As I have progressed from a competition shooter to my clubs active competition organiser I have heard some weird stories about how some competitors will go to extreme lengths to afford themselves any advantage.
I have learnt that targets and props must be staked down to prevent certain shooters from moving them a short way to get an advantage and several other methods of what is really cheating.
On such tale is told of the shooter who ordered, but did not pay for or collect, match ammunition while attending an event. When he reached the chronograph he claimed he was shooting match ammunition, therefore did not need to go through the chronograph stage. The Match Director heard of this and informed the Range Master who chose to give the shooter the benefit of the doubt.
As my club is preparing to hold our IPSC Handgun nationals, starting in a weeks time (next Thursday) our small group is putting the final touches to the stages. Last Sunday we were joined by the Match Director (who is located in Auckland). He had an interesting tale to tell us.
He has been informed of the names of no less than four shooters who are planning to try to beat the chronograph. They have each set aside one magazine loaded with rounds that will make power factor but plan to shoot weaker ammunition in the competition.
Now I just cannot see how they will get away with this. Every time I have been approached by match officials collecting ammo for the chronograph I have just raised my hands and invited them to pull a magazine, any magazine, from my belt. That way the selection for testing is completely random and out of my control.
To my way of thinking the only score I have to beat next week is my last years' score, which will not be too hard as I crashed and burnt big time at the last Nationals. If in the process I get a medal that's a bonus.
As for those who plan to cheat. Well a procedure is being put in place whereby a few stages before the chronograph two match officials will be collecting ammunition from magazines dumped during the stage from each shooter.
I guess it will not go down well with those who think they can beat the system.
I have learnt that targets and props must be staked down to prevent certain shooters from moving them a short way to get an advantage and several other methods of what is really cheating.
On such tale is told of the shooter who ordered, but did not pay for or collect, match ammunition while attending an event. When he reached the chronograph he claimed he was shooting match ammunition, therefore did not need to go through the chronograph stage. The Match Director heard of this and informed the Range Master who chose to give the shooter the benefit of the doubt.
As my club is preparing to hold our IPSC Handgun nationals, starting in a weeks time (next Thursday) our small group is putting the final touches to the stages. Last Sunday we were joined by the Match Director (who is located in Auckland). He had an interesting tale to tell us.
He has been informed of the names of no less than four shooters who are planning to try to beat the chronograph. They have each set aside one magazine loaded with rounds that will make power factor but plan to shoot weaker ammunition in the competition.
Now I just cannot see how they will get away with this. Every time I have been approached by match officials collecting ammo for the chronograph I have just raised my hands and invited them to pull a magazine, any magazine, from my belt. That way the selection for testing is completely random and out of my control.
To my way of thinking the only score I have to beat next week is my last years' score, which will not be too hard as I crashed and burnt big time at the last Nationals. If in the process I get a medal that's a bonus.
As for those who plan to cheat. Well a procedure is being put in place whereby a few stages before the chronograph two match officials will be collecting ammunition from magazines dumped during the stage from each shooter.
I guess it will not go down well with those who think they can beat the system.
