DECEMBER 11, 2025 - THANKS TO VOLUNTEERS

I have, in various posts in the last few years, referred to people who have given of themselves, their time and resources, to make shoots and matches possible. I have called this group  "PEOPLE TO THANK" and often referred to them as people without whose work the shoots or matches would not have been possible, or as enjoyable, or as efficient, etc. 

I am not referring to the executive members of our shooting clubs who do giant work to maintain the organizations and ranges. They also deserve recognition and our thanks.

I'd like to focus on those people who work during a shooting event and behind the scenes to make sure that we can do what we love to do - shoot benchrest for score - every weekend during the shooting season. In 2025, that shooting season consisted of 33 matches and fun shoots, (not counting cancelled shoots). These were hosted by the Petitcodiac Sportsman's Club and the Minto Gun Club. In these shoots, 29 individuals volunteered to provide the tasks that are needed to run a shooting event. Obviously, some people did more than one thing and so in total they carried out 424 tasks over the course of the year.

In these 33 events, 373 shooters participated. This is an average of 11 shooters per event. It is intersting to note that at the beginning of 2025, an average of 10 shooters attended while at the end of 2025, an average of 16 shooters participated in each event. In years past, these averages were much higher, but since COVID, the development of other shooting disciplines and the elevated price of ammunition components, the numbers have dropped. During the summer of 2025, the numbers were very low with, for example, two shoots attended by only 3 shooters.

Each of these events absolutely must have a Match Director, RO, Scorer, Score Verifier and Target Changer. Some behind the scenes administration must be done and I have added these people in the match director category.

                   1.     Match Directors - 6 people served as match directors - 37 times in 2025.

                   2.     Range Officers - 17 people served as ROs - 76 times in 2025.

                   3.     Scorers - 10 people carried out  scoring/stats duties - 36 times in 2025.

                   4.     Score Verifiers - 12 people served to verify the scoring and stats - 36 times in 2025.

                   5.     Target Changers - 29 people changed targets during shooting events - 121 times in 2025.

 

                    

                    6.     Treats during shooting - 12 people have brought treats - 65 times in 2025. 

                    7.     Meals/Food - At special events, when a lunch meal is provided, 5 people have brought/organised food for all participants - 14 times in 2025.

                      8.     Pics/results for Blog - This year, the Blog has relied more heavily, for pictures and results, on 4 volunteers.

So, we relied on the work of 29 volunteers in 8 categories and they did this 424 times in 2025. For a group as small as the Benchrest Shooters in New Brunswick, this is a huge contribution made by volunteers. They really deserve our gratitude and appreciation.

MANY THANKS FROM ALL OF US TO OUR VOLUNTEERS.