Preparing for the Big One

Posted on 13 Mar 2014 by WH

Wednesday was listed as "Team practice or Plymouth wineries R&R". Why restrict ourselves, we thought. So we shot at 800, 900 and 1000 yards in the morning, with everyone concentrating on quick readiness to fire and quick decision making - a fruitful session in strong and changeable right hand winds (well into double figures)... and then most of the team went to the Bray winery, where we were welcomed for a comprehensive tasting by Thomas, who had been running the bar at Taste a few days previously.

With plot sheets submitted to the Captain, team members were free to concentrate on their individual shooting at the long ranges on Thursday in a final chance to shine before selection for the Palma international teams match. Some very solid knocks were put down at 800 and 900 yards but, as ever, it was 1000 yards that sorted the men from the boys. And indeed woman from the boys: once again it was Noma Mayo who triumphed, on a 447.27 that was excellent in such a fickle front fishtail, from a quick firing Felix Solis. Ian Shaw was top of the Scots, winning the Master class on 444 from second and third placed Kenny MacDonald and Matt Charlton (441 each). Euan Maclean (442), who finished with a 148 at 1000 yards, once again won the Expert class, this time from fellow Scot James Shepherd (439).

The standard (and welcome) range barbecue followed, before the team split up for both work and play: Bob Gill and Tom Luhmann, assisted by Dennis Vanlier, treated half of the team to some "rattle battle" with an AR15 (30 shot magazine in 50 seconds) and an M1 Garand (8 shot magazine, with cases ejecting up out of the top). Meanwhile, one van went to buy provisions for the party we would host the next day, and the other took people to the butts area to examine and sort ammunition for the team match.

Finally, the management team plus coach Hamish retired to Taste to select the team for Friday's climactic match against the USA &Canada. The selection was difficult, but the Scotland team announced for Friday's match vs. USA & Canada for the Caledonian Quaich is:

Captain/Coach: Matthew Charlton

Firers: Jon Ford, Richard Scott, Euan Maclean, Ian Shaw

Coach: Hamish Hunter

Firers: William P. Hanley, James Shepherd, Iain Hindshaw, Kenny MacDonald

Reserves: Stephanie Dick, Henry Watson

Adjutant: Iain Thomson

Coaches' Assistant: Jamie Campbell

Pit pullers: Niall Niall M Duncan, Claire Halleran