New Zealand Police Association: Pistol Biathlon 2010

Where:

This event will be held in West Auckland. For safety reasons full details of the event location will be provided upon registration.

When:

10am, Saturday 6th March 2010

Contact:

Det. Cyrus Robinson
Henderson Police
PO Box 21-162
Henderson
Auckland
DX. CX10078

Email: cyrus.robinson@police.govt.nz

Event Information and Registration Form:

Detailed rules and further information are available by email from the match coordinator cyrus.robinson@police.govt.nz.

For a registration form click here.

About the event:

The Police Pistol Biathlon is a similar sport to the Winter Olympics Biathlon where contestants are required to cross country ski and then target shoot with rifles. In this case the Biathlon combines two events; Pistol Shooting and Cross Country Running (unlike the Winter Biathlon you are not required to carry your gun when you go running) The Pistol Biathlon is a popular event with male & female police officers at international events like the World Police & Fire Games.

The sequence of running and shooting is as follows:

Start

1. 1.6 km (1 mile) run

2.Shoot 12 rounds standing without support (NZ Biathlon target)

3.1.6 km (1 mile) run

4.Shoot 12 rounds standing without support (NZ Biathlon target)

5.1.6 km (1 mile) run

Finish

The run starts from the shooting bench and comprises a 1.6 km lap course which returns the competitor to the shooting bench. Loading and shooting is then conducted in your own time without command. Once you have finished shooting the empty and cleared gun is returned to the bench and the next running component is begun following the same course as the first run.

Shooting is conducted from a standing position at a bench. The target is placed 25 meters down-range. Centerfire service type handguns (like the Glock 17) are used to shoot with.

The target is the NZ Service Pistol target with the addition of a 10cm wide vertical central stripe (light coloured).A photograph of the NZ biathlon target is attached. It measures 77 cm long and 47 cm wide. Please ignore the white numbers and scoring rings on the target they are not used or the Biathlon and are not so visible at 25 meters. The shots falling on this target would add 90 seconds onto the competitors overall time.

No holsters are required. When not in use, the unloaded cleared gun with the slide locked back is placed on the shooting bench pointing downrange.

Shooting is conducted in strings of 6 shots with a reload between each string. Up to four magazines, filled with 6 rounds each, are allowed per competitor. One magazine can be used but will require refilling with ammunition by hand during the match.

Scoring:

In the Biathlon scoring is determined by overall time from Start to Finish with the addition of any time penalties accumulated in the Shooting component.

Time penalties for the shooting portion of the biathlon are determined as followed:

1. For EACH round inside the central vertical stripe (light in colour) of the target there SHALL be no penalty added to the overall time.

2. For EACH round outside of the central vertical stripe (light in colour) but still inside the black area of the target a 10 second penalty SHALL be added to the overall time.

3. A round missing the central vertical stripe AND the black area of the target OR an unaccountable round SHALL have a 30 second penalty per round added to the overall time.

The Catch:

Of course the Biathlon combines the classic ‘catch 22’ of an endurance sport with a precision component. Run too hard and interfere with your ability to shoot. Spend too long shooting and add to your overall time. The match is suitable for everyone as you can take it at your own pace. Run fast to cut down your time or jog slow to improve your accuracy.

The run component is easy and each lap would take no more than 6-10 minutes. The pistol target is large and is not difficult to hit. You can take as long as you like to shoot at it.

Requirements:

Participating in the sport of pistol shooting in NZ requires a person to possess a firearms license with an endorsement for pistol shooting or if unlicensed to shoot under the immediate supervision of a license holder.

At the event pistols are provided by licensed members and are shot under their immediate supervision. Local range rules are reviewed and a safety briefing is conducted before the match.

Every competitor must be familiar with the safe operation of the Glock 17 pistol and be confident in its handling, loading, reloading, and the clearing of any jams or malfunctions.

Grading:

The event is graded by age and gender:

Men's and Women's Individual events will be offered in the following age categories:

Open: 18 – 29,
Senior (A): 30 – 34,
Senior (B): 35 – 39,
Master (A): 40 – 44,
Master (B): 45 – 49,
Grand Master (A): 50 – 54,
Grand Master (B): 55 – 59,
Grand Master (C): 60 – 64,
Grand Master (D): 65+.

Team events for men, women, and mixed will be offered in the following age categories:

Open: 18 - 29
Senior: 30 - 39
Master: 40 - 49
Grand Master: 50+

Fees

$10 Council of Sport member

$20 non members