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COMPETITIVE EVENTSThe ORA runs a number of competitive events each year. This page briefly describes a number of those events to help you choose those most suitable for you. You can view and download the entry forms for the events of your choice from the Entry Forms page. Complete the form and mail it in with the entry fee to our central mailbox. It will then be forwarded to the event organizer. Event Organizers typically do not reply, so if you have mailed in an entry in good time, you will be expected to turn up on the day. Definitions of the various types of rifles can be found in the Disciplines page. If you have any questions about an event which this Web site does not answer for you please email your question to the ORA Secretary. Nonmembers can usually participate in ORA competitive events, but are charged a surcharge as guests. If you are a nonmember and plan to participate in more than one event we strongly recommend that you apply for membership. More details about membership and ORA events can be obtained at an ORA Introductory Day. Vintage / Sporting MatchesWe put this one first because it is the most informal match the ORA runs. It is a great place to start if you have never shot a match before. We should more properly just call these Sporting Rifle Events because they are ideal training and practice for the use of sporting or hunting rifles. The course of fire includes 100, 200 and 300 yards, static, timed and moving targets and a rapid-fire element. Almost any rifle is suitable, particularly modern hunting rifles and old military rifles. The prizes (and there are lots) are arranged so that you only win one, which gives many more people the chance to win something. You typically need about 60 rounds of ammunition for the day and the entry fees are very cheap. Don’t delay, get your rifle out and come shoot a Vintage/Sporting Match. You will not be disappointed. Precision Rifle MatchesThese events are based upon the Canadian Forces ‘sniper’ matches. Military training targets of various sizes are used at distances from 300 to 800 yards. The target behavior varies to include timed exposures, moving targets and a mixture of target sizes. The match is shot in informal teams of two, acting alternately as shooter and spotter. Almost any scoped rifle is suitable and we regularly see a variety of rifles from 223 Rem up to 300 Win Mag. All shooting is from the prone position (laying down) and rests or bipods can be used. Entry fees are modest and you would need about 60 rounds of ammunition for the full day, so ‘PR’ Matches are inexpensive. (Also very suitable for any F Class rifle). Warning: Precision Rifle shooting is so much fun it is almost addictive. Black Powder MatchesThe ORA Black Powder events are tailored to the use of Breech Loading black powder rifles. They are quite relaxed events at which the more experienced proponents of the art cheerfully help those less versed in the use of these historic rifles. Beware: shooting Black Powder is a messy game – but very absorbing. The distances shot vary from 300 to 1,000 yards. Service Conditions MatchesI am not going to regurgitate all the wonderful information you can find about Service Conditions Matches either in the Discipline page or the entry forms. Suffice to say that if you want to shoot a semi-auto in what is basically the current Canadian military standard course of fire, then this is for you. Note: additional safety training may be required. Target Rifle and F Class MatchesBefore we get into the details of the individual matches we should explain the classification or grading system, which exists so that you are competing against people at your own level. Each class or grade has its own prizes. For Target Rifle (TR) there are 4 classes.
Qualification for Expert or Master grade depends upon your scores and results in the previous 3 years and our Membership Secretary spends many sleepless nights over the winter doing the math to decide who shoots Expert class and who shoots as a Master. The bottom line is that when you start, you will only be competing against people with similar levels of experience and achievement, so you stand an equal chance of winning a prize. For F-Class, things are a little easier. The classes are divided by the quality of the rifle used. There are 3 recognized F-Classes, F(O), F(F), and F(M). They are designed to allow members to participate with a reasonable expectation of success and recognition if they shoot well. Look [here] for more about the different classes of F-Class All F-Class participants will shoot the same course of fire, alongside each other, using the same scoring system. OK, now we know what TR and F-Class mean, read on to see details of some of the competitive events run by the ORA for these rifles. Cedar Springs MatchesThe ORA Cedar Springs events each last two days (but it’s OK to shoot only one day) at the very scenic Cedar Springs range near Chatham. These events cater for Target Rifle or F Class shooters and shoot at distances from 300 to 600 yards. New shooters are always made very welcome at these events. Impromptu team events help everyone get to know each other. Accommodation is available at the range or you can bring a tent/camper. There is usually a social gathering on the Saturday evening. ‘Palma’ MatchesThis match follows the pattern of the ‘Palma’ World Championships and is shot at 800, 900 and 1,000 yards. The match is designed for Target Rifle or F Class rifles and uses a special ‘decimal’ target designed in the USA. It is an excellent opportunity to spend a day shooting the longer ranges. Thoroughly recommended for anyone who wants a challenge and who wants to find out what their rifle and ammunition is really capable of. June Matches – WinonaWinona range, at Stoney Creek near Hamilton, hosts a match shot at distances from 300 to 800 yards. Designed for Target Rifle or F Class shooters, this match is usually great fun and being close to the GTA and the US border, easy for many people to attend. Winona ChampionshipPretty much the same as the June match at Winona, with potentially better prizes. Winona range, at Stoney Creek near Hamilton, hosts a match shot at distances from 300 to 800 yards. Designed for Target Rifle or F Class shooters, this match is usually great fun and being close to the GTA and US border, easy for many people to attend. Kingston MatchThe Kingston match is held at Kingston Barriefield range at the northeast end of Lake Ontario. It attracts shooters from Quebec and the National Capital Region as well as the rest of Ontario. Shooting is at 300 to 600 yards and the course of fire is designed for Target Rifles and F Class shooters. Sierra ISU 300 yd MatchThis match is generously sponsored by Sierra Bullets and the prizes are usually in the form of Sierra bullets. The match format is that of the International Sport Shooting Federation (ISSF previously called the International Shooting Union) – 3 sessions of 20 shots at 300 yards each with an unlimited number of sighting shots; about 75 or so shots in all. There are separate prizes for each grade of Target Rifle shooter and for the various F Class shooters. The relatively short range involved (300 yards) means that almost any calibre of rifle can perform well; indeed many of the smaller calibres including standard 223’s and the various 6mm rifles can produce surprisingly good results in F Class, as can many hunting rifles. This match is thoroughly recommended for less experienced participants and provides a lot of shooting in one day. Long Range MatchThis is a match for Target Rifles and F Class rifles. The ranges shot are 900 and 1,000 yards. Long range shooting is definitely a challenge and very satisfying when you get it right. The wind can make it even more fun! Annual Provincial ChampionshipThis is the premier Target Rifle and F Class event in the ORA calendar. Three days of shooting at distances from 300 to 1,000 yards, with the best shooters qualifying through to the Lt. Governors Match, the shoulder-to-shoulder final at 1,000 yards. The winner is chaired off the range by shooters behind a military piper in full regalia. Don’t be put off by the excellent quality of shooting amongst the ‘masters’ because many of the medals and prizes are reserved for the other grades of competitor. Because this event is at the start of August the weather is usually excellent. In many years visiting overseas teams often join in the ORA match as a warm up to the DCRA match which follows a week later. DCRA CFRC – CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIPSThe biggest and best event in the Canadian outdoor shooting calendar, the DCRA Canadian Fullbore Rifle Championships (CFRC) is a festival of competitions that lasts 8 days. It is held at Connaught Ranges in Ottawa and attracts the very best Target Rifle and F Class shooters from all over the country. Most years there is a visiting official National Team from at least one other country among the 300+ competitors. The Canadian National Team (which travels to England each July) is selected at the CFRC each previous August. For more details, refer to the DCRA website.
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