NUS NPCC .177 Air-Rifle Shooting Championship 2007
On 27 February 2007, our cadets took part in the NUS NPCC Championship 2007 for the first time, this is one of their reflections.
一
It was the first time our unit ever participated in a shooting competition. Every one of us was eager to try out as representatives for our unit. There was a maximum limit of 12 cadets that each unit could send and there was 18 of us who wanted to take part. We were thus grouped in fours and the supposed group captain would have to pick a card deciding if the group was going to be selected for the competition. My group got in along with two other groups.
We had to attend a compulsory briefing session at Westwood Secondary School. It was the first time all of us actually got to experience air rifle shooting. After a short introduction to the competition rules, range-safety and scoring criteria, we were allowed to have our first go at competitive air-rifle shooting.
Waiting for our turn
Cocking the rifle
We learnt the correct way to handle an air-rifle, from cocking the rifle, loading of the pellet, the shooting stances and how to aim. After that, we were given five pellets to try out. Being new to shooting, I hit the card but missed the target circle twice while the other three shots flew to I-don't-know-where. That would mean that my competition score would be zero. It was kind of disappointing.
Later, our unit O.C, Miss Aline Poh managed to secure the school's air rifle range for us to practice in. We would come down after school on Wednesdays or during Friday's CCA time to practice. We were taught basic range housekeeping like emptying the range's humidifier, putting out the red "live firing" flag and the live firing warning sign, oiling the rifles and putting them back properly after trainings and also mopping the range floor to get rid of the lead in the pellets. We improved during these trainings, especially during the competition format trainings where we pitted our shooting skills against each other using the actual competition format, allowing us to mentally prepare ourselves for the competition. Other cadets also helped out by acting as scorers, with one scorer attached to a shooter during each different detail. The scorer would take the shooter's targets cards and counts the number of points the shooter as achieved. They also encourage the shooter whenever the shooter may accidentally miss or hit a low score. To us, this is the best representation of unity, cooperation and encouragement to one another.
Finally, after two weeks of shooting practice, it was the day of the competition. The competition venue was at HomeTeamNS which had a fully updated and equipped air gun range. We sat at a corner while waiting for our detail to start. The other shooters from other schools looked really formidable with some even having their own specialised rifles and shooting equipment like gloves.
Registration
Waiting Area
Finally, it was our turn and each team was split up. Team A's first shooter was beside team B's and C's, team A's second shooter with team B's and C's and so on and so forth. We were first given unlimited shots to do our sighting. But once you take out your sighting card from the target holder and put in your competition card, you cannot switch back to your unlimited sighting again. I shot about eight sighting shots, noted down my shot grouping, then put in my first competition card. I was well into my fifth card while the shooter beside me was still in sighting. I felt pressurised and worried if I had finished off my sightings too early or that I am shooting too quickly such that my shots will not be as precise. Nevertheless, I finished off my competition cards and joined the rest of my squadmates in the waiting area.
Shooters in action
After everyone finished shooting, we were told that the results would be announced when all seven details have finishing shooting, which would take about another two to three hours. We went off for our lunch break and came back at around 11 am. Results for our detail were already put up and we rushed to check our scores.
"Oooh...I scored XXX,"
Our team A got first in team category while CPL Rachel Lim got 2nd runners up for the individual category. Surprisingly, I got the 1st runners up for the individual category as well. While waiting for the prize presentation, CPL Megan Sim won the Snow City lucky draw tickets for two. Well, I hope she gives me one.
Lucky winner of the tickets
First place (Team category)
Winners for the team category
3rd place (Individual category)
2nd place (Individual category)
I feel that this competition emphasised on individual strength and how one must improve herself before we can achieve anything. But along the path of self-improvement, we need our friends' encouragement and help in order to spur ourselves forward and achieve more. Yet while one's individual strength is strong, we still need to be as good in the team to win. We have also improved a lot from day one and it shows how much practice plays a part in succeeding. Although this was not a major event, it taught us a lot of skills that are not found in our textbooks.
