What is the Canadian Airgun Grand Prix? Why does it attract so much attention? Why do international teams from as far away as Japan travel to Toronto to participate?
Originally known as the Crosman Championships, this Olympic-style shooting competition started in 1983 as a joint project between the Shooting Federation of Canada and the Coleman Company, which owned Crosman at the time. In the early years, the event moved around the country quite a lot, first to Calgary, then Regina, Longueuil, and Richmond (where it was held in an aircraft hangar), settling in the Ottawa/Hull area for eight years, where it wound up at the Palais des Congrès under the very capable direction of Allan Baird. Baird, a skilled and dedicated shooter, constructed all the equipment for the range and was chief organizer all those years, a tremendous achievement as by now the competition had gained an excellent international reputation.
After 1995, however, Baird decided to take a well deserved rest and there was then a question as to the future of the match. Realizing the necessity and value of this prestigious event, the Ontario Handgun Association and the Ontario Smallbore Federation (now merged into the Canadian Shooting Sports Association) proposed to jointly host the event and move it to Toronto to the International Plaza Hotel on Dixon Road, where it has remained ever since. Set amidst the chandeliers, mirrors, lights and other ornaments in the grand ballroom, the hotel employees are always stunned that nothing has been damaged despite an estimated 30,000 pellets being fired each year. Smaller ranges are also set up for Rapid Fire Air Pistol and Pentathlon/Tetrathlon.
The main events are the International Air Pistol and Air Rifle competitions, as shot at the Olympics. A great deal of skill and concentration is required. A perfect score means hitting a circle the size of a pinhead at a distance of 10 metres. Spectators watch intently as the top eight shooters in each division at the end of the regular competition compete in a shot-by-shot final to determine the winner.
Keeping all those targets—imported from Germany and very expensive—scored and in order is a monumental job. Teams of volunteers score, check, double-check and record each target. Targets that are too close to call are sent to a Jury of three International Judges for final tabulation. Score cards are then recorded by the Chief Statistician on his overworked computer.
The Pony Club Tetrathlon and Modern Pentathlon are also mainstays of this competition. Both these groups are multi-discipline, with Air Pistol being one of the events. Recently, an event called Rapid Fire Air Pistol was added to the program., consisting of a Standard event and a Five-Target event. In this latter discipline, one shot is fired at each of five targets within 10 seconds, similar to Biathlon shooting and very exciting to watch.
From its humble beginnings this match, the largest international airgun competition in North America, has gained an enviable reputation. Teams from Japan, China, Europe and especially the U.S.A. travel to the match on a regular basis. From the original 40 manual hand-crank positions, it now boasts an impressive 78 positions with newly installed electric target carriers, six of which are for disabled shooters. As well, the attendance has increased to a capacity of about 300 competitors.
Over the last few years, the Grand Prix Organizing Committee has developed into a well-tuned machine. It does a great job of putting everything together and running on time. Over 100 volunteers are required to successfully conduct this event and it is not unusual to notice some of the same people returning year after year.
The 2008 Canadian Airgun Grand Prix is set of February 22-24 and will again be held at the prestigious Doubletree International Plaza Hotel in Toronto. Teams from several countries are expected and this year's event promises to be bigger and better than ever.