Host Nation: Great Britain

Index	MLAIC World Long Range Championships Host Nation: Great Britain
	The Muzzle Loader's Association of Great Britain (MLAGB) has hosted the World Long Range Championships three times, 1999, 2000 and 2005. The venue for each Championship has been the world famous National Shooting Centres ranges at Bisley in Surrey, England, home of the National Rifle Association.
Bisley	The Exhibition Hut, the Bisley Club House of the MLAGB, during the 2005 World Championships.
	Century Range, Bisley, from the 600 yard firing point.
	Stickledown Range, Bisley, from the 1200 yard firing point.
History	The National Rifle Association was established in 1859 and held their first Annual Rifle Meeting on Wimbledon Common in 1860, where it remained for nearly 30 years. By 1887 Wimbledon was a rapidly growing suburban neighbourhood. The residents were disturbed by the crowds from London, and were upset at having their rights of access to the Common curtailed. With the NRA about to embark on some costly repairs and enlargements, the Duke of Cambridge, who had long suffered the danger of bullets going over the butts into his grounds, this year gave the NRA notice to quit the common prior to any commitment to large expenses. Due to difficulties associated with finding and preparing a suitable location for a rifle range, the prize meeting remained at Wimbledon until 1889.
	Having examined a number of possible sites, in February 1889 the NRA Council met and voted in favour of Bisley as the site for their new ranges. Much work was necessary and authority was given by the War Office for military assistance in the building of the Camp and ranges. All the portable buildings which had, for over a quarter of a century, been permanent features at Wimbledon were transported, and re-erected in the autumn of 1889, at Bisley.
	A railway line constructed by the London and South Western Railway Company ran into the heart of the Camp. The line was opened on 12 July 1890, when it was first used by the Royal train which carried the Prince and Princess of Wales from Brookwood Station to Bisley Camp for the opening of the first Bisley meeting.		The Princess of Wales firing the first shot at Bisley
	After the opening speeches the Princess was conducted to the point where a Lee-Metford rifle carefully sighted by Colonel Sir Henry Halford was placed in a rest. Firing at a target 500 yards distant, the Princess pulled a silken cord attached to the trigger and struck the bull just two inches off centre. Bisley has carried on the great tradition of Wimbledon and 2010 sees the NRA celebrating the 150th Anniversary of their First Annual Rifle Meeting. Today classic arms shooting continues on the ranges; muzzle loading and breech loading black powder rifles along with military classics such as the SMLE will be seen along side the modern full-bore target rifle.
	Firing at 600 yards during the Kings Prize, 1907	The Pavilion, Bisley Camp, 1909 The Pavilion was first erected at Wimbledon in 1871 and was demolished at Bisley in 1923
Resources	Muzzle Loader's Association of Great Britain The MLAGB was formed in 1952 and is the Governing Body for muzzle loading within the UK. Its objectives are to encourage an interest in muzzle loading firearms; to promote, regulate and safeguard their use; and to preserve their freedom of collection. National Shooting Centre The National Shooting Centre (NSC) is located at Bisley in the Surrey countryside. Bisley, the headquarters of the National Rifle Association (NRA), is the world’s best known and most varied shooting centre.