After flying for all of one day
London-Brisbane without a delay
The guns made it through fine;
We made fair dinkum time
Until Parag took us the wrong way!
After two years of team selection and training, the main party met at the Surrey Rifle Association clubhouse on a delightfully warm Wednesday for a fish and chip (or surf ‘n’ turf) dinner to be followed by packing for the early morning departure the next day. A few drinks later and most of the team had turned in for the night, but one or two hardier souls would stay up all night to try and synchronise with Brisbane time more quickly.
At 05:45 on the Thursday morning, we all met again at the Surrey for breakfast and final weigh-in of suitcases. Nigel Ball the baggage master seemed to deal well with the variously disorganised and over-packed members of the team. Ross McQuillan won the overweight award from DC by a kilo, despite our having shipped over 6kg of kit each not including our mats, gunslips and scope stands. Shortly before we left on the coach, the captain called out that he seemed to be down a blazer. “Check Ross first” the adjutant cried. Many a true word is spoken in jest, and it was clearly so in this case because Ross owned up to having accidentally pinched Webbie’s blazer shortly thereafter.
The trip to Heathrow was notable only for the double circuit of the roundabout at the junction of the M3 and the A322 in response to the massive traffic jam on the motorway. A swift diversion to take the A30 via Sunningdale was called for and the coach made it to the airport in reasonable time thereafter. We were on a roll; check in proceeded fairly quickly and customs were helpful and efficient, even if they did insist on checking all 40 rifles. We boarded our Singapore airlines A380 and departed more or less on time for our 13 hour flight to Changi Airport, where a two hour layover awaited us before the connecting flight to Brisbane.
We arrived in Brisbane some 27 hours after our departure from Bisley and briskly made our way through passport control before picking up baggage and heading to customs to wait for our rifles. With 21 members of the team travelling in the main party carrying a total of 40 rifles, we were expecting the necessary checking to delay us significantly; however Aussie customs were helpful and efficient, keeping the delay to a relative minimum while we chatted with the U25s who had arrived 10 minutes behind us.
With the bureaucratic formalities behind us the drivers headed off to the rental car desk to pick up the keys for the wagons so we could make a quick getaway to the hotel, which was only a brisk 15 minute drive away. The plan was for the Adj’s van to take the lead with former Brisbane resident Parag Patel navigating; however this proved to be a minor tactical error when a coordinated u-turn was required around the junction onto the tollroad. What we initially believed to be Parag channelling James May was in fact Watty channelling Jeremy Clarkson. To give both of them their due, we did arrive at the hotel with no further difficulties a short while later.
As our journey started with fish and chips in the Surrey, so it ended with steak sandwiches in the Colmslie Hotel’s bar/restaurant before bed.
All the English lads had a big scare
(16-12) while our lone Scot was there
At Eden Park, but more
Amazingly for sure:
Ant ate up Martin's food - quite a dare!
Many of the team managed to avoid sleeping on the flight from Singapore to Brisbane, with the consequence that some got a good first night’s sleep in the hotel; although others weren’t so fortunate and woke very early in the morning.
After breakfast, the team assembled for a briefing from Webbie to outline the next few days: the various tasks required and the team events that had been organised. With the need to get acclimatised to the warm Queensland spring weather as well as recover from a 27 hour journey, the team had planned several days of rest and recuperation before the first practice. Foremost among team directions was not to have an afternoon nap under any circumstances to ensure the fastest possible adjustment to Brisbane’s 9 hour time difference with the UK.
After the briefing, the whole team met to visit the range and retrieve the personal kit that we had shipped, as well as some of the 38,000 rounds of ammunition that we had shipped. Belmont Ranges is only a 10 minute drive from the Colmslie Hotel and is a major centre for shooting in Queensland and Australia as a whole, with a 1,000 yard target rifle range and a separate 1,200 yard match rifle range, in addition to a host of other facilities for smalbore, pistol and air rifle shooting. Benefitting from commercial activities such as providing landfill, the facility looks to be superbly maintained. Certainly, the firing points were beautifully manicured during the team’s brief tour.
Upon returning to the hotel, a flurry of unpacking ensued as team members dug out their personal kit, shooting mats, gunslips and scope stands. Different groups made plans to go shopping at the nearby Westfield centre in Carindale, or to go and get lunch based on Parag’s recommendation of a good area nearby.
Over half of the team of all nations watched England (narrowly) beat Scotland in the hotel bar, which involved some heckling from partisan Aussies in the first half and rather a lot of robust celebration in the last quarter from the English contingent. Our sole Scottish representative had made arrangements to travel over to Auckland and stay on Jimmie Lawrie’s floor so that he could go and watch the match at Eden Park, but your faithful correspondent can report that he had a few commiseratory drinks with the Scotland team before heading to the airport for the 7am return flight.
Byron Bay was where most folk did sup
And a few guys, when surfing, stood up
Except Ross who could not
But who cared not a jot
'Cause Ireland look good for the World Cup!
Today has been a superb day of R&R: about half of the team took a superb road trip up to Byron Bay to enjoy some of Australia’s beautiful coastal scenery, with the remainder enjoying themselves in Brisbane; and most importantly of all, Wales thrashed Fiji 66 to nil and Ireland bested Italy, qualifying for the knockout stages of the World Cup, much to the delight of the Celts.
Departing shortly after 08:00 this morning – and pausing only briefly at the coffee shop just up the road next to the “bronzed Brazilian” beauty parlour to fulfil Webbie’s carvings for caffeine – a short convoy of buses headed South down the M1 to visit Byron Bay, a small tourist town renowned for excellent surfing and beautiful beaches. After the two hour drive from The Colmslie Hotel, most of the morning was taken up with a little shopping and some touch rugby on the beach: honourable mentions go to Chris Watson for some nifty footwork resulting in a try scored for skins; and Parag Patel for outwitting the opposition’s defences to score for the shirts, despite nearly dislocating his ankle in the process (Erica administered what looked like painful physio.) Breaking for lunch when several members of the team were breathing a bit hard was a wise decision on the part of the Captain, and lunchtime was called. Several of the team chose a beachfront bar for snacks, while a few others headed further into town for something a bit more substantial.
Suitably fortified, some headed to a nearby bar to watch Wales massacre Fiji 66-0 while others headed back to the beach to hire surfboards and try to catch some breaks. The general consensus was that Chris Watson had the lead in both style and substance over David Luckman and Paul Sykes, with the remaining member of the quartet bringing up the rear (or as one observer put it, dredging the seafloor.) One of the three buses headed North on the two hour drive home to make use of the rest of the afternoon back at the hotel, while the remainder stayed behind an extra hour or two to catch the whole of the Ireland game and conclude their extensive sampling of the local viticulture.
More generally, all of the team seem to be getting used to the time difference, at least partially owing to the Captain’s ban on snoozing between 2 and 5 in the afternoon. The few team members who were unable to travel with the main party as the result of work or personal commitments are due to show up in the next 48 hours or so. We look forward to their arrival and to getting on the range on Wednesday for a short range practice.
Ten folk to Fraser Isle forged ahead
Six by van, four by chopper instead
But the bush fire devoured
Trees, plans and sev'ral hours
And a coach bumped two management heads.
On a day with rather mixed weather, the team split up into a number of groups to explore, shop or hike depending on personal inclination.
The largest group of individuals rose at an unholy hour of the morning for the four hour drive to catch the ferry from the mainland to Fraser Island, 120 miles North of Brisbane. Generally thought of as the largest sand island in the world, Fraser Island is a frequent stopover for tourists in Australia, who visit to see the dune systems, wildlife and the 75 mile long beach which runs the whole East side of the island. Only one minor technical hitch prevented the travellers from fully enjoying the experience; the bushlands which are on the island are currently on fire and encroaching on the Kingfisher resort in which they were booked to stay, so their chosen ferry from River Heads was not an option. After phoning around to try and identify what alternatives were available, the group chose to make for Rainbow Head, which would allow them to drive over to Fraser Island in a 4x4. Meanwhile a smaller group had chartered a helicopter to take them across from Brisbane, avoiding all of the stress. Despite the troubles making it across to the island, the magnificent drive up the long beach was reported to be well worth the effort; although one set of bashed heads resulted when one of the 4x4s made an unscheduled flight off the top of a sand dune, and another occurred when a particularly well kicked (but poorly aimed) rugby ball made an impression point first. Warning shout in both cases were made to no avail!
A second, smaller group voted for a brief tour of the shopping and cultural opportunities afforded by the Brisbane’s central business district (CBD) and South Bank. Having taken the City Catamaran into town from nearby Bulimba, the group split into two, with one half visiting the Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art, and the other heading over the Victoria Bridge to the Queen Street Shopping Mall. The two groups reunited over lunch, during which it was generally agreed that wine is also culturally significant, at which point the heavens opened for a good half an hour. The Brits were an easy spot on the City Cat back; despite the cold temperatures and rain, they were the only ones sitting on the outside deck wearing shorts and sunnies.
