• Di CoatesDeanna (Di) Coates lives in Hampshire, shoots air rifle from a wheelchair, and is one of our most successful disabled international athletes. 
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  • peterbreheny1Peter Breheny from Derbyshire shoots benchrest rifle.  He has Kennedy's Disease, a progressive wasting condition that has weakened his limbs. 
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  • stewartnangle1Stewart Nangle, a Lancastrian, is pictured shooting .22 pistol.  What the photograph does not show is that at the time one of his legs was fitted with a metal frame that was bolted into the bones. 
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  • MattSkelhon1Matt Skelhon shot to fame when he grabbed gold at the Bejiing Paralympic Games and proved it was no fluke by claiming silver and bronze at London 2012.

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  • michaelwhapples1Michael Whapples from Leicestershire is blind and shoots air rifle.  In 2011 he was the first British shooter ever to compete at the Open European Shooting Championships for the Vision Impaired, held at Nitra, Slovakia. 

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  • scoutwithprosthesis1This young Scout was born without a left hand.  When he took an interest in shooting, which is very popular in the Scout movement, Hampshire Scouts helped his local club to find a solution. 
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  • vicmorris1Vic Morris lives in south Wales and is paralysed from the neck down as the result of an accident.  With the aid of an 'equaliser' device invented by his coach, John Kelman, Vic shoots pistol and rifle. 
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You CAN do it!

TARGET SHOOTING is the most disabled-friendly of ALL sports

People whose disabilities would prevent them taking part in any other sport are enjoying the challenges of target shooting.

But I’m not “disabled”!

99% of disabled or impaired shooters don’t use wheelchairs.

Our aim: To help all 100% enjoy target shooting.

We want to help all those people who are simply less able, as well as those with a clear disability.  If you can barely see the target, have joint problems that make standing positions painful, or struggle to get up and down when shooting prone, we’d like to help you to continue enjoying your sport for as long as possible.  There is a solution for everyone, so please ask!

I don’t just want to compete against other disabled people.

99% of .22 and airgun competitions are open to all, regardless of any disability or impairment.

Our aim: To ensure disabled shooters get the competitive sport they want.

Where other sports segregate disabled from able-bodied for competitions, in small-bore target shooting they can all compete against each other.  The DSP is working with full-bore and clay target bodies to increase the range of fully-inclusive competitions in those disciplines.

What’s Your Problem?

Shooting for the Blind at Blackburn R&PC

Vision

You CAN:

  • Use a special lens, a sight adaptor, a filter, a ‘scope-sight or other aids. Nearly half of all shooters use some aid for aiming.
  • Take up SHOOTING FOR THE BLIND if you cannot see through the sights at all. This uses an audio-signal through the shooter’s head-phones.

Bones, Joints, Muscles

You CAN:

  • Use a stool or chair for standing position events.
  • Use a chair and table for benchrest and prone position events.
  • Use a spring stand if you can’t support a rifle or pistol.

Using a stool for air pistol

Benchrest shootingShooting prone rifle using a table

Using spring stand

Hearing

You CAN:

  • Have visual signals for the essential range safety commands.

Nervous System

You CAN:

  • Use a stand or support to hold or steady the gun.
  • Use an electronic switch (remote from the gun if necessary) instead of your finger to fire it.

Shooting with prosthesis

Missing Limb

You CAN:

  • Shoot prone or from a chair if you have a leg problem.
  • Use a special prosthesis or fitting on an arm to support a rifle or pistol.

Special Needs

You CAN:

  • Take part in shooting if you understand the safety rules and abide by them.

vic morris - w

Severe or Multiple Disability

You CAN still shoot!

This shooter is paralysed from the neck down. He shoots various rifle and pistol disciplines, and even archery.

Conclusion

If for any reason you cannot shoot using standard equipment, and/or conventional positions and techniques, you can adopt any modifications that are necessary, provided they meet safety requirements.  If they are approved by the national governing body (which is a simple process) you will be able to take part in most competitions.

Lots of help is available out there.  We can help you find a coach who has experience of working with disabled shooters, recommend people who can produce special equipment, and put you in touch with people with similar impairments or disabilities so that they can give advice and information. 

For information on how to get started, CLICK HERE.

Hot News!

DSP Videos

Videos on disabled target shooting now on Vimeo and YouTube. You are invited to contribute your videos.

Please Do Our Surveys!

survey Information about people and facilities is vital to our work (and funding). YOU can help by completing our People and Clubs/Grounds Surveys.

£250,000 for Clubs!

Chequebook and pen

Read about the huge increase in Sport England investment in grass-roots target shooting. 

International Development

Image of Earth superimposed on a wheelchair wheel

Read about how we are hoping to expand the range of international competitions open to disabled shooters, and let us know if you can help.  

Helpful Stuff

Vision for Shooters

For most shooters, being able to see well enough to aim accurately is the key to our sport. Our Vision Section has lots of information to help all shooters who have vision problems, great or small.

Funding Guidance & Information

Union Jack moneybox

Need information on funding for any aspect of disabled target shooting?  Check out the extensive Funding section on this site. 

Advice for Clubs

EFDS Inclusion Hub is a free on-line resource created by the English Federation of Disability Sport for clubs that wish to become more disabled-friendly and include more disabled people in their activities.
More information

Disability Awareness

For those encountering people who have various types of disabilities, we offer a round-up of some on-line advice and videos that may help to put everyone at their ease.