WELCOME TO THE World hunter field target championships 2024 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL PAGE
The Global Home of Hunter Field Target
"get the basics right and the rest will fall in to place, every step and every pellet at a time. that's how you become good at this game"
- 2009 world hunter field target champion kieran turner
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL to whfta 2024
HERE YOU WILL FIND LOADS OF USEFUL INFORMATION RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TO WHFTA 2023. FROM UK AIRGUN LAW, TO TRANSPORT LINKS AND MUCH MORE.
UK AIRGUN LAW
MANY VISITORS MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT HOW STRICT OUR GUN LAWS ARE IN THE UK. WHILST THIS IS TRUE IT DOESN’T MEAN TRAVELLING TO THE UK WITH AN AIR RIFLE THAT HAS A POWER LESS THAN 12 FT-LBS IS DIFFICULT. MANY SHOOTERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD HAVE VISITED ENGLAND WITH AIRGUNS WITH EASE AND HAVE ENJOYED THEIR STAY WITHOUT ANY ISSUES.
OUR LAWS ARE THE SAME AS IN WALES, HOWEVER SCOTLAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND HAVE DIFFERENT RULES SO IF YOU DO INTEND TO VISIT THOSE COUNTRIES WITH AN AIRGUN THEN YOU WILL NEED TO COMPLY WITH THEIR LICENSING RULES AND REGULATIONS. BELOW ARE SOME HELPFUL GUIDELINES BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THEN PLEASE LET US KNOW.
UK AIR RIFLES* ARE TREATED AS FIREARMS. THE ONLY DISTINCTION IS THAT RIFLES UNDER 12 FT-LBS DO NOT REQUIRE A LICENSE. THIS MEANS THERE IS NO DOCUMENTATION EITHER AVAILABLE OR REQUIRED TO ENTER THE UK WITH THEM. HOWEVER WE WILL SUPPLY A LETTER OF INVITATION AND EXPLANATION TO HELP AT CUSTOMS SHOULD ANY QUESTIONS ARISE. UK CUSTOMS MAY INSPECT YOUR RIFLE TO ENSURE IT IS as SUCH, SO IT IS USEFUL TO PACK THE RIFLE SO THAT IT’S SERIAL NUMBER IS EASILY VISIBLE.
IF YOUR HOME COUNTRY REQUIRES A LICENSE OR DOCUMENTATION YOU WILL NEED THESE WHEN YOU LEAVE THE UK. IT IS ADVISABLE THAT YOU CARRY PHOTOGRAPHIC ID AND YOUR INVITATION WHEN YOU ARE WITH YOUR AIR RIFLE OUTSIDE OF THE COMPETITION.
YOU MUST CONTACT THE AIRLINE OR FERRY YOU ARE TRAVELLING WITH TO ENSURE THAT THEY KNOW YOU ARE TRAVELLING WITH AN AIRGUN SO THEY CAN ADVISE YOU OF THE PROCEDURE YOU NEED TO FOLLOW FOR THE RIFLE AND PELLETS. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU ENSURE ANY TRANSFERS ARE INCLUDED AS THESE CAN COMPLICATE THE PROCEDURES TO A SIGNIFICANT DEGREE. WE ADVISE YOU BOOK DIRECT JOURNEYS IF THAT IS POSSIBLE.
HERE ARE SOME FURTHER RULES: AIR RIFLES ARE COVERED BY THE UK FIREARMS ACT WHICH MEANS THEY CAN CARRY THE SAME PENALTIES AS A FIREARM. AIR RIFLES ARE NOT PERMITTED ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT (BUS, COACH, TRAM OR TRAIN) IN A CASE/COVER OR OTHERWISE. AIR RIFLES ARE NOT PERMITTED TO BE LEFT SO THAT THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THEM. AIR RIFLES ARE NOT PERMITTED IN A PUBLIC PLACE, IN A CASE OR COVER OR OTHERWISE, WITHOUT A REASONABLE EXCUSE. A REASONABLE EXCUSE IS DIRECTLY TRAVELLING TO AND FROM A SHOOTING COMPETITION SUCH AS WHFTA 2024 OR A SHOOTING CLUB.