Another group of more intrepid folk – Nick B, Paul, Jane, Erica and DC – decided that something more scenic was required, and headed off to the mountains, where they enjoyed a brisk walk in some fine weather. On the way up the hill, there were several viewing stations of some beauty, despite the lack of visible wildlife; however the highlight was undoubtedly walking underneath and behind a flowing waterfall. Although advertised as a three hour bimble, they dashed it off in just over an hour before finding somewhere to satisfy Jane’s cravings for a cream tea.
A few souls stayed behind to make other arrangements and/or get kit sorted out, before heading to the range to prep a barbecue for the shoppers and hikers. Thanks go to masterchefs Nick Trem and Tom Rylands, who cooked us a superb dinner at the Natives RC hut.
The whole team had to be back at three
To press ammo and spruce up for tea
But a vanload were late
All because of their mate:
Toby's plane had flown off with their key!
With the arrival of the brothers Jeens last night, we’re only a Langley short of a full complement and many of the team are champing at the bit to get on the ranges and start shooting; however we had a final day of R&R before practice would commence.
Our intrepid party of fiery Fraser island explorers returned this afternoon, having variously flown and driven back down South; although this outcome was critically in doubt at one point. Shortly after those returning by plane had taken off, they were called by those on the ground to be informed that Tobes still had the car keys in his pocket. Having briefly considered tying a length of ribbon to the key ring and indulging in a spot of dive bombing, discretion was wisely considered to be the better part of valour. The plane quickly landed and the keys were handed over within an hour or so.
Despite the minor mishap and the bushfires, the travellers reported having had an excellent trip with much enjoyable beach driving, beautiful scenery and a spot of beach rugby. Awake at dawn, wagons rolled at 06:00 for a trip to the spectacular Barrabeen Lake, where a swim and a picnic breakfast on the white sands helped to overcome the disappointment of Lake Mackenzie being closed because of continuing wildfires. Plenty of sand 4x4 driving of varying difficulty followed, through forests and along the beach. By the time everyone was on the 'barge' ferry from island to mainland that crossed halfway, reversed to the beach to pick up a sewage truck and then crossed all the way, the consensus was of a day and a half extremely well spent, even if half of that had been spent travelling (again) and in forced changing of plans.
Much of the morning and afternoon was taken up with the (re)measuring of chambers and pushing of ammo back to length. The loading team and ammo wallahs have put in an amount and intensity of effort that is nothing short of astonishing to provide the team with the best possible ammunition.
With team preparations complete for the team’s first practice on the range which will host both an Australia Match and a Palma Match, the team took an evening to go and enjoy a meal together at the Lighthouse Restaurant. Vast platters of fried and/or steamed seafood were forthcoming for the enjoyment of all. With the team more or less dominating the restaurant, Webbie gave us a brief address on the plan for the next day or two: we should enjoy our evening together, but it is now time for us to get our game faces on.
And on a final note, from our very own MC:
We've heard mention now more than one time
Of one's not liking this type of rhyme.
Our advice to the Grinch
Is quite simple - a cinch:
Skip the start and read from the sixth line.
At the range after an early drive
At last shooting the team all did thrive
But the happiest of all
Was our dear Nigel Ball
For surviving to 50 with 5!
The team head to the range to train at short range before heading back to the hotel for a free afternoon, and later out for dinner.
Those of the team who were keen to head to the range finally got their first chance to have a shoot and verify the exceptional quality of the ammunition we had been provided. After a fairly early start and a quick breakfast, the vans headed from the Colmslie down to the range in rush hour traffic. The final turn off the freeway into Belmont range complex looks like it could back up very easily with over 400 competitors attending the NRAA nationals and the WLRC. After a team warm up and briefing session, the team headed towards the 300 yards firing point from the Natives RC. In warm sunshine and moderate wind the target teams fired through a 2+10 course of fire at short range, before heading back to 600 yards to repeat the exercise twice more. Even with the required faffing to get zeroes with different rifles in various sight configurations, it was evident that our ammo team had done a superb job.
Heading back to the Natives RC, the team had lunch before Webbie gave a general address about the conduct of shooting, the revised daily order for the WLRC and the plan of attack for tomorrow’s long range practice. In a brief, but emotional ceremony he also handed out the team badges. With the day’s practice successfully concluded, the vans headed back to the hotel and team members pushed ammo ready for tomorrow.
At 18:00 the team met in the hotel’s bar for a quick drink prior to heading out to another seafood restaurant in Manly. Before leaving for dinner, all of the team were delighted to congratulate GBRT stalwart Nigel Ball on his birthday, sing for him and present him with a cake.
Despite planning to travel in target team convoy, at least one of the vans headed off on its own route to the restaurant by “backnav” (the inevitable consequence of people being able to access Google Maps via smartphone) which proved quicker than the main route; although there was some debate as to whether this was the result of Paul’s excellent navigation or Jane’s brisk driving. After a protein-replete dinner, during which Ant Ringer entertained us with a dyslexic fairytale, the team headed home for bed.
All the shoots were bedevilled by rain
So to shoot or coach five was a pain
But despite being wet
A great meal by our vet
Made us all radiators not drains!
A relaxed start in the morning furthered the team’s adaption to Brisbane time, allowed a leisurely breakfast and gave the team plenty of time to prepare for departure to the range at 11:30 in the morning. Jane and her small team of caterers used the time in the morning to shop for lunch, to be eaten at the Natives RC clubhouse on Belmont ranges before heading out to the long ranges to shoot. Post-lunch, team management held a short briefing after which the team sang happy birthday to Richard Jeens (the third of the tour to date) and presented him with a cake. At about this point, there was a loud report from the range, followed by another and another; it became clear that there may have been a miscommunication from the range officials about the start time of the afternoon detail. With the consequent rush to make it over to 800 yards to get started, the team’s habitual warmup routine was somewhat curtailed.
Conditions for team practice at the easiest of the long ranges were straightforward, with very light winds. Scores were high, with the overwhelming majority of the team scoring a 50, often with high vee counts; although Surrey shooter Jon Cload shot the only 50.10 from GB. Despite the mild wind conditions, the overcast clouds were becoming increasingly threatening during the move back to 900 yards. The high scoring continued at the next range, with only one or two more points being dropped by GB’s shooters. In addition to the shoot with main rifles, team members were encouraged to confirm zeroes with spare rifles in case of mechanical problems. Halfway through the shoot, the rain which had so far held off started to come down intermittently and the dark clouds began to take the light levels down. Moving back to 1000 yards, the rain continued more consistently and the light became extremely dull indeed, with consequent effects on the difficulty of finding and reading target numbers. It is clear that in the wrong conditions, crossfires could very easily become a feature! Fairly damp but buoyed up by generally very good scoring, shooters and coaches headed back to the Natives RC.
Once again, members of the team have demonstrated hidden talents. Our very own Nick Tremlett, assisted by commis chefs Jon Cload and Richard Jeens, cooked a superb dinner in the clubhouse. The moroccan lamb and couscous was super-tasty when washed down with a glass of VB or the local wines, and the masterchefs followed it up with a delicious lemon cheesecake. After tidying up the clubhouse, it was time to head back to the Colmslie for bed for many of the team; however your correspondent is informed that the lure of karaoke in the hotel bar proved irresistible for some!
Addendum
We were delighted to receive a message of support from 2007 Palma Team physio Jackie Davis, now a Canadian resident, who will always have a special place in our team’s hearts.
As well as celebrating team members’ birthdays we cannot forget those back home, so we wish a very happy birthday to Sarah Shears, the other half of Palma Team coach Matt Ensor.
Our last real shooting-free day was when,
Having pushed back much ammo again,
Through the town eight boys sped,
Laughing at Ross and Ed
On their bicycle made for two men!
With both long and short range practices out of the way, the team took a day off for some R&R which was enjoyed in many different ways; although most people took the opportunity to enjoy a good lie-in.
The largest of the various groups hopped on the city cat into town before hiring bicycles and taking a tour of Brisbane’s CBD and South Bank. The teamwork award goes to team members Ross McQuillan and Ed Jeens, who enjoyed their trip on a tandem. By way of reward for their efforts, they took lunch at the Bavaraian Beer Cafe, where the food is excellent and the beer refreshing and cold. The figure-enhancing dirndls worn by the waitresses surely played no part in the choice of venue, but were undoubtedly a bonus.
