Chair’s Update – October 2025

I have just returned from an extended trip to South Africa where I had the privilege of working as part of the IROA team at IPSC Handgun World Shoot XX and of representing Great Britain at the IPSC General Assembly.

Historically, UKPSA members have been strongly represented at competitions in South Africa but changes to their firearm laws made borrowing or renting handguns particularly challenging and of course without these our athletes cannot compete.

I am pleased to report that following lobbying from Great Britain and other Regions, Italy, who will host the next Handgun world championships in 2029, have confirmed that handguns will be available to British competitors at their range.

It was certainly a positive General Assembly for the UKPSA and our members. Unfortunately, our Regional Director Kev Strowger could not attend because of work commitments but his position on the IPSC Continental Council and many years of relationship building laid the foundations for our success.

As well as the commitment from Italy on handgun access, we also got Hungary to agree to providing a Mini Rifle World Championship alongside the PCC World Championship, something that would not have happened without pressure from Great Britain. Prior to our intervention only Brazil was offering a Mini Rifle World Shoot and even that was contingent on also being awarded the PCC world championship. The next Action Air World Shoot was awarded to Indonesia, who were the only Region bidding for this event.

Planning is well advanced for the Shotgun World Championship in Greece next year, and there was good news about bulk ammunition imports being free of additional taxes or duties.

We also had staunch support from other IPSC Regions for our proposed amendments to the IPSC rules, which standardised measurement of shotgun cartridges from the belt not the body, bringing this discipline in line with proposed changes to the Handgun/Action Air rules.

As you will have seen, the Board approved a structure for the new Sports Council, which reflects our ambition to really grow IPSC shooting in Great Britain. Chaired by the Regional Director, the Sports Council has seven Associate Director roles, each of which is designed to focus on a specific group or service to members or our clubs.

Elections are now open for these new Associate Directors, and can I encourage all of you to take part in selecting the Sports Council, voting for the people you would like to see running the sport.

You should have received an email with all the details of the candidates from independent voting service Choice Voting which was sent on the 30^th September to all UKPSA members. You have until 14^th October to cast your vote. If you have any questions regarding the election or have not received the email you should contact secretary@ukpsa.org

Beyond these elections there are still opportunities to contribute, especially in the role of Associate Director (Disciplines) where we do not currently have a candidate and to support the work of the other Associate Directors once elected. If you are able to contribute a few hours a week to support our sport, kindly contact Jayne, the UKPSA General Secretary.

We are developing as a more membership-led organisation and if you can contribute as a volunteer to the delivery or growth of IPSC shooting then please do contact us.

Martyn Spence

Chair, UKPSA Board