As I see it the future of competition shooting lies in committed, humourless men using every technological, theoretical, psychological and indeed spiritual aid in pursuing the overall aim of 'beating the opposition'. Winning, like in any other area of life, is paramount and no one should pretend otherwise. We're not Polish are we?

Outside of this arena of brisk and serious competition between hardened MEN, be it under the sway of FT, HFT or indeed Sporting FT, there is plenty of room for people who merely want to have fun in a friendly way, knocking over catering-size cans of baked beans at five paces with ageing Hungarian underlevers. Everyone is different and enjoys different things.

For myself, I will content myself with my BSA Airsporter and the many pigeon and rabbits that I harvest, secure in the knowledge that I can clip the tip of a Swan Vesta at 30 yards so that it can light a pipe a moment afterwards. With open sights; but in good light of course.