A smaller group enjoyed a three-course lunch at the Customs House on the North Bank of the river. With excellent views and equally good food, several hours of conviviality ensued before the team members met up with Scottish independent Linsdey Peden and headed back to the hotel via the city cat to consider the merits of a brief afternoon nap.
Once again, a group headed off into the hills for a respite from the big city and enjoyed a wander round the Glass House mountains, a group of 11 hills formed from the volcanic plugs of extinct and now eroded volcanoes.
The President’s starts tomorrow after a short range team match in the morning and the members of the Great Britain Palma Rifle Team look forward to competing together with the best rifle shooters in the world.
Lightning caused some frustrating delays
Before one of our teams won much praise
For going clean in the shoot,
And the day closed to boot
With more fireworks after the flag-raise.
Saturday brought the first day of real competition with the Provincial’s team match and the first two ranges of the President’s individual competition. Given this and the sunny conditions the team had enjoyed on their day off, it was perhaps no surprise that the 0630 departure was made under darkening clouds and claps of thunder. Notwithstanding the locals’ clear hint that ‘this morning just wasn’t going to happen’, the team dutifully worked through their warm up routine and Webbie delivered a firm missive as to the importance of the forthcoming matches.
As if stirred by this call to arms, the rain descended just as we were wrapping up our warm up and briefing. And boy did it rain. Thick, wet, get right through to your underwear rain came sheeting down accompanied by thunder and lightning flashes. Officially, though, the Provincial team match was still on, so out we dutifully trotted (or drove) for the target draw. Upon arrival we were told that, unsurprisingly, the start was delayed for an hour. Back to the very welcoming Natives hut we went. An hour later we repeated this routine. And once again an hour later.
Finally, however, the thunder storm and rain had moved on enough for the match to start. The course of fire had been modified from 2 sighters and 15 to count at each of 300 and 500 yards to 2 sighters and 10 to count twice at 300 yards. All good practice for the Australia match we thought, though some of the target coaches might have found life a little easier if they’d been able to concentrate on the coaching and not been required to shoot and coach and coach some more and then shoot again.
Not so the indefatigable Jane Messer. Having (with her able and willing assistants) organised the first proper ‘breakfast on the range’, Jane then led her target to a perfect score of 600 ex 600 over the modified course of fire. Unsurprisingly this sterling performance meant that Jane’s team won the Provincial tam match. Second went to an Australian Palma team target and third to Matt Charlton’s target team.
With the weather improving all day we were back out at 300 yards in the afternoon for the start of the President’s individual matches. This marks the start of the grand aggregate here in Brisbane, so unlike many national championships there was no individual warm up for the team to use to help become accustomed to the range conditions. Brushing past this apparent hurdle, Gaz Morris (with a 50.9 at 300 yards) and Chris Watson (with a 50.10 at 500 yards) showed that today was shaping up to be a day for the Welsh. With a certain ex-Welsh Canadian sidling up and down the range with a Welsh rugby top and a massive smile on it was hard for anyone to avoid hearing the result of the most exciting rugby World Cup quarter-final.
Shooting over and consolations delivered to the Irish, the team dashed back to the hotel to unpack the wet kit and change before heading back out to the range for the official opening ceremony and a meet and greet dinner.
Dinner was both remarkably good and impressively quickly delivered. Much credit is due to the staff and organisers who put this and so ensured that all the attendees were fed (and of course properly re-hydrated) in time for the opening ceremony.
This ceremony consisted of the customary opening remarks and raising the flags of the competing nations – Australia, Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States of America. Happily our esteemed Captain seemed to have this routine covered despite having missed the rehearsal and damaged his foot the day before. This was followed by a spectacular fireworks display, the conclusion to which went on in impressive fashion for far longer than any of us expected.
Wrapping up our meeting and greeting, the team returned to the hotel for bed ahead of another early start on Sunday.
While a quick burn befell sunscreen flouters
The Wallabies silenced the doubters
And we learned in the sun,
With the wind causing 'fun',
Bisley inners can be ICFRA outers!
With the sun shining and Saturday’s damp disappointment behind us, the team rose again in time for the 0630 departure for the range. Today offered four further ranges in the President’s individual competition – 2 sighters and ten to count at each of 600, 800, 900 and 1000 yards. Without doubt it would be a day that offered significant challenges in terms of the art of string shooting and of course mastering the Belmont wind conditions. For a squad that had so far focussed much more on team shooting than individual shooting nor shot in much more than gloom and rain, there were few that thought that a day shooting long range in the sun would be fun all round.
And so it proved. Although 600 yards yielded a range of good scores, the move back to 800 yards was more challenging, notwithstanding the large bullseye. A prevailing right wind changed rapidly in strength and angle in a way that defied the dogged attempts by some to shoot through it Bisley-style. More success was had by those who’d adapted to the string shooting methodology of picking a patch (or prevailing condition) and then going for it quickly. Even this, however, proved difficult as we moved back to 900 yards. Whether it was the smaller bullseye, the more challenging conditions or just what we had for lunch, none of the team managed a possible at 900 yards. Even on his birthday, Ross was ‘blessed’ with an outer. The luck of the Irish seems to have been in short supply this weekend.
1000 yards proved similarly hard with widely varying results across the range. Scores of 42 and 49 from shooters with similar squadding times were far from uncommon as we contended with a wind that came from the bottom right corner of the range – the same sort of wind that our Chief Coach had described as ‘just impossible’ earlier in the week. Difficult yes, impossible no, for there were clearly some who could master this sort of angling, changeable wind, including our own Nigel Ball and Kelvin Ramsey. Inners, magpies and outers, it was certainly a fun afternoon’s shooting. Well, perhaps not the outers.
Shooting over the team gathered at the Natives clubhouse for a de-brief. The scores on the (very public) scoreboard revealed that it had undeniably been a tough day. Most agreed that the challenge of string shooting was much more than just knowing what wind to put on when firing but also involved knowing what wind just not to fire in. Kelvin turned out to be the team’s top man having dropped a mere 3 points over the weekend. His 49.0 at 900 yards was given as a particular example of getting the most points possible in challenging conditions. Kelvin, in his best Surrey accent, of course denied any suggestion that his previous meetings here could possibly have made him a quasi-local!
Following on from Webbie’s announcements and instructions at the end of the day, we took a brief moment to sing Happy Birthday to Ross (and help him eat his birthday cake) before heading over to the prize giving. Clearly the day had been one where knowledge of the local conditions and experience of string shooting had played a significant role but the prize giving revealed the full extent and calibre of the competition – only four of the GB team made the top 35 in the President’s individual competitions. Coupled with the range of useful shooting goods offered as prizes – enough for one team member (whose outers were all apparently down to shooting errors rather than wind reading mistakes) to comment that ‘he might start trying’ – this certainly highlighted the work to be done. The members of our team making the prize list were Kelvin Ramsey (10th with 297), Jane Messer and Nigel Ball (13th and 15th with 296) and Jon Underwood (20th with 295).
Prizes awarded (and a bit of meet and greet follow up finished aka watching the final rugby World Cup quarter final), the team returned to the hotel for another rip-snorter of an evening pushing ammunition, coaches’ meetings and match practice preparation enlivened by the arrival of the no-longer quite so British Stuart Collings. Our top undercover agent Tremlett has been sent to investigate whether Stuart has defected to Australia in full or is simply here to help plot England’s Elcho tactics for next year.
All the team shot well with the great batch
So our captain his head had to scratch
While selecting a team
Made of Great Britain's cream
For a big one: the Australia Match.
Despite it only being a practice day, Team GB was up and about at the normal time of 06:00 to head off to the range to get ready for an 08:30 kickoff. With the selection for tomorrow’s Australia Match to be made by this evening and only 10 shooting and 2 coaching places available, every shooter and coach would be wanting to impress and make the team, not least those needing only an Australia Match to secure their “Big 5”. With most buses having headed off to the Natives at 06:30, a swift breakfast ensued; leaving the team had plenty of time for a warmup.
Management drew for targets as the rest of the team moved out onto the range in preparation for the 300 yards shoot (the day’s course of fire would mimic the Australia Match, per ICFRA rules.) Meanwhile the sky had an overcast look to it and a few spots of rain threatened; however the day was not to see a repeat of last Saturday morning’s deluge. 600 and then 900 yards followed in fairly quick succession. Lunch was called after the conclusion of 900, and the various vans loaded up and trouped off to get fed before the start of 1000 yards. Jane and her team of dedicated shoppers continue to keep everyone well provisioned on and off the range. Moving back on to the range for 1000, the wind started to show some of the rapid and strong changes in both strength and direction that had made yesterday’s long range shoots so challenging. Despite this, the coaches kept both a cool head and the majority of shots in the bullseye. Scoring was not bad at all as a result, especially as some of the shooters put down excellent groups despite the stop/start nature of the practice.
