Armed Forces Weekend event, Mark said, “The new Pellpax Bullet trailer was stationed next to our firing range. The Pellpax team told people, ‘You can look at these rifles here, but you can have a go with them over there,’ and the RMA volunteers pointed out Pellpax as ‘our very kind new sponsors’. The synergy was wonderful.”
Mark summed up the essence of the RMA. “Our members make the Association what it is, and it’s their activity that is reflected in the way we are organised and run. It’s their efforts which raise the funds to enable these life-changing interventions.” The RMA’s message to its members is, “We’re the constant thread that runs right through your life, providing camaraderie, support, stability, and practical help. Once a marine, always a marine”.
Pellpax is proud to announce we are now members of UKARA. Great news for our airsoft customers
We are pleased to announce that Pellpax is now a member of UKARA (UK Airsoft Retailers’ Association), the organisation that is dedicated to the promotion of airsoft and to public safety.
The Violent Crime Reduction Act of 2006 introduced tight restrictions on the use, ownership, and sale of realistic imitation firearms (RIFs). In response to these new laws, an association of UK airsoft retailers was formed, for the purpose of producing a system for monitoring the sale of RIFs, and thereby protecting the airsoft sport and trade.
Frank Bothamley (centre), head of UKARA
UKARA operates an effective and politically acceptable system, which protects retailers of airsoft equipment, whilst maintaining the safety of the public. The UKARA database holds a record of all participating airsoft players and game sites, and is available to retailers for verification of sales and purchases. This system allows retailers to check that RIFs are being sold only to legitimate purchasers.
Permitted RIF purchaser groups include, amongst others, film and theatre producers and participants in organised historical re-enactments. But it’s airsoft players who form the largest RIF purchaser group in the UK, and skirmishers can find an increasing range of airsoft equipment at Pellpax. If you’re new to the game, and thinking about buying your first airsoft gun, expert advice is available from our staff members.
The UKARA chairman is Frank Bothamley, a former designer of DB2 databases, who co-founded Firesupport Ltd and Free Fire Zone, an airsoft skirmish site near to Peterborough. I asked Frank about the work that UKARA carries out on behalf of the airsoft industry.
The ICS CXP-08 Crane Stock AEG
“We successfully lobbied for the airsoft limit to be set higher than 1 joule. We achieved a recognised definition in law for airsoft guns, and we got 6mm and 8mm pellets officially tested to prove that they were not lethal at the limits advertised by the Home Office. We meet regularly with the home office and have contact with FELWG [Firearms and Explosives Licensing Working Group]. We continue to speak to the CPS [Criminal Prosecution Service] and border controls about the impact of PCA [policing and crime act] 2017.”
At Pellpax, we stock many brands of airsoft guns and accessories. We have recently added ICS products to our range, including the ICS WW2 M3 Greaser AEG, which has an effective range of approximately 50 metres, and the small, compact ICS CXP-08. We’re also pleased to have available some two-tone airsoft rifles and pistols for customers who are not yet registered to an airsoft club in the UK. Note that it is against the law to alter the appearance of these items in order to render them more realistic.
The Malta Grand Prix 2017 took place from June 10 to June 18 at the Malta Shooting Sport Federation (MSSF) ranges at Bidnija, a tiny village in the northern part of Malta. The MSSF was established in 1908, and in 2008 it produced a book, A Century of Organised Shooting Sport in Malta. In his introduction, president Saviour Portelli says that the work of the MSSF “makes shooting sport the primary sport in Malta, and thus our country expects shooting to provide the first Olympic medal”.
In temperatures reaching 30°C, Amy and her fellow competitors shot daily from 9a.m. to 7p.m. For a whole week, the athletes spent most of their time in each other’s company, and, despite an abundance of competitive spirit within the group, there was plenty of camaraderie and bonhomie. Amy told me, “Training and competing alongside these excellent shots gives me inspiration to push forward.”
Amy with seasoned shooting coach, Iain McGregor
Malta wasn’t Amy’s first experience of shooting in intense heat. In the summer of 2016, Pellpax funded her trip to Málaga, where she trained hard and competed in the Junior Grand Prix, winning Gold in the Junior Ladies event.
Amy is trained by coach Iain McGregor, who is based at Auchterhouse, in Dundee. Iain has been coaching for more than 30 years, and has achieved all three levels of International Sports Federation Coaching Certificates. He is one of the most highly qualified and experienced shotgun coaches in the UK, and holds international qualifications at the highest level.
Amy’s first step on her shooting career ladder was success at the Target Tokyo trials, after being scouted by an APSI (Association of Professional Shooting Instructors) coach during the summer of 2015. Since then, she has competed in the British Championships, the Captain’s Cup, the Grand Prix in Holland (winning team gold and high gun and shooter of the competition), and international competitions in Serbia and at Bisley Shooting Ground, in Surrey. In the past nine months, Amy has won a Gold in Málaga and a Bronze in Malta – her first senior competition.
