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Hello everyone. I'm a 28 year old Doctor living and working in Cardiff. I've been looking for a good full bore club near me for a while.

I posted a while back asking for advice re. good full bore clubs near Cardiff and was pointed to Severnside by several people.

I've contacted the people at Severnside who have suggested that I get someone to sponsor me to be able to go along at some point.

If anyone would be willing to do that please let me know and please message me if you want to know anything else.

Taha

Happy to host you and introduce you to Richard Williams the owner.

Do you have a FAC?

If not you can only go on specific guest days which I think are 2nd Sunday each month.

I am away until next Monday but drop me a pm if interested and we can sort out dates.

The range is only 200 yards max but good for load testing , zeroing etc ...or simply short-range practice.

Thank you so much Dave, I really appreciate it.

Unfortunately I do not have an FAC but am hoping to work towards it.

Will pop a message to you in a bit.

Thanks again!

Always thought sponsors had to have some personal/background knowledge of whoever they put up for a club membership...?

saddler wrote:Always thought sponsors had to have some personal/background knowledge of whoever they put up for a club membership...?

is it not more of someone to shoot with? ie mentor / guide more than sponsor?

possibly supply guns, that kind of thing?

i'm also looking into Severnside, as it seems a good range, near Bristol. just need to get back on days to be able to ring the guy

I will be overseeing and ensuring that all is done properly......will also check that Richard is happy with my 'guest' ....he needs to know name & address 2 weeks in advance anyway.

If you simply do not know a club member then I cannot see how else you can 'get in' unless someone offers to host you.

How can you sponsor someone that you do not know, and have never met?
If someone is applying to join a club, then the club will carry out the relevant background checks, including police checks.
Someone on a forum speculating that they can get someone whom they do not know, to sponsor them does not to my mind, seem the right way to go.
Why cannot the OP apply to Severnside to become a member, and then let Severnside carry out the relevant background checks? Or are Severnside unable to carry out this basic thing? If so I worry about the credibility of them.

Steve E wrote:Why cannot the OP apply to Severnside to become a member, and then let Severnside carry out the relevant background checks? Or are Severnside unable to carry out this basic thing? If so I worry about the credibility of them.

Not this club, but another full bore club that I recently applied to become a member of has asked for two people to recommend me (or propose I guess). I don't know anyone at the club and won't be able to visit until I have done so... Just seems so backward - surely clubs should welcome new members... I'm already an FAC / SGC holder and full member of another HO approved club...

As I said I will clear it with the range owner first and the issue is simply a visit to become 'known' rather than automatic sponsorship.

Names and addresses are required two weeks in advance and if any doubts exist then there will be no shooting.

Unless someone tells me that this is not legal then I am at a loss to see how much harder we could make it for people to get into the sport than by refusing to help in these cases.

I am an RCO and will fully supervise this person.

I assume that the advanced warning of address etc enables the relevant background checks to be made.

Kungfugerbil wrote:

Steve E wrote:Why cannot the OP apply to Severnside to become a member, and then let Severnside carry out the relevant background checks? Or are Severnside unable to carry out this basic thing? If so I worry about the credibility of them.

Not this club, but another full bore club that I recently applied to become a member of has asked for two people to recommend me (or propose I guess). I don't know anyone at the club and won't be able to visit until I have done so... Just seems so backward - surely clubs should welcome new members... I'm already an FAC / SGC holder and full member of another HO approved club...

If you already have FAC and are a member of a club, joining a new club where you do not know anyone should be easy. All that the prospective new club has to do is contact existing club and get police do to a quick check and maybe give you a short assessment/probationary period. The fact that the 'new prospective club' is unwilling to do this shows their incompetence and maybe unwillingness to have fresh faces who may show them up.

Your case is completely different from the OP to this thread. His situation is more akin to someone who you do not know, knocking on your door and saying, Hi mate you don't know me I haven't got an FAC but I really want to go shooting, I've seen you put guns in your car, take me along next time you go. In that situation what would you do? I know what I would do.