VICTORY
- CPL (NPCC) Teo Wan Ling
一
It was the first time our unit ever participated in a shooting competition. Every one of us was eager to try out as representatives for our unit. There was a maximum limit of 12 cadets that each unit could send and there was 18 of us who wanted to take part. We were thus grouped in fours and the supposed group captain would have to pick a card deciding if the group was going to be selected for the competition. My group got in along with two other groups.
We had to attend a compulsory briefing session at Westwood Secondary School. It was the first time all of us actually got to experience air rifle shooting. After a short introduction to the competition rules, range-safety and scoring criteria, we were allowed to have our first go at competitive air-rifle shooting.
Waiting for our turn
Cocking the rifle
We learnt the correct way to handle an air-rifle, from cocking the rifle, loading of the pellet, the shooting stances and how to aim. After that, we were given five pellets to try out. Being new to shooting, I hit the card but missed the target circle twice while the other three shots flew to I-don't-know-where. That would mean that my competition score would be zero. It was kind of disappointing.
Later, our unit O.C, Miss Aline Poh managed to secure the school's air rifle range for us to practice in. We would come down after school on Wednesdays or during Friday's CCA time to practice. We were taught basic range housekeeping like emptying the range's humidifier, putting out the red "live firing" flag and the live firing warning sign, oiling the rifles and putting them back properly after trainings and also mopping the range floor to get rid of the lead in the pellets. We improved during these trainings, especially during the competition format trainings where we pitted our shooting skills against each other using the actual competition format, allowing us to mentally prepare ourselves for the competition. Other cadets also helped out by acting as scorers, with one scorer attached to a shooter during each different detail. The scorer would take the shooter's targets cards and counts the number of points the shooter as achieved. They also encourage the shooter whenever the shooter may accidentally miss or hit a low score. To us, this is the best representation of unity, cooperation and encouragement to one another.
Finally, after two weeks of shooting practice, it was the day of the competition. The competition venue was at HomeTeamNS which had a fully updated and equipped air gun range. We sat at a corner while waiting for our detail to start. The other shooters from other schools looked really formidable with some even having their own specialised rifles and shooting equipment like gloves.
Waiting Area
Finally, it was our turn and each team was split up. Team A's first shooter was beside team B's and C's, team A's second shooter with team B's and C's and so on and so forth. We were first given unlimited shots to do our sighting. But once you take out your sighting card from the target holder and put in your competition card, you cannot switch back to your unlimited sighting again. I shot about eight sighting shots, noted down my shot grouping, then put in my first competition card. I was well into my fifth card while the shooter beside me was still in sighting. I felt pressurised and worried if I had finished off my sightings too early or that I am shooting too quickly such that my shots will not be as precise. Nevertheless, I finished off my competition cards and joined the rest of my squadmates in the waiting area.
Shooters in action
After everyone finished shooting, we were told that the results would be announced when all seven details have finishing shooting, which would take about another two to three hours. We went off for our lunch break and came back at around 11 am. Results for our detail were already put up and we rushed to check our scores.
"Oooh...I scored XXX,"
Our team A got first in team category while CPL Rachel Lim got 2nd runners up for the individual category. Surprisingly, I got the 1st runners up for the individual category as well. While waiting for the prize presentation, CPL Megan Sim won the Snow City lucky draw tickets for two. Well, I hope she gives me one.
Lucky winner of the tickets
First place (Team category)
Winners for the team category
3rd place (Individual category)
2nd place (Individual category)
I feel that this competition emphasised on individual strength and how one must improve herself before we can achieve anything. But along the path of self-improvement, we need our friends' encouragement and help in order to spur ourselves forward and achieve more. Yet while one's individual strength is strong, we still need to be as good in the team to win. We have also improved a lot from day one and it shows how much practice plays a part in succeeding. Although this was not a major event, it taught us a lot of skills that are not found in our textbooks.
VICTORY
- CPL (NPCC) Teo Wan Ling