May receiving her trophy
Results like these don’t come easily. Amazingly, Amy is studying for a degree in Law at Northumbria University, in Newcastle. Despite a heavy study workload and a gruelling training regime, Amy is a regular visitor at the campus gym, where she works out to build and maintain her stamina and upper body strength. (“It’s vital to maintain a high level of training at all times.”)
In her pursuit of excellence, Amy has had to tackle many mental challenges. Travelling to new places and living among strangers can be daunting, but Amy doesn’t give in to nerves. She continually pushes herself to her limits, overstepping the bounds of her comfort zone.
“It’s made me mentally stronger and more capable of holding my nerve in competitions.”
Amy’s next competition will be in Finland, mid-July. We all wish our Pellpax Girl every success!
Pellpax can announce that it has become a member of the Gun Trade Association (GTA).
As a member of this association, Pellpax is an integral part of a nationwide network of organisations, dedicated to ensuring the safe use of guns and the continued health of shooting sports and professions.
The Gun Trade Association has been promoting and protecting the UK gun trade since 1912. Working closely with police and governmental authorities, the GTA offers its members support and advice in all areas of the trade, from licensing and insurance queries to issues of transportation and storage. As a council member of the British Shooting Sports Council (BSSC), the GTA co-operates with the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and the Countryside Alliance (CA), representing the gun trade in matters of legislation.
The GTA works closely with the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Home Office, the Department of Trade and Industry, Firearms Licensing Departments, and HM Revenue and Customs.
The present GTA chairman is 77-year-old John Batley, a professional pigeon shooter since 1984 and author of The Pigeon Shooter: A Complete Guide to Modern Pigeon Shooting. This elegantly written book, first published in 1996, is as engaging to the layman as it is to the expert, and Mr Batley’s vast knowledge of the wood pigeon, in regard to both anatomy and habit, is testimony to his many years of dedication to the sport. In his introduction, he writes, “The wood pigeon has enabled me to feed and clothe my family, travel to fascinating places and meet many, many people.”
John Batley says, “The GTA exists today primarily to defend the interests of the gun trade by working closely with all official bodies that could influence or damage the industry.” He goes on to say that the GTA’s protection of the UK gun trade is, by definition, in the interests of all those who shoot in this country.
The GTA’s Code of Practice sets out clear parameters:
The safety of the public shall be a priority for the Association and its members.
All members must be acquainted with the relevant law and comply with it in all respects.
A primary aim of all our members is to give good service to their customers and to the public.
All members shall take responsibility for the products that they sell.
Members shall conduct themselves in a proper and professional manner in their dealings with other members of the trade and the public.
Members’ advertising shall be designed and worded so as not to bring the trade or its products into disrepute.
All members shall abide by the stated aims and objectives of the Association as published.
Members shall be held accountable for their actions by the Association.
Pellpax’s Managing Director, Darren Kirk, explained why it was important for Pellpax to be a member of the GTA:
“Membership of the GTA gives access to tools that help us promote the safe use of guns in this country, and we’re proud to be a part of maintaining the good reputation of the trade.” He added, “Safety of the public is our main priority in every aspect of what we do.”
From July this year, Pellpax will be stocking two super new PCP air rifles, both made by the Ukrainian company, Zbroia, based in the city of Kharkov.
Joe Meakin and Ross Mitchell, from Pellpax, visited Badersfield Air Rifle Club in Norfolk with samples of the Hortitsia, made by Zbroia since October 2015, and the Kozak, which first appeared in October 2014. Club members were keen to try them out.
The Kozak side lever model is a bullpup design, which means that the gun’s action is situated behind the trigger, decreasing the rifle’s overall length and weight without compromising the length of the barrel.
Nick Bowen is one of Badersfield’s founding members and has been shooting for 45 years. He immediately took to the Kozak.
“This short rifle is good for manoeuvring among trees. I could shoot all day with that and never get an arm ache. It’s incredibly comfortable – sitting down or standing up.”
The safety catch on the Kozak is positioned on the side of the barrel, where it can be reached and operated without having to lower the rifle from the shoulder. An adjustable cheek piece contributes to sustained comfort and, consequently, accuracy.
There was a lot of praise for the trigger action on the both the Kozak model and the Hortitsia bolt action sporting rifle. Phil Hurman said of the Hortitsia: “The trigger pull is lovely – very light and sensitive.”
Even though Nick had formed a firm attachment to the Kozak, he liked the Hortitsia too. Having taken a few shots, he said, “It’s nice to hold; well balanced; sensitive trigger.”
Founding member, Pat Gray, who has been shooting since childhood, was impressed with the smooth insertion of the probe into the magazine, describing it as “crisp and clean”. He remarked on the quietness of the rifles. Joe explained that both models include an integrated barrel shroud for very effective silencing.
