Blog: “I really enjoy the social aspect of shooting”
The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) website features a blog post every Friday through the year. In 2016 we’ll be taking a look at an A-Z of accessible sporting and fitness opportunities available to disabled people.
This week it’s S for shooting, and Donna Bonner discusses how she enjoys participating alongside her husband.
Donna’s blog:
I used to shoot competitively only on an annual basis, at the National Dwarf Games. I work, so I now shoot socially when I can.
In shooting there isn’t too much adaption necessary to make the sport accessible. I stand on a stool or a raised surface, which means I fire parallel to the target rather than upwards.
Another issue could be gripping with your hands or the weight of the pistol or rifle, and so rests are permitted. When rifle shooting I use a rest, and that helps considering the length of my arm.
And I have had a rifle made for me with the trigger situated much closer to my shoulder, because of course I have limited reach. But I still try freestanding pistol shooting.
Shooting is a great sport considering my age and that fact that I’m getting older. I initially wanted to do it alongside my husband who was really interested. I still enjoyed playing football at the time but shooting was a sport we could learn together.
Shooting doesn’t require athleticism as such, and I enjoy it because we do it as a group and so it’s as much a social event as anything. And I shoot alongside people of average height as well as other dwarfs, and it’s lovely to do it together and learn from each other.
Because of my height I never thought to try sport until I reached my 40s. I then joined the Dwarf Sports Association, and I wish I had been able to access something like that when I was younger – it is fantastic to be able to compete on a level playing field.
You always try your very best as a child but quite often I’d come last or find sport very difficult, simply because it wasn’t adapted for me. But now it’s brilliant.
I do have a disability and so I am aware that I need to keep fit to make my life easier as I get older – sport is great for body and mind.
I really enjoy the social aspect of shooting, as well as learning a sport which is completely different to anything I’ve done before. I never thought that I would be able to do it. It’s a great way of practising concentration, and of course it’s lovely to do it as a couple with my husband Pete.
Go and give shooting a go. It’s a great sport and it’s not too physically demanding… but it is a mental challenge!