SCOPES, SILENCERS, MUZZLE BRAKES ARE ALL PERMITTED ON AIR RIFLES IN ENGLAND AND WALES. THERE IS NO NEED FOR A MUZZLE FLAG, BREECH FLAG OR ANY OTHER AWARENESS DEVICE IN THE UK. RIFLES CAN BE LEFT IN HOTEL ACCOMMODATION IN THE ROOM. PRECAUTIONS MUST BE TAKEN TO PREVENT ACCESS BY THOSE UNDER THE AGE 18. *THERE ARE SEPARATE RULES FOR AIR PISTOLS BUT AS WE ARE NOT RUNNING AN AIR PISTOL COMPETITION WE WILL NOT REFER TO THEM. SOME RULES ARE COMMON WITH AIR RIFLES, SOME ARE NOT. A GOOD RESOURCE FOR AN OVERVIEW OF AIRGUN LAW IN THE UK OUR GOVERNMENT GUIDE HERE : HTTPS://WWW.GOV.UK/GOVERNMENT/PUBLICATIONS/AIR-WEAPONS-A-BRIEF-GUIDE-TO-SAFETY-JAN-2011
GETTING to whfta 2024
GETTING TO WHFTA 2024 COULDN'T BE SIMPLER.
LOCATED IN ROBIN HOODS COUNTY, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, UK. BORDERS WOOD WILL PROVIDE A TRULY PICTURESQUE BACKDROP FOR WHAT PROMISES TO BE AN IMMENSE WEEKEND OF HFT SHOOTING! CENTRALLY LOCATED, BORDERS WOOD BENEFITS FROM EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD ACCESS FROM THE UK'S MOTORWAY NETWORKS. LOCATED A MERE 5 MINUTES FROM THE A46 AND WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF MAJOR TOWNS & CITIES SUCH AS LEICESTER, NOTTINGHAM & GRANTHAM. EAST MIDLANDS AIRPORT (EMA) IS LOCATED 30 MINUTES AWAY BY CAR AND SLIGHTLY FURTHER A FIELD BIRMINGHAM (BHX) WITHIN 60 MINUTES CAR JOURNEY.
HAVE A LOOK AT THE MAP BELOW TO GET YOUR BEARINGS IF YOU'RE UNSURE!
WHAT 3 WORDS; EVENT LOCATION SMOTHERED.CLASSMATE.SHIFTING
EVENT ENTRANCE VERB.DODGES.FLAMENCO
DIRECTIONS FROM THE M1 SOUTH APPROACHING US FROM THE SOUTH ON THE M1, WE ARE VERY EASY TO FIND. LEAVE THE M1 AT JUNCTION 21A WHICH TAKES YOU ON TO THE LEICESTER WESTERN BYPASS.THIS ROAD LINKS DIRECTLY TO THE A46, SIGNPOSTED NEWARK. AFTER 7 MILES, TURN LEFT, HEADING NORTH AT THE END OF THE BYPASS AND FOLLOW THE FOSSE WAY DUAL CARRIAGEWAY (A46) NORTH TOWARDS NEWARK. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 12 MILES TAKE THE SLIP ROAD WHICH IS SIGNED OWTHORPE. AT THE TOP OF THE SLIP ROAD AT THE JUNCTION TURN RIGHT AND THEN FOLLOW THE ROAD FOR HALF A MILE AND THEN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AND TURN IMMEDIATELY RIGHT INTO THE DRIVEWAY SIGNPOSTED NEWFIELDS FARM.
DIRECTIONS FROM NOTTINGHAM FROM NOTTINGHAM CITY FOLLOW THE SIGNS FOR THE A606 MELTON MOWBRAY AND LEICESTER. KEEP FOLLOWING THE A606 THROUGH THE VILLAGES OF TOLLERTON AND STANTON-ON-THE-WOLDS UNTIL YOU REACH THE INTERSECTION WITH THE A46 (THE WIDMERPOOL ROUNDABOUT). TAKE THE FIRST LEFT; THIS IS A SLIP ROAD DOWN ON TO THE A46 TOWARDS NEWARK. CONTINUE ON THE SINGLE CARRIAGEWAY FOR 2 MILES AND TAKE THE SLIP ROAD WHICH IS SIGNED OWTHORPE. AT THE TOP OF THE SLIP ROAD AT THE JUNCTION TURN RIGHT AND THEN FOLLOW THE ROAD FOR HALF A MILE AND THEN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AND TURN IMMEDIATELY RIGHT INTO THE DRIVEWAY SIGNPOSTED NEWFIELDS FARM.
DIRECTIONS FROM THE NORTH FOLLOW THE A1 AND THEN A46 SOUTH FROM NEWARK; WE ARE LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTH OF THE A52 JUNCTION (SAXONDALE ROUNDABOUT ) AT BINGHAM. TAKE THE SLIP ROAD SIGNPOSTED TO OWTHORPE AND THEN AT THE JUNCTION AT THE TOP OF THE SLIP ROAD, TURN LEFT. FOLLOW THE ROAD FOR HALF A MILE AND THEN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AND TURN IMMEDIATELY RIGHT INTO THE DRIVEWAY SIGNPOSTED NEWFIELDS FARM.
