From: "Matthew Wright", [EMAIL PROTECTED]
I think this topic raises a number of important points and I'm glad it was
raised. I tend to agree with Jonathon, I've often thought that most shooting
and fieldsports are relatively cheap compared to many other pursuits. All
manner of expensive sports have been growing while our sports decline.
However I do agree with the general idea of the original post in terms of
prize money being low presenting a problem. However in both cases above the
real issue is to address whether variants or combinations of the activities
can be devised that give wider appeal. From there sponsorship and rewards
can evolve. I have long said that some of our thinking inhibits our ability
to market our sports which otherwise would have tremendous potential to
attract new entrants. Personally I am not impressed by young shots type
initiatives, as well intentioned as they are. Firstly they are too small
scale and secondly they tend only to attract the sons of people who are
already keen shots. Sons who would tend to take up shooting anyway. I think
the target audience is wrong in these initiatives and we are falling into
the preaching to the converted mentality again. I feel we should be
addressing non-shooting graduate educated parents who might be suspicious of
our sports, as it is they who influence political fashions in society and
their interests would influence their sons/daughters attending at a range,
clay shoot, rough shoot etc. The point being that new entrants will come
from these groups and it is these groups who have misconceptions about our
activities that we need to be talking to anyway. Doing this is not
necessarily as hard as it sounds as significant sections of this target
audience will have other interests that might be combined or overlap with
ours. Fresh thinking is urgently needed, for example there are events
popular abroad that combine the skills of skiing and shooting, why not have
events that combine mountain bike skills alongside target shooting skills
etc. I mention this because mountain biking is so popular and it would give
a starting point of common ground. Same is true of fieldsports, why not have
events that involve testing more than one skill and getting to know each
others communities. Fishing is still widespread and by using a Macnab type
concept events could involve shooting skeet, catch a trout, etc in a day. As
people learn each others skills and talk to other communities the barriers
come down and ignorance is discarded for tolerance and respect.
Best regards
Matthew Wright
Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org
List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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