The Three Counties Air Target Club, which was based at the United Counties Showground, has had to close its door and is now looking for new premises.

Now a desperate appeal has been launched with the help of local MP Simon Hart to find them a new practice range. "We were set up ten years ago and have been at the showground for seven, but that arrangement has now come to an end," said a club committee spokesman. "We are desperately seeking a new venue as our last night there is on Tuesday (30th) and don't want to interrupt training schedules if at all possible."

The club has 60 members from all over Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire as well as others who travel from as far afield as the Cotswolds and Swansea to train with them. They currently have two members in the British team and sent representatives to the Commonwealth Games and World Championships this year. It is also thought to be the only club in the country that offers wheelchair
users the chance to shoot with special equipment so that they
can be fired using mouth or feet.

"We need a ten metre by fifteen metre building with suitable car parking, ideally close to Carmarthen and the main roads," added the spokesman. "It might be possible to find grant aid to help renovate a building as we would need electricity, disabled access and loos. "But in the meantime we could set up temporarily as long as the building is large enough. We are also looking for more help running the club."
The club has approached local MP Simon Hart for his help in finding the club a new base.

"I had heard of the success of the Target Club and am very sad to hear they are effectively homeless," he said. "I am trying to help them find a suitable industrial or agricultural building to use as it would be a real pity if they had to close down for any length of time." The spokesman added: "If we had to close it would be a tragic end for a really successful club. We have got a very real chance of sending a target shooters to the Olympics in 2012 but not if we don't have a base to train in.

"We are asking anyone – farmers, businesses and the council – to see if they can help."