After a few hours’ break, during which the captain headed over to the captains’ meeting and the rest of the team charged back to the hotel, the team met up again at the Natives RC for another superb Tremlett dinner. Shortly before the team ate, Webbie announced the team which would fight to retain the Australia Match trophy. Each team member was either disappointed with their exclusion or elated but keen not to let the side down, depending on whether their name was mentioned or not. Webbie commented that team selection is always a difficult task, which he was delighted that the team had contrived to make impossible. After another solid feed, it was time to head home for a good night’s sleep before the match.
On a final, lighter note your correspondent and his bus-mates were delighted to enjoy (Consultant Plastic Surgeon) Kelvin Ramsey’s music collection on the way back from the range to the hotel. “It’s my operating theatre playlist,” he commented.
“It’s a good job the patients are asleep then!” Came the inevitable reply.
Saffers, Yanks and hosts knocked on the door
But our 3 and 10 were record scores
Lucky put them all in
And we reined them all in
Coming back from third to win by four
Today was Australia Match day and the first real test of the team’s capabilities in match conditions.
Reflecting the different tasks allocated to each team member in pursuit of our common goal, departure times for the buses to leave the hotel were staggered. Those lucky enough to be shooting, coaching or otherwise actively engaged in points accumulation left in time for the briefing and warm up around 7 a.m.. Those whose duties revolved more around counting the points accumulated, providing shade, water and victuals left a little later (accompanied by some particularly fine ‘old school tunes’) but, of course, in time to arrive for setting up the encampment behind the point.
On the range the old school tunes were, perhaps unsurprisingly, replaced by some good old fashioned pre-match tension. As the points-accumulators went through their familiar, sweaty-palmed pre-match routines, the rest of the team scurried to set up the multiple gazebos, large score board and other accessories. Team GB were set.
So after the blow off period, there were six international teams on the mound all looking to accumulate 2000 points. Fortunately the weather was warm and sunny. Unfortunately the wind was far from still. 300 yards was not, therefore, the usual millpond test of nerves but a cruel, ICFRA sized test of nerves accompanied by a ‘sneaky’ little tailwind that flicked back and forth. Led by first man down Nigel Ball’s 50.9, GB finished the range just 1 point down and ahead of all the other competing nations.
600 yards brought an increasingly difficult left wind that rolled in from over shoulder, changing in angle and strength. This became more difficult as the morning wore on and we moved into the tricky period around lunchtime. The shooting remained steady and the coaches worked hard to ensure that GB dropped just 6 points. On the smallest bull’s-eye of all ranges and the hardest target draw this was no mean feat. Clearly it required a lot of concentration from all involved, so much so that the main coach appeared to have forgotten that his left hand target coach was in fact Jane Messer not his wife Pearl. The misplaced “thank you, Pearl” was perhaps the only moment of levity in the hurly-burly of headset exchanges.
At lunch time the points accumulators were fed to order by the bearded master chef and the Captain set out his thoughts on the story so far. It had been, he said, a “good hit” but it was clear we did “not have much of an insurance policy”. For the record GB were 7 points down after 600 yards with the Americans 2 behind on 9 off and the South Africans and Australians a little further back on 13 and 14 points off respectively. Sandwiches and fluids on board, the points accumulators warmed up and moved out to tackle the frankly not-at-all-friendly early afternoon wind conditions.
The wind continued to come in from the left at 900 yards and it was almost immediately apparent that forays to the magpie ring were not only possible but easily made. The slightest slip from a shooter coupled with the fickle wind was swiftly punished. Despite the coaches’ efforts this initial episode was occasionally repeated before conditions began to calm. The later finishing American and Australian teams were therefore able to make up ground. After 900 yards the leading teams were ranked as follows: USA (19 off, 161 V-bulls), SA (19 off but with 158 V bulls), GB (20 off with 155 V-bulls) and Australia (23 off with 163 V-bulls).
With this narrow gap on at least the point counters’ minds, we prepared for 1000 yards. Again, the gazebo bearers and hydration helpers were to the fore in setting up a little haven from the beating sun for the points accumulators. But it was to the points accumulators that all eyes turned in this final range.
For the casual observer, the wind conditions seemed to be easing at least a little. In truth, and certainly for those still in the coaching hot seats after a day’s work, this was not really the case. Battle ebbed and flowed across the range as the point counters’ ranks swelled with runners keeping the Captain up to date with the leading teams’ relative positions. South Africa set the pace as they shot through quickly. The USA and Australia also remained threatening until almost their last firers. It was, as a theoretically neutral observer put it, “turning in to quite a good match”.
As the leading teams went shot for shot (and stop for stop when the wind really played up), the maths became increasingly complicated as it became apparent the result may well come down to V-bulls. It is worth noting that the point counters from the different nations were grateful for the spirit of cooperation and helpful data sharing on show.
Ultimately, however, the combination of GB’s delayed start, superb coaching and some nerveless shooting prevailed. Victory was ours by four points and 13 V-bulls. South Africa were second, followed by USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Webbie’s first response was simply that, he can now look Hinchliffe in the eye.
Congratulations must go to South Africa for going out and setting such a tough score and so putting such pressure on us and to Bryan Litz of the USA whose 200.26 both edged out one David Luckman’s 200.24 and equalled the match record. Thanks to all the competing nations for what proved to be an enthralling match.
After such an exhausting and emotionally engaging day the team celebrated with the other competing nations at prize giving. The excellent result for the USA in the Under 25 match sounded a cautionary note for the competition next week and indeed the future. Commiserations to the GB U25 team.
Tomorrow is the start of the Australian Queen’s, so our next task is to come down from this high and get back to individual shooting and all the challenges that brings.
Queens day and, at last, Dangles was there.
Ross cooked fish while four reps saw the mayor;
Martin wasn't so rude
As to demand some food
So for him seeing the mayor was a 'mare!
After the day of comfortable team practice and a few distinctly uncomfortable moments during the Australia Match, it was a relief to get back into the simple routine of shoot, check score and score at the start of the NRAA Queen’s Prize here at Belmont. Despite the tricky wind conditions (fairly brisk left-hand winds, with occasionally severe drop-offs) the quality of the field shone though, and scoring was generally very high.
On the drive to Belmont, a threateningly dark front loomed over the range and a few of the team were wondering if we were to see a repeat of last week’s impressive display of wet weather; however after a leisurely breakfast the clouds appeared to be clearing away to leave a beautiful sunny day. Kicking off the relays of ten shooters at 08:30, the 300 yards shoot saw a few patches of cloud and variable winds from ¼ to 1¼ minutes left. Scores were generally high; although there were a few red-faced individuals who tried to shoot to the average and lost a shot out the side as a result. Fazal Mohideen of Canada took the honours with a superb 50.9, with Ed Jeens showing some fine form and top-scoring for GB with a 50.8, followed closely by David Luckman only a vee behind.
The 500 yards stage of the Queen’s continued in much the same vein; although the sun had burned off most of the cloud and beat down on 450 very hot shooters. Temperatures soared into the high twenties in the shade, but on the range there is no shade but what a shooter brings with them. The left wind continued to present occasional challenges and some details were worse than others; however a surprising number of shooters still managed to clean the tough ICFRA targets. There were four scores of 50.9, one of which was shot by GB’s very own Jon Underwood, clearly on form.
Following a relaxed lunch on the well-shaded verandah of the Natives Rifle Club, it was back onto the boiling hot range for a 14:00 kickoff at 600 yards for the final range of the day. Again, the winds were quite tricky but did seem to follow the prevailing pattern of a continuum of wind between 2½ -3½ left with occasional drop-offs down to about a minute. Scoring remained high and GB’s top man was DC with a 50.7; although the overall top man was in fact a woman. US Army Marksmanship Unit shooter and USA Palma Team member Sherri Gallagher took the range with 50.8, which gave her a winning daily aggregate score of 150.24. Jon Underwood came in 3rd on the day with 150.20 and David Luckman’s 150.18 managed 10th place. Overall the standard of shooting has been remarkably high; surely the inevitable result of letting loose the 400 best fullbore shooters in the world with handloads on a superbly-kept range.
The day’s shooting over, the team split: Webbie, Martin and a few selected volunteers headed off to meet the local mayor for sherry; Ross and Jane headed off shopping for dinner; while most of the team headed over to the prizegiving. A short while later and there was much ado in the kitchen and on the barbecue as Ross and his dedicated team of chefs turned out a fine dinner of barbecued snapper served with potato and green salads. Dessert took the form of cake to celebrate Kelvin Ramsey’s birthday. A good end to a great day of shooting in fine weather.
Real livestock auctioneer was on hand
For a sale of some prize bullshots and
Dobbing session where Ringer
Was put through the wringer
Before Lucky was sold for a grand!