The design criteria of these two rifles are accuracy, quality, reliability, and ergonomics, which, between them, just about encompass every possible area of exceptional performance.
Not everyone, of course, is looking for the same qualities in a product, and therefore the Zbroias won’t fit the bill for everyone.
But when it comes to ergonomics, these two rifles – each with an easy magazine drop-in, sensitive trigger, relatively light weight, and smooth probe engagement – are champs. Both the Hortitsia and the Kozak are available in .177 and .22 (4.5 and 5.5) calibre.
The new Zbroia air rifles will be in stock as of July 2017. If you have any questions about them, or about any of our other products, just give us call or contact us via this website.
This month, our intrepid reporter Hazel Randall visited a local shooting club close to the Pellpax HQ. This is her report on the friendly and welcoming atmosphere at Badersfield Air Rifle Club.
The grounds of RAF Coltishall, now known as Badersfield
On a sunny Sunday afternoon, along with Joe Meakin and Ross Mitchell from Pellpax, I visited Badersfield Air Rifle Club, located on the old RAF Coltishall air base in Norfolk.
After its closure, RAF Coltishall, which operated from 1938 to 2006, was renamed Badersfield as a tribute to Sir Douglas Bader, one of the most famous and respected airmen of all time, who lost both legs in a crash when he was just 21 years old. Bader was stationed here during WW2, but was captured by the Germans in 1941 after bailing out over occupied France. The 1956 feature film, Reach for the Sky, based on the biography by Paul Brickhill and starring Kenneth More, was a box office hit, and in the 1976 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Bader was appointed a Knight Bachelor for ‘services to disabled people’.
Foundations
Badersfield Air Rifle Club was founded in 2013 by Pat Gray. Paying for the development out of his own pocket, Pat, with help from friends and family, worked hard on the site, which had run wild during seven years of neglect. He described the clean-up operation.
“First we had to clear away the vegetation and level the ground. I hired an excavator and got a professional tree surgeon in to deal with the larger trees. The site had to be decontaminated by removing all the lead debris.”
The clubhouse is an old RAF building, which blends nicely into its surroundings. With so many of the original military buildings still intact, the RAF Coltishall site is frequently used as a film set. A few hundred meters from the club stands an old American ambulance; and apparently it’s not unusual to witness a car chase or a simulated shoot-out.
One our our staff, Ross Mitchell, tests out his Hortitsia at the range.
Dedicated Members
Badersfield Air Rifle Club began with 15 members and has grown to a membership of 53. The site is maintained by dedicated club members who have, bit by bit, added facilities and made this a really nice club to belong to. One of the latest additions is flood lighting.
“We’re hoping to introduce regular evening sessions soon,” Pat told me.
There are two ranges at Badersfield – the indoor 35-meter range and the long range, where targets stand at varying distances up to 50 meters. To make life interesting, the targets are of different types, including knock-down targets, paper square targets, and spinners; and every now and then there’s the tinkle of a bell target being hit.
Two of the club’s founding members are father and son, Peter and Nick Bowen.
Founding member, Nick Bowen, pictured.
“Dad’s 88,” Nick Bowen told me, “The oldest member of the club. He did his national service in the RAF and he’s one of the few people left who’ve served in an RAF Lancaster crew. He was a wireless operator.”
Nick, who worked for 34 years as a railway engineer, is club ambassador and a keen promoter of disabled shooters. Coping with his own physical disabilities, Nick is acutely aware of the needs of those with limited mobility or dexterity. But he’s also very much aware of the inclusiveness of the sport when it comes to physical ability.
Welcoming Environment
“You could be short, tall, fat, thin, fit, unfit … it makes no difference to shooting. Anyone can do it.”
Another of Badersfield’s founding members was John Stubley, who was suffering from terminal cancer. John loved shooting, and despite pain and sickness, he continued to take an active part in club life until very shortly before his death. Now, in memory of John, there’s the Stubley Cup, an annual competition held in August and won last year by our very own Pellpax man, Joe Meakin!
Another Pellpax man, Ross Mitchell, is a regular shooter at Badersfield.
“It’s a nice friendly club. When I first went, I didn’t feel like an alien. They treat newcomers the same as long-standing members. The ranges are good, and you can shoot all year round, especially now they’ve got floodlighting. And the weekly competitions and social events are fun – very relaxed.”
Badersfield Air Rifle Club are based at RAF Coltishall, Norwich NR10 5AJ. They can be contacted via Facebook, and on 07885 412 414. New members of all ages are welcome. Having met some of the leading club members, I really can guarantee a warm welcome and a fantastic shooting experience.
website, and the DSP went back to being operated on a voluntary basis.
DSG President Adrian Last in action
DSG Shooter Eirian uses his feet to aim and shoot.
A close up of shooter Vic Morris, in action
Trial shooter, Paul, takes aim with the specialist equipment
In Memoriam, Vic Morris
