While bad weather might be sending house-bound parents and kids crazy throughout the region, it might just play into the hands of the Masterton Miniature Rifle Club.
The club are holding their open championship on Friday and Saturday at their Cole St range, and member Ann Harris said the inclement weathercould boost the numbers of people competing.
"We're hoping for about 60-70 shooters to turn up and compete, but that could end up being a lot more if this weather continues because they'll all be looking for something to do."
She said this weekend's event was the first of several shooting competitions coming up, with the Masterton event followed by a teams shoot in May and a national North versus South competition in August.
Mrs Harris said she had been shooting .22 calibre rifles for about 15 years and enjoyed the social aspect of club life as much as the shooting itself.
"We've got a good little group of Masterton members and we all come in and train, then sit round and have a cup of coffee ... It's a really nice social event."
Club secretary-treasurer Jill Martel said the event acted as a good build-up for the "Teams Tens" group event next month, where 10 shooters from the region would compete against up to 15 other teams from the lower North Island at the Royal Tiger Range in Newtown, Wellington.The Wairarapa Building Society open championship trophy gets under way at 7pm on Friday, continuing from 9.30am on Saturday.
Entries are priced at $18-$20 for three 10-shot cards, with the final decided over a 20-shot card.