With the weather service here in Australia reporting (to the significant proportion of the team who have 3G-enabled iPads at least) a 40% chance of rain in the morning and a 70-80% chance of rain in the afternoon, there was much evidence of wet-weather gear in the team’s vans on the way out in the morning. It was certainly overcast and slightly muggy on the way to the range and during breakfast, but there were breaks in the clouds by the time the team headed out onto the range. Day 2 of the Queen’s series here in Belmont consists of two sighting shots and ten shots to count at 600, 800 and 900 yards on tight ICFRA targets; although the difficulty of the targets is offset by shooters being able to use handloaded ammunition with ballistically-efficient bullets, which are not generally allowed in UK competitions.
Kicking off at 600 yards at 08:30 in the morning, left winds continued to prevail with the strength moving from as low as ½ a minute up to about 4 minutes. The overcast cloud broke up significantly during the detail and the heat of the southern sun started to make its presence felt. Ross McQuillan was GB’s top scorer with a solid 50.8, a single vee behind USA Palma’s John Whidden. With all ten shooters in the relay complete, the whole field decamped back at 800. Often thought of as being the easiest range owing to the same targets being used as at 900 and 1000, the strengthening and increasingly erratic winds made for some difficult shooting at times. Certainly, there were plenty of inners coming up, and not a few magpies. Top honours went to Petrus Haasbroek of South Africa with a 50.8. David Luckman’s 50.8 was beaten back into third on countback.
With no sign of rain by the lunchtime break, everyone headed off the range back to the clubhouse for lunch. A few early finishers who had already eaten were observed having a postprandial nap, and of course photographed for posterity (see website’s photo section for details.) Suitably refreshed, Team GB headed out for the final shoot of the day at 900 yards; however in the distance it looked like some bad weather was brewing. At the start of the relay, the stiff winds that shooters had previously experienced continued; however in the later details the strength eased off but there were still some surprises out there for the unwary. The dark clouds in the distance held off just about long enough for everyone to complete their shoots and head back to the Natives before the heavens opened. Colin Cole of Australia took the top slot with the only 50.9 (converting his 5V sighters, no less.) GB’s Toby Raincock shot a tidy 50.7 for 7th place.
With Team GB’s planned dinner at the range canteen after the prizegiving, the vans headed over to the QRA through the pouring rain. At the end of the day and the second stage of the Queen’s only Norm Anderson of USA Palma was the only shooter clean. The chasing pack was led by David Luckman on 299.40, ahead of another 8 scores of 299. 12 of the team made the top 50 moving into tomorrow’s final at 900 and 1000 yards, with Gaz Morris edged out into 51st by a single vee bull. Although the prizes had been awarded, there was more entertainment in the form of publicly-enforced fines for transgressors (including GB’s Ant Ringer three times, and Martin Townsend) who had committed particularly egregious crimes during the past few days of competition. The final event of the evening was a “Calcutta”, during which each of the top ten shooters in the Queen’s Prize to date would be auctioned, with the owner of the shooter winning the prize taking 50% of the pot and the owner of the second placed shooter taking 25%. The remaining 25% goes towards the Australian Under 25 Team, along with the fines collected earlier.
After a packed day, all of the team were glad to get to a good dinner in the QRA Canteen before heading home to prepare for the final stage of the Queen’s Prize tomorrow. With bad weather forecast for tomorrow, there is all to play for.
On our Queens and Grand Agg final go,
David L was the star of the show:
Won the Kaltenberg Cup
And still better, ballsed up
Two shots to let Sherri win us dough!
The final day of the Queen’s and the Grand started overcast but warm in the typically humid Queensland spring, as the team headed out to the range for a quick breakfast before the final stage of the Queen’s kicked off. With two ten round shoots to complete before the end (here all shooters compete in all stages of the Queen’s, which is also included in the Grand) it would be a reasonably short day for those not qualifying for the Royal Kaltenberg final.
The 900 yards stages started with a gentle right wind, which picked up a little shoots but never really seriously threatened carnage and scores were generally high as a result. Our very own David Luckman managed a 50.5, leaving him in the top slot going into the final 100 yards shoot on 349.42. Geoff Grenfell, Noma Mayo and Trudie Fay tied the range each on 50.9 dropping their 6th shot to count.
As 900 yards was easy, 1000 was much more variable and scores depended heavily on a shooter’s place in the order and the consequent conditions. While the team had their fingers crossed for Lucky, with the tricky conditions on his relay it was not to be; he shot at 48.2 to finish in 11th place on 297.44. John Whidden of the USA Palma Team held his nerve for a total of 399.46, a point clear of 2003 World Long Range Champion Sherri Gallagher also of the USA Palma Team on 398.54. While there was some disappointment from Team GB, this was at least partially compensated by the fact that the team’s investment of AUS $800 in buying “the rest of the field” in the previous night’s Calcutta had paid off a significant dividend for team coffers.
Amid some confusion about when the final would be shot and how we would find this out, Watty managed to get the Kaltenberg list from stats about ten minutes before it was allegedly due to start. The cut was 12 off, which unfortunately was just out of reach of several of the team. Kelvin Ramsey in particular just missed out, having the requisite points but only a couple of v-bulls too few. Five of the team made the final – David Luckman, Nigel Ball, Jane Messer, Richard Jeens and Jon Underwood – which consisted of two sighters and fifteen to count at 1000 yards. The wind blew steadily from the left, needing between 3 and 6 minutes of correction. Unlike the whole of the President’s and Queen’s series, the final was shot in pairs rather than strings, which clearly suited the Brits. Only Lucky and Nigel cleaned the shoot, with David’s 10 vees beating Nigel’s 5.
After freshening up at the Colmslie, which has become something of a home from home for the team, most people elected to walk to the Thai restaurant chosen for a team dinner by OIC entertainments Jumbo Lewis. Although some had misgivings about the menu (such as Chris Watson, who is unable to eat food containing chilli peppers) ultimately all were satisfied by the delicate starters and the more filling main courses. With the team dinner complete, some elected to head out to “the valley” where may be found many bars and nightclubs (your correspondent is told that a seriously good time was had) but many others headed back for a swift beer or two in the hotel bar and then bed to make the most of the day of rest on Saturday.
With the World Champs not starting til Sunday
Old and young shot on one of our fun days.
In line with many bets,
Aussies were the best Vets
And America had the best “Undies.”
With the Saturday a day of rest (and some of the team not having come in until quite late) most of the Palma Team enjoyed a well-earned lie in before heading down to a leisurely breakfast in the hotel restaurant. Different groups had organised various activities from sightseeing in town to target team lunches at the range, or in some of Brisbane’s fine restaurants; however most would elect to head to the range in the afternoon to support the GB Under 25 and the GB Veterans Teams in their respective World Championship matches.
Both teams have worked extremely hard in practices and achieved some excellent scores, but on the day found the combination of very hot conditions, tricky winds and stiff competition a challenge too far. Rather than being held purely at long range, as is the case for the Palma Match, the Under 25s and Veterans follow an Australia match course of fire: 2 sighting shots and 10 shots to count at 300, 600, 900 and 1000 yards. The Under 25 match has been somewhat controversially relegated to a single target of five shooters, instead of two targets of four shooters as was previously the case. The veterans shoot two targets of five.
The Under 25s got off to a reasonable start at 300 yards dropping four points and staying in touch with most of the other teams; however USA Young Eagles Red shot clean. Meanwhile the Veterans had a tricker time at 300 yards, dropping 14 points for a 486.48 to range winners Australia with 494.52. Moving back to 600 yards, the tightest of the ICFRA targets, the Under 25s shot 242.21, some 7 points behind the Kiwi team who took the range. The Veterans managed 476.35 to the USA Goodwill Team’s 495.57. Rather than break for lunch, the threat of severe thunderstorms prompted the organisers to run straight though to 900 before stopping. After the first three ranges, GB U25 were languishing in 7th place from 7 teams, having had a tough morning in the office. GB Veterans were in 6th place from 8 teams.
After a nervous lunch, the teams went out with renewed vigour and gave it their all at 1000 yards; however the gap was too great to overcome. James Lothian’s Under 25 team came 5th with 957.78, with USA Young Eagles taking the top slot with 975.85; Eric Stuart-Bamford’s Veterans also came 5th with a score of 1894.132, with the Australian team leading the way on 1947.171. The Palma Team invited the junior team to join us for a commiseratory drink in the Natives RC, where GB Palma Team Captain John Webster congratulated the team for the hard work and gave them words of comfort to take into the individual matches.