DIRECTIONS FROM THE M1 JUNCTION 24 FOLLOW SIGNS FOR A453 AND STAY ON THIS UNTIL YOU SEE SIGNS FOR A606 TOWARDS MELTON MOWBRAY AND LEICESTER. FOLLOW THE A606 THROUGH THE VILLAGES OF TOLLERTON AND STANTON-ON-THE-WOLDS UNTIL YOU REACH THE INTERSECTION WITH THE A46 (THE WIDMERPOOL ROUNDABOUT). TAKE THE FIRST LEFT; THIS IS A SLIP ROAD DOWN ON TO THE A46 TOWARDS NEWARK. CONTINUE ON THE SINGLE CARRIAGEWAY FOR 2 MILES TAKE THE SLIP ROAD WHICH IS SIGNED OWTHORPE. AT THE TOP OF THE SLIP ROAD AT THE JUNCTION TURN RIGHT AND THEN FOLLOW THE ROAD FOR HALF A MILE AND THEN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AND TURN IMMEDIATELY RIGHT INTO THE DRIVEWAY SIGNPOSTED NEWFIELDS FARM, BORDERS WOOD LOCATION.
ARRIVING IN THE UK
TRAVELLING BY AIR HERE IS A LIST OF THE MAIN AIRPORTS WE WOULD EXPECT YOU TO ARRIVE AT AND THEIR DISTANCE AND AVERAGE DRIVING TIME FROM THE VENUE.
East midlands Airport (EMA) 35 minutes/ 20 miles BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL (BMX) 1 hour / 59 MILES LUTON AIRPORT (LTN) 1 HOUR 45 minutes / 95 MILES MANCHESTER (MAN) 1 HOUR 50 MINUTES / 96 MILES LONDON HEATHROW (LHR) 2 HOURS 15 minutes / 135 MILES LONDON GATWICK (LGR) 3 HOURS / 175 MILES
FURTHER AFIELD, OTHER AIRPORTS THAT MAY SERVE YOU ARE: LUTON AIRPORT (LTN) 2 HOURS / 113 MILES MANCHESTER (MAN) 1 HOUR 10 MINUTES / 67 MILES BRISTOL AIRPORT (BRS) 2 HOURS / 120 MILES LIVERPOOL (LPL) 1.5 HOURS / 80 MILES STANDSTED AIRPORT (STN) 2.5 HOURS / 147MILES
LONG HAUL FLIGHTS WILL MOST LIKELY ARRIVE INTO THE UK’S MAIN AIRPORTS, LONDON HEATHROW (LHR), birmingham (BMX) OR MANCHESTER (MAN). SHORTER HAUL FLIGHTS MAY BE FOUND THAT CAN FLY INTO east midlands airport (EMA) WHICH IS LOCATED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE VENUE.
*JUST A REMINDER, YOU NEED TO ENSURE YOUR AIRLINE WILL CARRY FIREARMS TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT OF YOUR CHOICE. WE HAVE BEEN MADE AWAY OF SOME AIRLINES CARRYING FIREARMS OUT BUT NOT IN, AND SERVING SOME AIRPORTS WITH FIREARMS BUT NOT OTHERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN NON DIRECT FLIGHTS INCLUDING TRANSFERS ARE CONCERNED.
ARRIVING BY LAND A NUMBER OF FERRY TERMINALS ARE AVAILABLE IF YOU PREFER THIS METHOD. YOU SHOULD CHECK WITH YOUR FERRY COMPANY THAT THEY WILL CARRY FIREARMS BUT TO DATE WE ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY ISSUES WITH THIS. AN ALTERNATIVE IS THE EUROTUNNEL WHICH ALSO CARRIES FIREARMS.
HERE IS A LIST OF PORTS YOU MAY ARRIVE AT AND THEIR DISTANCE AND AVERAGE DRIVING TIME FROM THE VENUE. HULL 1 HOUR 45 minutes / 82 MILES PORTSMOUTH 3 HOURS / 180 MILES HARWICH 3 HOURS / 168 MILES DOVER 3 HOURS 40 MINUTES / 205 MILES EUROTUNNEL FOLKSTONE 3 HOURS 30 MINUTES / 200 MILES IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THEN PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT US AND WE’LL ASSIST YOU FURTHER.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT JUST A REMINDER THAT IT IS NOT LEGAL TO CARRY AIRGUNS ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT (TRAIN, BUS, TRAM, COACH) SO YOU WILL NEED TO ARRANGE FOR YOUR OWN PRIVATE TRANSPORT SUCH AS CAR HIRE.