Having attended a Talent ID event in Manchester with local disability Sport Athlete Brian Roberts from Tanygrisiau, the Gwynedd Disability Sport Wales Development Officer (DSWDO) came away with the vision of creating a specialist shooting club for disabled people. 
The DSWDO met the National Performance Coach for Disability Target Shooting GB and held discussions both in Manchester and in Stoke Mandeville regarding possible developments in Gwynedd. It was agreed the National Performance Coach and his team consisting of an elite level Pistol & Rifle Coach would come and hold a talent ID day in University City of Bangor. The Gwynedd DSWDO said he would get the funds required for equipment if there was suficient interest but wanted their help and guidance to help develop the plan. Since then a close partnership has been fostered and the event held in Bangor (shown on S4C) was not only their 1st ever visit to Wales but it proved to be a significant one as the plan has since grown beyond all expectation. 
In total £13,000 has been invested in shooting equipment and coach education courses. The club has 8 qualified range officers and 8 instructors holding the Youth Proficiency Award. Two volunteers have also had specialist training at the shooting range at Stoke Mandeville.
The DSWDO searched the county and held site visits in 6 potential facilities checking for the venues for suitability of creating a brand new range, but with costs being an issue as well as location and accessibility it was a real uphill task. Recently though, Clwb Chwaraeon Madog in Porthmadog emerged as an ideal facility to set up a new club and has become the new home of the Gwynedd Air Target Club.
To deliver the coach education courses on behalf of the NSRA we were fortunate to have John Kelman from the 3 counties Target Club in Carmarthen who travelled up to Porthmadog. John has been involved with shooting all of his life and has coached juniors to international standards. He has recently coached a shooter who was competing in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi and another one of his shooters came 4th in Munich at the World Championships during 2010. On a national level his members have taken 20 gold medals and 8 silver medals this year alone.
Marcus Politis, Disability Sport Wales Development
Officer for Gwynedd Council said "We are now
embarking on one of the most developmental Sports
Programmes throughout Wales not just within disability
sports but also among mainstream sports.
Having 8 volunteers holding 16 NGB shooting awards
demonstrates real strength in depth. The club is
constituted with a really strong committee and
already has numerous club members with a physical
disability".Louise Minnet pictured (right) the UK shooting
champion on 13 occasions inc 2010 and the former no 3 in
the Commonwealth Games described this "As one of the Louise Minnet at Maes Glas LC, Bangor
fastest growing shooting club of it’s kind in the UK"
Shooting is an Olympic & Paralympic focus sport within GB and is more inclusive than many wheelchair sports catering for a much larger range of functional abilities. Gaining the funding was vital which arrived in installments reacting quickly to the need to grow, which was a huge challenge. It was initially envisaged the club would only have 2 ranges and 2 rifles, but now has 6 ranges, 6 rifles and a Pistol. The club also has specialist equipment from Germany & Russia and have acquired Belgium Spring Stands for people with upper limb disabilities to participate.
There is a great deal of interest out there from non disabled people in the locality who don’t have access to the sport locally, it’s usually the other way around! To increase the sustainability of the club, it’s highly likely they will be providing shooting opportunities for non disabled people as well - "it’s a real case of providing sports for all – literally".
For further information contact Marcus Politis, Disability Sport Wales Development Officer on: marcuspolitis@gwynedd.gov.uk / 07766 505320.