The evening’s entertainment for nearly all of the team (and the four Welsh team members in particular) was watching the rugby semi-final against France in the bar. Almost as emotional as a Palma Match, but nowhere near as long, the game had everything except a much deserved Welsh victory (you may be able to guess the nationality of your correspondent at this point) over a disappointing and limp French team, mostly the result of a misjudged spear tackle by Sam Warburton. Although many of the team went to bed disappointed, consolation was to be had in the start of the World Individual Long Range Championships the following day.
The Worlds started in blistering heat.
Paul Sykes leads - a remarkable feat
Of beating wind and sun;
Then our hosts' sense of fun
Saw rugby dominate 'Meet & Greet'.
Day 1 of the World Individual Long Range Championships took place on a flaming hot and almost cloudless day which saw many different wind conditions, starting with left wind in the morning before moving to a stronger right wind by the end of the day. As on previous days, wind brackets depended heavily on the time of shooting, with the most variable winds tending to strike around lunchtime.
The 900 yards shoot kicked off at 08:30 in the strong morning sunshine and with a warning from the chief range office to those not familiar with the strength of the Australian sun; cover up, use sunscreen and drink plenty of water! In the relatively moderate winds, scoring was fairly high. Abraham van Niekerk from South Africa took gold with a 75.11, counting out three others on the same score. Top GB shooter was Paul Sykes who manage a solid 75.8 to start off a superb day’s shooting.
After lunch at 1000 yards, things were looking quite a bit tricker. The first shooters after lunch, in particular, got something of a raw deal; however conditions did ease slightly later on in the range. Paul Sykes continued his run of good form to take the top slot with a 75.11, with Chris Watson also managing to clean the range on 75.3. Paul also top scored on the day, being the only shooter not to drop a point; however owing to the split of ranges, the stage 1 aggregate would not be decided until the completion of 800 yards the following day.
With the shooting over, teams headed off to change into number 1s for the reception and captains’ presentations; however one absolutely critical item remained before the evening’s event could kick off. The rugby. With Australia facing off against rugby World Cup hosts, New Zealand, there was no possibility that anything would happen before the final whistle. Having watched the first half over dinner back at the hotel, Team GB drove briskly to the range to catch the second half at the QRA with the other teams.
Back at the QRA, a large flatscreen TV had been laid on in the main area and was surrounded by many enthralled Kiwis, Aussies and other nationalities. As the saying goes – “When in Rome” – so GB pulled up some chairs and watched the triumph of All Black inevitability over the Wallabies. With the rugby over, the captains’ presentation began. Leading off, the Palma Team Captains presented each other, the QRA and other dignitaries with small tokens of esteem to remember the occasion by. Among the more memorable gift given were bottles of Cloudy Bay sauvignon blanc by New Zealand and traditionally made kitchen knives by the Japanese Goodwill Team. With the Palma teams complete, the stage was given over to the Veterans and Under 25s before the evening wound up.
Changing winds that made lesser men cry
Saw our young Richard Jeens flying high.
Though most scores were insane
The long day's sharpest pain
Was Paul Sykes' bouncy castle black eye.
Given the rather odd arrangement of daily aggregates, there was some doubt as to whether it was Day 1 or Day 2 of the World Individual. Whatever, it was the second day of shooting the World Individual Championships and conditions could not be more different. Replacing the steaming, 28 degree sweat-fest we’d struggled through on Sunday, today was cold, blustery and filled with promises of showers. Even more cheering was the fact that, with three ranges to fit in, it was an 8 a.m. start, so wagons rolled from the hotel particularly early.
800 yards started cold and with a moderate wind that was predominantly from the left. This wind increased in strength as the promised storms came in and wind reading became a challenging test of angle (and not firing at the wrong time). None this put Andre du Toit off, however, as he scored a quite magnificent 75.15. Perhaps the only surprise was that he did not win the range by more than a few V-bulls. For once the weather forecast seemed remarkably accurate, as later details at 800 yards got very wet when the showers came in. Somewhat surprisingly shooting was stopped not once but twice as the targets were deemed too shrouded in rain and mist to be shot at safely. This was surprising for those competitors who are more accustomed to shooting in the wet – Scottish, Welsh and New Zealand shooters to the fore – and frustrating for those shooters forced to get up mid-shoot (and so get even more wet) only to get back down again shortly after. Frustrating too for those shooters who rushed to finish before the rain arrived, but then perhaps those who will be wearing a blazer come Palma match day rather than shooting or coaching need to focus on the weather rather than points.
Moving back to 900 yards and the commensurately tighter bull, conditions did not get any easier. No particular squad had it easy and each shooter had to use their allotted 23 minutes judiciously to stay on the target, let alone the middle of it. With a now strong headwind and regular gusts, wind calls for any given shoot seemed to range from 1 right to 6 left. Particularly difficult was spotting when to make the adjustment from, say, 3 to 6 as the angle flickered fractionally and, at times, feverishly. Scores ranged widely across the team and also across the competitors generally but still the South Africans claimed the range with an impressive 75.
Following a brief interlude for lunch, we moved back to the howling gale at 1000 yards. The headwind remained resolutely strong with gusts and lulls that affected both elevation and windage. Overall, conditions were toughest at the start and the end with a comparatively – and this was only comparatively – easier patch for the middle firers. Unless blessed by the coincidence of your particular 23 minutes and a calm or steady patch, anything over about 65 was competitive and did at least imply limited visits to the low-scoring extremes of the target. Still, there were some good scores, and so when the overall standings list was published the team had four of the top 11 places – Richard Jeens, David Luckman, Jane Messer and Nick Tremlett. With four ranges still to go, however, all was bound to change and there were certainly no prizes for surviving thus far.
In contrast, however, there were two prizes for Paul Sykes at the daily presentation. The first for his outstanding 75.11 at 1000 yards on Sunday and then the second for winning the ‘daily aggregate’ with 224.23. (In fact, this ‘daily aggregate’ included the 900 and 1000 yards shoots from Sunday and the 800 yards shoot from Monday. Neither this rather confusing arrangement nor the sparkling black eye that his room mate had inflicted seemed to put a damper on a beeming Paul as he collected his prizes!)
Prizes over we returned, exhausted to the hotel to prepare for what promised to be another tough day on Tuesday.
Despite weather and dodgy scores I'm
One of many to have a great time
On a range where 'too slow'
Means sideways outers - 'No!'
And the youngsters do water bomb crime.
With such a hard day’s work on the Monday, with strong and very variable winds, there was a considerable spreading out of the field. It was in anticipation of an easier day today that the team went to be last night; however while driving to the range it was noted that the wind still had a blustery quality to it, and indeed, upon reaching the range the flags were, as yesterday, pointing straight up the range; although perhaps not quite as stiffly. Fortunately the forecast was for rather more sun and rather less rain than the competitors enjoyed yesterday.
At 800 yards the wind was predominantly coming from the left and strongly so; however during gusty periods it would swing round until coming nearly straight up the range. As many found, shooting during this time was generally a bad idea. As with previous ranges, picking a bracket of conditions and firing only within that spread seemed to be the winning tactic. Wind values quoted ranged from 1 to 6 left. Despite the relatively generous bullseye, the scores were not that high, with only 22 possibles being scored from the field of 363 top-class rifle shots. Duncan Davies of the Australian Palma Team had the most vees, scoring 75.11, and David Luckman of GB Palma took fourth only a single vee behind.
With only two shoots today and an early lunch separating them, those first down at 900 were hoping to avoid the sacrificial spot on the first range immediately after lunch. The winds were, if anything trickier than at 800 with strong gusts across from nearly 9 o’clock as well as straight up the range. Scores were generally not impressive; however there were one or two exceptions, including the team’s very own Jumbo Lewis, who put in an astonishing 75.6 during a particularly tricky detail to take the range. A very honourable mention also goes to Eric Smith from the USA Goodwill Team for a 75.5, the only other possible on the range. A total wind bracket would probably go from about 1 left to 7½ left, with occasional wild swings, usually resulting in magpies (or worse) for those who happened to be in the aim at the time.
There was something of a cheer when the RO announced that there would be no prize giving today, and the team members trouped off the range once they had shot and completed their scoring and check-scoring duties. Those who finished a little earlier threw and kicked around a rugby ball and frisbee on the square of grass outside the Natives clubhouse, before being called in when all were present for a brief chat from Webbie, during which he announced with much gusto the birthday of team member Jon Cload. Once completed, the team piled persons and kit into the vans before roaring off the range via the back gate, pausing briefly (and foolishly) to watch the massive water fight that had erupted among the various Under 25 teams between the 700 and 800 yards firing points. Your correspondent says foolishly because their vans immediately became the prime targets for all of the teams competing. Several scoring shots were made before discretion became the better part of valour and a hasty exit was made.
