Islanders living with sight loss showed an uncanny knack of finding the target as they tried out specially-adapted air rifles for the first time.
Representatives from local charity EYECAN were invited to a session with the Western Rifle Club earlier this week, highlighting the efforts being made to make shooting as accessible as possible.
Club vice-president Jerry Hart said the adapted equipment made a major difference in allowing more people to shoot, with audio feedback helping users locate the bullseye.
“It was a fantastic evening and wonderful to welcome Islanders living with sight loss to the club and give them the opportunity to experience target shooting for themselves,” he said. “The adapted equipment makes such a difference, allowing people with visual impairments to take part in the sport independently and competitively.
“What was particularly exciting was seeing how quickly everyone settled in – everyone was hitting the target, with some achieving really impressive scores on their very first attempts.”
EYECAN chief executive Mark Coxshall said the Western Rifle Club had been “hugely motivated to make this happen for Islanders living with sight loss”.
He added: “This event was about the Rifle Club wanting to make their social activities more accessible – a great example of a local club wanting to grow inclusivity and engage an array of partners, including EYECAN, to make that happen.”
Further sessions are planned in the future following the successful inaugural event.
