NRA Journal - Spring 2011 - National Rifle Association

all 21 members of the team proving how spaciousthe rooms are by fitting into one for tea and cakes.For the evening the majority of the team headed toa local Italian restaurant to celebrate Alex Bryson’s19th birthday.On the Tuesday afternoon, the Alexander of Tunislived up to its (and its British cousin the Corporation’s)reputation by blowing an absolute gale. Windsranging from 10 to 15 left proved challenging to readon the flags and large gusts caught many out with46s being a standard score and only one 50 in thewhole competition achieved on the last detail of theday. The late afternoon gave us the excitement of notone but two tie shoots with Chris Haley shooting forthe Norman Beckett and Steve Thomas for the Brick.Despite a valiant effort at 800m, Chris came a closesecond. Fortunately Steve’s shoot had got off to arather slow start, enabling those who had watchedChris’s shoot to get to the 600 point in time to seeSteve’s go to sudden death. After three further shots,Steve’s calm measured approach came through givinghim a V to Fazal’s 5, winning him the Col John Brick.The team wrapped up the day with an excellent cornboil and sausage barbecue at the NCRRA clubhouse.On Wednesday, David Armstrong won the President’swith 150.25, followed closely by Paul Sykes in secondand Gary Alexander in third, both on 150.23. HenryDay and Nigel Ball were seventh and eighth, both with150.20. The day was rounded off by a reception hostedby the GB and USA Teams in the Mess, at which thequintessentially British Pimms was served to someinitial suspicion and subsequent delight of manyguests. Speeches were made by both Captains andmementos presented to the backdrop of a beautifulsunset over the ranges.OutlanderDavid Luckman having put in a tidy 150.25 to winthe Gibson, GB entered two teams into the Outlander.After 2ss and 15 at 600 yards, the Captain’s team led.All then retreated into shelter. After a two hour breakfor the forecast torrential rain, the match resumed withthe evening 900m shoot reduced to 2ss and 10 to count.The Captain’s team were worthy winners with 978.88,whilst the USA scored 976.80 and the Vice-Captain’steam 974.90.Grand AggregateFriday morning’s competition, the Gatineau (2ss and15 at 900m), was the last one in the MacDonald StewartGrand Aggregate. Arriving at the range in brightsunshine, David Luckman was disappointed to seethe flags hanging limply by the side of the flagpoles,indicating that the task of catching up the two pointsand six V bulls he was adrift of Grand leader KentReeve of the USA was unlikely to be achievable.However, the fishtailing wind and deceptive miragemeant that many struggled to obtain small groupsand only ten competitors managed a 75 in what hadappeared to be relatively easy conditions. David’s 73.7was sufficient to secure second place and the SilverMedal in the Grand on 724.94 (ex 730.146), three pointsbehind winner Kent Reeve. David Armstrong had a73.6 for 722.88, which was enough to keep him in thirdplace. Overall, pleasingly, the team had 11 membersin the top 25 of the Grand.Amongst the other aggregates, Alex Bryson won theRussell G Potter Memorial, the Harrison, the Cadet/Junior Open Target Rifle Championship, and, alongwith Steve Thomas, the Senior/U25 Pairs event. TheCaptain made up for a cross shot in the President’sby winning the Short Range Aggregate, droppingonly four V bulls throughout the 300m shoots, andthe Tess Spencer trophy for the highest lady in theGrand Aggregate.Commonwealth MatchFriday afternoon saw the first of the big threematches to which the team had been building: theCommonwealth Match, equivalent to our Mackinnon(international teams of 12 shooters, 2ss and 10 at 800mand 900m). After a team brief and pep talk by Jane andthe Match Captain (Nigel Ball), the whole team movedout onto the range. In bright sunshine, the windsremained similar to the morning, light and variable,with the mirage giving often the only indication ofstrength and direction.After 800m, GB were nine off, with Canada hot on ourheels on 12 off and USA just a further point behind.The winds got no easier as the match progressed,and by the time the last three GB shooters got downit was clear that nothing short of three possibles wasgoing to secure the match. Paul Sykes, Kitty Jackand Gary Alexander and the coaches duly rose to thechallenge and delivered just that, to give the teama score of 1173.112. The Match Captain then nearlyhad a heart attack when a total of 1175 appeared onthe Canadian scoreboard. Fortunately this provedto be a mathematical error, and the correct score of1171.113 was eventually recorded. The USA had hada few problems at 900m and ended up in third placeon 1167.98.Canada MatchThe final day of the DCRA Championships dawnedcloudy and dull, with the threat of rain. The CanadaMatch started at 0800, so wagons rolled at 0630 toensure the team was fully breakfasted and ready tostart at the appointed hour. In gloomy light, the GBteam settled into the process of establishing a lead onthe extreme right hand side of Connaught’s A Range.By the end of 300 yards, GB were on 398.57, Canadawere on 397.51 and the USA were on 395.52.At 500 yards all teams moved to the extreme left sideof the 40 target range as very light rain started to fallintermittently. This rain wasn’t heavy enough to43