Safely back at the hotel for a quiet evening and early(ish) night, plans were made for target team dinners or outings to nearby Belimba. The final day and final shoots of the World Individual Long Range beckon tomorrow, with GB well represented in the top 50 shooters. GB shooters in the top 10 include Jane Messer is 3rd on 508.43, Nick Tremlett 4th on 508.39, and David Luckman 6th on 507.51.
"Illegitimis non carborundum"
Said of winds our young lawyer from London
Who so steadily shot
That he won the Worlds pot
As he saw others with magpies undone.
Today was the last day of the World Individual Championships. After 3 days and 2 and a third daily aggregates, the American Soldier of the Year, Sherri Gallagher, led the field. Following in the top ten were Nick Tremlett, David Luckman and Jane Messer with many more of the team only a handful of points behind. But, if the previous couple of days had been anything to go by, pretty much all of this could change when presented with the Belmont bluster.
As a result of having to fit in two ranges – 800 yards and 1000 yards – and the (very improbable) tie shoots as well as the all-important top ten final, today was an 8 a.m. start.
The first shooters down at 800 yards were presented with the not-so-tricky decision of what number to choose between zero and 1 right when making their wind adjustment. Scores thus looked set to be very high. As the clocks ticked past 0830, however, and we reached the normal start time, conditions became tougher. Instead of drifting in gently from the right, the wind flickered about between a little bit right and a surprising amount left. By the later firers this was compounded by persistent drizzle (probably qualifying as rain in Australia but merely mist in Scotland) and so scores tailed off somewhat. Still, most of the team managed to make solid scores in the mid-70s. The diarist in particular would like to thank his scorer and check scorer for their assistance in keeping him dry while he waited through the rain shower and so was able to finish his shoot in time and relatively dry.
This meant there was little change in the overall standings with one range to go. GB still had their three in the top ten.
By the time 1000 yards started, the weather had clearly improved. Gone was the drizzle and thick cloud cover and in its place we had warm sunshine accompanied by a cooling breeze. Indeed, the sort of weather that is ideal on holiday – perfect for walks in the country and cream teas. We, however, had a bit of shooting to do and the ‘cooling breeze’ translated to a challenging headwind that started at 1 right and gusted up to what was conservatively estimated at 14 left. The first two or three firers down undeniably had some of the worst conditions, especially on the right hand side of the range. Firers who chose not to shoot when the wind really dropped/angled towards the firing point or when it gusted hardest found a more manageable bracket of between 2 and 7 left. Perhaps not appraised of the misses that had been inflicted further up the range, one member of the team remarked that it was “entirely readable” (as he got up having scored ten points more than anyone else on his target)!
Though some shooters later down their string (or on the extreme left of the range) were offered the occasional ‘patch’ of relatively steady wind, conditions never really eased. Particular mention must go to Parag Patel who managed to score 75.7 and Jane Messer, who would have done the same but for her magpie. David Luckman (71.9, with an outer) and Richard Jeens (73.7) also managed the conditions well. Perhaps unsurprisingly, therefore, the standings were rather shaken up at the conclusion of 1000 yards. The top ten who had managed to qualify for the final were:
Jane Messer (656.59)Narrowly edged out was Nick Tremlett, whose score of 647.46 wasn’t quite enough to make the final.
Our indefatigable ammunition expert Tom Rylands slaved on through lunch to ensure that those in the final had ammunition pressed and ready while the rest of the team pored over the final stats to establish who had won the relevant intra-team bets.
So, after three and half days of sun, rain and some altogether brutal wind conditions the stage was set for the final of the World Individual Long Range Championship. As in previous years, the final was contested at 1000 yards. Both to those taking part and those spectating, the slim margins between those in the top ten seemed likely to count for little.
After a lunchbreak which stretched into eternity for the spectators and must surely have been infinitely worse for the finalists, the team trekked out to watch the final. Competitors were randomly assigned targets at 1000 yards before being called to the mound to shoot two sighters and fifteen to count. Winds were moderate but shifted rapidly in strength and angle. Most of the shooters shot fairly briskly, with GB’s David Luckman finishing first with a 70.3 and Richard Jeens only a few minutes behind with a very strong 73.4. Jane took her time, having picked up a magpie early on in the string. With all of our shooters complete, and many of the others besides we waited with bated breath for the few stragglers to come in. It rapidly became apparent that Richard’s score was enough to push him up the standings enough to take the World Individual Long Range Championship by two clear points from…
Therein lies a question; ahead of whom? Lying in joint second on 723.68 were GB’s David Luckman and South Africa’s Andre du Toit. The surging shooters who wished to congratulate Richard on his success (and to commiserate the other shooters) were unceremoniously ordered off the mound by the officials to enable a tie shoot for the silver medal to go ahead. Both David and Andre settled themselves back down on the point for another sighter and five shots to count. Andre shot cleanly, but David was unfortunately to pick up a flick of the flags which took one of his shots into the magpie. Another inner for David and the outcome was sealed in Andre’s favour.
The new Individual Long Range World Champion is Richard Jeens of Great Britain and Wales. The final top ten standings were:
Richard Jeens (725.49)Following the final and congratulations all round, the team packed up and retired to the ever-welcoming Natives’ clubhouse in anticipation of the evening’s prize giving followed by a braai with the South African Palma team. As expected, this turned out to be a very enjoyable evening but, with an eye on the tram practice and forthcoming Palma match, both teams wrapped things up early.
So tomorrow's our ultimate test -
Time to show that we can be the best.
To achieve what we seek
We have trained for this peak,
But right now what we need is some rest!
After the tension and drama of the conclusion of the World Individual Championships (and the sore shoulders for the unfortunate chair bearers), today was an important chance to switch back in to team match mode ahead of the Palma Match on Friday and Saturday. Before heading out to the range, breakfast was again enlivened by messages (some more sardonic than supportive) from the UK. Thanks to all those who have followed and supported the team’s progress.
The difficult moment of team announcement over, the team then completed a slick run through at 800 yards in the target teams that had been selected for the Palma Match. This not only allowed the coaches one final chance to practise together as a unit but also re-acclimatised the shooters to their gun-platform roles after nearly two weeks of having to worry about those silly wind flag things! This completed, the team packed up and returned to the hotel leaving just one target on the range for a bit of remedial practice at 900 yards.
With a view to keeping everyone fresh ahead of the marathon that is the Palma Match, the Captain gave the team the afternoon off. Messer Tours Inc took a bus to Mount Glorious with the Captain, Vice-Captain and Nick Brasier in search of good views and, of course, tea and cake. The bearded wizard and newly crowned world champion toured Brisbane’s botanical gardens (and a fair portion of the suburbs) – clearly map reading is more of a challenge than wind reading! Others enjoyed a leisurely lunch in Bulimba.
The ammunition team were, however, denied the chance to join in these jolly outings, as they spent the afternoon doing whatever ammunition teams do to ammunition the day before matches. It seems to involve a lot of time, several sets of scales, some funny measuring devices and sentences filled with nouns most mortals don’t understand. Poor Erica was also rather constrained in her afternoon entertainment, as the usual stream of invalids flocked to the treatment table.
Having enjoyed their afternoons off (or generously completed their team chores), most of the team had an early meal in the hotel and retired to be bed in preparation for the Palma Match.
Belmont wind from the start was a pain
Making rhythm quite hard to obtain
But our sailor top scored,
We compiled a good board
And tomorrow must do it again!
Today brought what the team had come to Australia for: the Palma Match. The day’s importance was clear to and the wonderful combination of seriousness, anticipation and nerves was apparent in the subdued atmosphere at breakfast. Safely assembled at the range the Captain spoke briefly but with heart before the now-familiar warm up routine began.
The teams drew for targets at 0845 before a brief blow off period between 0900 and 0910. These preliminary steps out of the way, the team was set for the start at 800 yards.
GB was drawn on the centre right bank of targets at 800 yards with the same flicking headwind that had proved so entertaining during the World Individual Championships providing entertainment for the coaching teams. Though light, this wind changed rapidly and surprised some with the adjustment required. With expectations at this first range set so high by GB’s scores in 2007, there was some disappointment at dropping points but Belmont is not Connaught and shooting clean was simply not a realistic outcome in these conditions. In contrast to other teams, therefore, GB took their time at the outset to ensure they had a proper grasp on the conditions. The main coach might have described the 800 yard target as ‘barn door’ but we’d turned up with some very fiddly banjos! This patience paid off though, as GB finished the range 6 points ahead of the USA.
