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SAJSV - VOORSITTER
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The South African Hunting Rifle Shooting Association is a member of the national South African Sport Shooting Association, the umbrella organisation for sportsshooting at the South African Sports and Olympics governing body. The South African Hunting Rifle Shooting Association discipline has existed since 1992, originating in Bloemfontein in the Free State. There are many shooting disciplines, because the weapons available are so diverse. The hunting rifle sport shooting originated from the need for hunters to practice in a practical and realistic environment, making them better shooters and developing them as more effective and ethical hunters.
However, it has also built a platform for those shooters who do not necessarily want to hunt but who want to participate in an exciting shooting sport whereby they can perform to the highest level of representing the country as Protea shooters. It has developed in such a way that it is no longer a hunting or blood sports organisation, but a pure sportsshooting organisation that simulates hunting conditions. Nationally there are about 400 registered league shooters who take part in about 20 provincial and district tournaments annually, with visitors also welcome. Annual events are held nationally in all provinces and the major league events are located in: Cape Town (WP), Cape Winelands Eden (SWD), West Coast, Eastern Cape KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, North West (Bushveld), Northern Cape Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Limpopo
What is the structure?
The feeder source of the SAHRSA (SAJSV – Suid Afrikaans Jaggeweerskietvereniging) is usually the local clubs and shooting associations from all over the country who in one form or another practice the sport of ‘Veldskiet’ as a shooting discipline. From these ranks we then draw most of the shooters for tournaments, and also register them in the national field shooting league so they can participate in the “Super League”. Who may join? Hunting rifle shooting is open to all age groups, both men and women. There are no restrictions apart from utilising the equipment as prescribed by the association.
New rifle class
There has also been a new rifle class in our shooting discipline added over the past few years. This is for off-the-shelf standard .223 calibre shooting with a telescope that may not be larger than 14 x magnification. The total weight of the weapon may not exceed 6.5 kg. This affords novice shooters a relatively cheap entry level. What does a SAHRSA tournament consist of? This shooting tournament takes place on a ‘popup’ shooting range usually set up on a farm in the outdoors. Our rules state that shooting is not allowed on a measured shooting range. The tournament is shot over six rounds of five shots, hence 30 shots in total.
Lanes switch between:
1. Life-size paper targets (Blesbok, Springbok, Rooibok/Impala, Bobbejaan, Vlakvark and Silwer Jakkals). 2. Iron plates of 20 cm in circumference called ‘Gongs’ that ring like a bell when hit, which the participants find very exciting. What distances are shot? The distances vary between 60 m and 350 m and are not announced in advance. It is part of the challenge to learn distance and wind direction. No distance or wind measuring devices may be used as an aid. The time limit ranges from 60 to 120 seconds. What equipment may be used? Any centrefire hunting rifle of any calibre with any magnification telescope, but which cannot automatically (that is, electronically) determine distance, may be used. The most popular and effective calibres in the sport usually range between 6 mm and 7.65 mm, but there are shooters who do very well with lighter and heavier calibres. As already mentioned, the .223 class has certain limitations. Basic shooting positions We shoot from various positions and with various aids or freehand. The idea is to simulate and test many practical conditions. We use sticks, bales, anthills, unused vehicles, trees and crates. You name it and it can be done. For competition purposes, the position is adjusted according to the circumstances so as to provide a good practical challenge for the shooter, even if the terrain does not allow for longer shooting distances. Of course, the weather plays its unpredictable role, with wind, rain, temperature fluctuations and air pressure above sea level all needing to be factored in.
Shooting classes
Categories shooters can participate in: Penkoppe (13 years and under) Juniors (18 years and under) Ladies Open Class, Seniors (50-59) Veterans (60+) Overall, all shooters except for ‘Penkoppe’ participate in the Open Class, meaning anyone can win. Furthermore, there are also three additional performance class categories, namely Bronze, Silver and Gold for league shooters and a non-member class for non-league shooters. District tournaments and competitions Nationally, there are now more than sixteen open class tournaments and ten .223 tournaments where a shooter can try to achieve ranking points.
Inter-district team competitions
The Western Cape has some of the top shooters in the country, with stiff competition between the districts. An inter-district team challenge known as the Western Cape Inter-District Challenge Series has also been established. The four Western Cape registered-district
Hein de Swardt WPJSV Chairman
teams compete over four tournaments to determine the final championship Western Cape district team.
National team
The highlight of the shooting calendar is, of course, the South African Open. The previous shooting year concludes with the shoot to determine the Protea team. For the Top 50 Open Class or the Top 30 Ladies or Juniors, the three best rounds from a shooter’s previous year’s competitions are taken into account. The top 50/30 shooters are then invited to partake in the final, with two rounds shot on a Friday plus a final round on the Saturday. The points earned are then counted along with the year’s tally to determine a shooter’s final ranking. The Top Six shooters and one reserve are selected to represent the sport at international tournaments. Save the dates Kaapjag Witzenberg Veldskiet: 11 February 2023 Cape Town Open Veldskiet: 18 February 2023 Sponsorships SAHRSA has been very privileged to have received good support from industry leaders over the past few years. Safari Outdoor, Wildman, Expert Kloppers, Rudolph Optics and others. Without these valued partnerships, we cannot host successful tournaments.
