THERE is a stigma attached to the murky world of guns that conjures images of violence at the mere mention of the word.

Too often the weapon of choice for thugs on the streets, it is a reputation that ensures clubs such as Buckhurst Hill-based Roding Rifles and Pistols are kept in the shade when it comes to sporting achievements.

But amongst its 200 members, there is one who is single-handedly helping to transform that notion.

Sylwester Los has taken the sport by storm in recent months, racking up an impressive haul of national ranking titles. The Polish-born shooting star even claimed the considerable scalp of Olympic and Commonwealth champion Mick Gault at the British Pistol Championships two weeks ago.

Indeed, he out-gunned him on three separate occasions over the course of the weekend, while his overall total of 584 out of a possible 600 would have earned him a silver medal at last summer’s Beijing Olympic Games.

While my knowledge on the sport is limited, when club captain Cliff Gardner described Sylwester’s efforts as the shooting equivalent of a local cyclist beating three-time Olympic champion Chris Hoy round a Velodrome track, I couldn’t turn down an invitation to have a go myself at the local range.

My only previous experience with a rifle was at a fairground range, so it was fair to say I wasn’t expecting to match Sylwester’s achievement.

After being made to feel at home in the welcoming club lounge, I was ushered out to the shooting gallery and soon had my hands on an Anschutz sporting rifle.

I was taken through the relevant health and safety measures and once I had been shown the ropes I was away.

With the butt of the gun wedged firmly against my shoulder, I peered down the sighter, and despite my best efforts to remain stationary, I was amazed to see the target wobbling in and out of vision.

Fortunately, my first shot did not cannon into the back board and into some several inches of steel, but miraculously it found the outer perimeter of the collection of rings some 20 yards away.

After a series of shots I reeled my target sheet back in and was delighted to see one of my attempts had scored a nine, while there were several others scattered around the card. Not bad for a novice!

Cliff then handed me a Winchester pump-action rifle. I couldn’t shake the image of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator out of my mind as I reeled off a succession of shots, albeit not as accurate as my previous attempts.

As the small congregation of members present had suggested before picking up the rifle, I had felt a real buzz and could see how people could catch ‘the bug’ for it.

Noel Stevens was one such member who has found himself a regular visitor to the range. “There’s been some new targets put in and it’s really made things better,” he said. “It’s a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere and it’s a really pleasant place to come and spend a couple of hours shooting and chatting.”

Speaking to Cliff after my experience, he was keen to distance the club from the criminal circles in which guns are used, and maintained that they belong in the sporting arena.

“It’s a problem that guns are used illegally, we just practice Olympic sports,” he said. “We promote safe shooting and it’s available for everybody, whether you’re seven or 77, woman or man.

“The reputation of guns doesn’t help us to promote the club. It hinders us enjoying our achievements.”

Cliff believes Sylwester’s success warrants a slot on News at Ten. With clubs like Roding Rifles and Pistols doing their bit to promote the correct use of guns, maybe one day these weapons will be making the headlines for all the right reasons.

m Sylwester is on the lookout for sponsorship from local businesses to help him in his quest to bring home an Olympic medal in 2012.

Anybody interested in helping should contact club captain Cliff Gardner on 07957 571136 or 0208 502 2097.

To see how Ross got on at the range, check out our online video on our website on Thursday.