Though the temperature rose to make things more comfortable for the spectators, the wind conditions at 900 yards proved more difficult. Drawn on the left side of the range, GB had to work hard to balance the possible shelter provided by the trees on the edge of the range and the lack of warning available when the wind did change. And change it did. Both strength and angle varied with as much frequency as earlier in the week. Fortunately from a firer’s perspective the coaching team could operate together to pick the best patches and so avoid the disasters that had befallen so many of us in the individual competition. The margins between the teams remained, as ever, very slim. After another 100 minutes of battling Belmont’s winds, GB finished the range a solitary point ahead of the Australian team.
The all-too-brief lunch break over, the team set up again at 1000 yards. This was made easier by the huge amount of effort put in by the reserves, adjutant and armourer (assisted by the U25s) in setting up the vital gazebo, water supplies and (perhaps less vital) scoreboard.
GB had been drawn on the extreme right at 1000 yards. This exposed us to the most significant wind conditions and greatest risk of calamitous visits to the low scoring sections of the target. (A reminder – it is quite possible to score an outer on these ICFRA targets that would be an inner on a normal Bisley target. Indeed, anything not much more than half way in to the ICFRA inner is likely to be a bull on a ‘normal’ target.)
Perhaps intentionally, the time period for 1000 yards ran from 1410 to 1550 and so would almost certainly finish before the late afternoon brought calmer conditions. Notwithstanding this, it was clear that Australia (next to us on the range) had no intention of starting promptly, as, with twenty minutes gone, none of their firers were on the mound. GB’s start was careful rather than delayed but conditions for the first few firers were fiendish. Though there was clearly (with hindsight rather than from the coaches’ chairs perhaps!) a core call of around five left, this was rarely available for any extended period and in between gusted up to nearly double this or angled away to almost nothing. This led to long waits and regular use of sighters out of turn but was rewarded by the very infrequent forays beyond the bull and inner. (Even down on the more sheltered left side of the range it seemed that outers and magpies on both sides of the bull were all too easy to get.)
These difficult conditions continued for most of the allotted time and so by the end of the day’s shooting there were some very tired faces across the range. Again, GB had won the range. But, as before, the margin was tiny – a mere three points ahead of the USA. This left GB with a lead of 25 points at the end of day 1. Veterans of previous Palma Matches might note that insurance policies just aren’t what they used to be.
After a brief wrap up and bidding farewell to the U25s, who return to the UK tonight, the team returned to the hotel to watch the third place play off game between Wales and Australia and have a quiet dinner together.
Martin rei(g)ned as wind twisted and pearled
SA threatened as long range unfurled
But we queued in a snake
For an all-team handshake
As the new champions of the world.
The night between the two days of the Palma Match was a tense one. Many of the team reported having had disturbed sleep and strange dreams; although that could just have been the result of the cheese course at dinner. Still, most of the team were up and about early to depart for the range by 07:45, with a few early risers leaving by 07:30 to put the kettle on in the Natives. Breakfast was fairly minimal for most of the shooters and one or two of the team looked slightly queasy going into the final day, with only a slim insurance policy of 25 points.
Heading out to the range in the vans for the target draw, GB found themselves on the far left of the range at 800 yards. With the prevailing wind coming from the left and up the range, this led to a sense of foreboding of what could happen when the shooting would move to the longer ranges and GB would be on the less sheltered right-hand side of the range. Shooting kicked off at 09:30 and most teams launched into 800 yards with abandon, being the shortest (and therefore easiest) of the three distances, which are all shot on the same targets. It rapidly became clear that conditions were slightly easier than yesterday and the scores were going to be high; however they were again not going to equal the 2007 Palma Match, where GB cleaned both 800 yard shoots. All teams finished in just over an hour, well within the 100 minute time limit. GB dropped just 5 points to win the range, followed by South Africa a point behind, with the USA dropping 7.
All teams moved swiftly back to 900 yards to prepare for the next shoot, which was to follow immediately after the finish of 900. Unlike the previous day, where there was very little cloud cover, day 2 of the Palma Match was quite overcast, producing a softer, flatter light. A few spots of rain were even felt, but these soon dried up before the start of the range. Teams started more cautiously than at the previous range, owing to the strengthening and more variable winds. Significant drop-offs waited to catch the unwary, and many teams elected to take long breaks during turbulent patches of wind. Despite the tricky conditions and being in the middle of the range, GB’s superb wind coaching and strong tactics allowed the team to drop just 18 points at 900 yards; ten points clear of the next team, New Zealand. USA dropped 31, South Africa and Australia dropped 32, and Canada dropped 33.
The teams broke for a very tense lunch, with many shooters heading back as soon as they had completed their shoot or plotting stints to give themselves some time to digest before the final range. Great Britain had extended their lead to a total of 40 points over South Africa, with the USA in third not far behind; however in the difficult conditions on Belmont ranges, such a lead could evaporate in only a few shoots if the team were to lose its grasp of the wind or make a tactical misjudgement. Having eaten, Webbie addressed the assembled team in the Natives hut for one last time, giving encouragement to the troops. The team left the Natives and drove with purpose to the right-hand end of the 1000 yards firing point for the final range of the World Long Range Championship for the Palma Trophy.
As on previous days, the wind after lunch was quite vicious; there were some big pick-ups and even bigger drop-offs during the first few shooters. All teams took long breaks to ride out the choppier passages of wind; however the shoots slowly progressed and scores were posted on the boards for all to see. Great Britain was clearly doing well and one or two of the other teams were clearly faring less well, but over on the sheltered left-hand side of the range the South Africans were making an extremely strong showing also, with very few scores under 70. Was it possible for them to catch up enough points to threaten GB, who were over on the exposed right-hand side of the range?
The scores for the third and fourth shooters on each of the targets started to come through after a number of long waits to allow the wind to settle. The South Africans were still posting good scores in the harsh winds, but it was not going to be enough to overturn the lead that GB had amassed over the preceding five ranges. At the end of the range, South Africa had won the range on 44 off and eroded the lead, but GB had held fast to drop just 49 points. After two years of training and six ranges of fiercely hard work, the Great Britain Rifle Team had retained the Palma Trophy, dropping 173 points and beating the previous record of 200 points dropped set in 2007. South Africa were also just 8 points off this record despite the tricky wind conditions. 
The celebrations for GB and commiserations for the other teams were going to last long into the night and well into the early hours of the next morning for some of the team.
We queued up, all our guns to export,
Then left camp, when an Irishman thought:
"If I'm going to go home
I'm going to have to (groan!)
Go and beg customs for my passport!"
Team members surfaced at varying times depending upon their habit, constitution and their previous night’s indulgence after the Palma dinner. Similarly, the appearance of team members also varied widely, from the surprisingly chipper to the downright unhealthy. All of this said, a strict schedule had been laid out for the morning to head out to the range and get the rifles checked and cases sealed by Australian customs to ease the passage through Brisbane airport, so most people made it out of bed in good time and there were no frantic enquiries as to the location and disposition of any team members.
Packing up rifles and heading out to the range in good time, the team joined the customs queue at the range. Given the delay a few of the more athletic team members started throwing a Frisbee ad rugby ball about, which killed some of the waiting time. To give the officials their due, the wait was not that long; although it was ultimately increased when your correspondent discovered to his embarrassment that he had left the keys to his gun case back at the hotel. A swift trip in one of the team vans ensued; however with no further issues reported, the checking and sealing of the cases was completed in short order which would save us considerable time at the airport the following day.
Little had been planned for the rest of the day beyond lunch at a rather nice restaurant in central Brisbane to be followed by the Rugby World Cup Final. Named MooMoo and specialising in superb steaks, the chosen venue for the team’s farewell lunch is situated in a fine building of the colonial style, with broad balconies and an extensive wine list. After a trip back to the hotel to scrub up, taxis were commandeered into town and the team descended upon the restaurant. A small starter of warm olives and roasted artichokes with preserved lemons teed up our taste buds and was superbly tasty with a glass of Kiwi sauvignon. As with many of the restaurants in Australia, guests were welcome to bring their own wine for a small corkage fee, and the team had brought along a small few bottles for enjoyment. After a brief interlude, the main course arrived; a thickly meaty Cape Grim steak served with delicately truffled mash and sides of chips and French beans. With a superb dessert of icecream and honeycomb to finish, all were satisfied with a meal rounded off with the odd glass of port or dessert wine.
The team split into two main groups, with one staying at the restaurant to watch the rugby final, while the remainder headed back to the hotel, also to watch the final but in the hope of being joined by a few invitees from the other teams in the Palma. With Wales’ untimely demise at the hands of France, there was the expectation that the rugby was going to be rather one-sided; however the French surprised all with the strength of the game that they brought to Eden Park. Ultimately though, the Kiwis proved too strong and were toasted widely by all present. The remainder of the evening is remembered by most in only fragments; however your correspondent feels that it is safe to say that GBRT celebrated their victory in the Palma Match well, and drank to the many new friendships formed and old acquaintances renewed.