The British Shooting Precision Rifle Foundation Programme is now open for its next intake, and young athletes in the Southern & South West Southern area will have the option to begin their journey at Pinhoe Target Shooting Club in Exeter. 

Applications are now open for the next intake of the British Shooting Precision Rifle Foundation Programme, which starts in September 2026.

Applications are close on 9 August 2026.

The programme is designed to help young people take their first steps into Olympic and Paralympic precision air rifle shooting, while developing focus, discipline, confidence, resilience and self-belief.

The Pinhoe camp will take place over a weekend in late September or early October 2026, with the exact dates to be confirmed. It will provide the same coaching, learning outcomes and training experience as the camp at the NSRA National Shooting Centre, Aldersley.

The activity at Pinhoe will be led by ISSF and NSRA County Coaches, giving young athletes access to experienced, qualified coaching without needing to travel across the country.

More information on the extensive Pinhoe facilities can be found here

A local doorway into a national pathway

The Foundation Programme is not a trial or selection event. It is a development programme.

That distinction matters. This is not about asking young athletes to arrive as finished performers. It is about helping them build the foundations: safe practice, strong technique, structured training, confidence and good habits from the start.

The programme is open to potential Olympic air rifle athletes aged 12–21 and potential Paralympic air rifle athletes aged 12–25. No previous precision air rifle experience is required.

That makes the opportunity wider than many people may first imagine.

A young shooter may be completely new to precision shooting. They may be moving across from sporter air rifle. They may be looking for a new sporting challenge. Or they may already have proven aptitude in another target shooting discipline and be ready to take the next step.

Talent can come from many firing points

One of the strongest messages for clubs across the South West is this: the Foundation Programme is not only for athletes who already look like precision air rifle shooters.

Current programme athletes have started in pistol, benchrest and LSR. That should make every coach, parent and club look again at the young people already training on their ranges.

A pistol shooter may bring trigger control, balance and mental discipline.

A benchrest shooter may understand patience, sight picture and shot evaluation.

An LSR shooter may have rhythm, adaptability and match awareness.

A prone rifle shooter may already have the positional understanding and shot process needed to move further into precision rifle.

The equipment may change. The event may change. The demands may grow. But the core qualities often transfer: concentration, consistency, coachability and the desire to improve.

Talent does not always arrive wearing the right jacket. Sometimes it begins on a pistol firing point, a benchrest table, an LSR range or a prone mat, and only needs the right pathway to grow.

A possible gateway from prone to 3 Position Shooting

For prone rifle shooters under 25, the Foundation Programme could also act as a gateway into the Olympic discipline of 3 Position Shooting. Athletes on the programme will learn precision standing rifle skills and wider training techniques.

Prone shooting already develops many of the foundations needed in precision rifle: position, alignment, breathing, trigger control, follow-through and shot calling. 3 Position Shooting builds on those skills, then asks more of the athlete through prone, standing and kneeling.

It is a bigger technical and physical challenge. It demands balance, body awareness, patience and resilience. But for the right young shooter, it can be a natural next step.

Moving into 3P is not just changing event. It is like moving from playing one instrument to joining an orchestra. The fundamentals remain, but the performance becomes broader, richer and more complete.

How the programme works

The programme begins with a two-day Introduction to Fundamentals Camp.

For most athletes, this will take place at the NSRA National Shooting Centre, Aldersley, on 19–20 September 2026. South West athletes will have the option to attend the alternative camp at Pinhoe Target Shooting Club in Exeter in late September or early October.

During the camp, athletes will learn key precision shooting techniques, receive hands-on coaching, develop confidence and begin building good habits in a dedicated shooting environment.

After the camp, athletes continue with six months of supported development from October 2026 to March 2027.

Each athlete will be matched with a coach and training location, ideally within 90 minutes of travel. Support includes a personalised training plan, regular coaching guidance, in-person and/or online support, six online group webinars, clear development goals and progress tracking.

The programme ends with an important milestone: completing a full 60-shot match. For many athletes, this will be their first experience of competition-format precision shooting.

What is included

The programme fee is £500. This includes the two-day Introduction to Fundamentals Camp, up to 36 hours of coaching and support, a personalised training programme, ongoing development guidance, six online webinars, and access to experienced coaches and mentors.

A £50 deposit is required to apply. If selected, the remaining balance of £450 is payable to confirm the place. If an athlete is not offered a place, the deposit is refunded in full.

Athletes do not need to own shooting equipment to attend the Introduction to Fundamentals Camp. During the camp, they will be able to see and try different equipment before making decisions about what they may need later.

During the supported development phase, athletes will need access to suitable equipment. British Shooting coaches, partners and support staff will help athletes identify possible options, including equipment hire or second-hand kit where available.

Many athletes build their equipment setup gradually over time. The aim is to help young shooters make informed choices that balance performance, affordability and long-term development.

A call to South West and Southern clubs

This is a moment for clubs, coaches and parents across the region to look closely at their young athletes.

Who shows unusual focus?

Who listens well?

Who trains with care?

Who asks thoughtful questions?

Who has outgrown casual improvement and needs a clearer challenge?

They may not yet think of themselves as Olympic or ISSF rifle athletes. That is fine. Development rarely begins with certainty. It begins with curiosity, opportunity and the courage to take the first step.

The British Shooting Precision Rifle Foundation Programme offers that step.

For young athletes in the South West, the Introduction to Fundamentals Camp at Pinhoe Target Shooting Club brings the pathway closer to home.

Apply now

Applications are open now and close on 9 August 2026.

The programme is open to:

Potential Olympic air rifle athletes: ages 12–21
Potential Paralympic air rifle athletes: ages 12–25

Anyone interested should read the British Shooting programme information and speak to their club coach:

https://britishshooting.org.uk/article/3046/start-your-precision-rifle-journey

Whether the goal is to compete at club level, represent a country one day, or simply take on something new and challenging, the Foundation Programme could be the place to start.