Itinerary

All times are local to the team using 24hr clock

The Matches

The Canada Match Trophy

The Canada Match is a Challenge Cup presented by The Canadian National Railways 1931, for competition between teams representing the Mother Country and Canada at the Annual Prize Meeting of The Dominion of Canada Rifle Association.

The trophy is a Sheffield Sterling Plate Bowl style cup with two handles, a lid on which stands a Victory Figure, a long stem tapering to a tiered and flared base. With the lid in place the trophy stands 657 mm high, 430 mm across the handles, 280mm in diameter at the top, 178 mm in diameter at the flared base. The Trophy stands on a wooden base which is mahogany in colour and which measures 134 mm high and 330mm square.

The History

In 1931 Great Britain sent a rifle team to Canada under command of Sir Lionel Fletcher, CBE to compete against Canada's best marksmen at the Annual Prize Meeting of the DCRA. Prior to that year no International team matches were included in the regular schedule of events. It was considered fitting therefore that a short range event following the Traditional Conditions prescribed for "The Kolapore" at Bisley be introduced. The conditions called for teams of 8 marksmen each firing two sighting shots and ten shots for record at each of 300, 500 and 600 yards within a specified time limit. The match was titled "The Canada Match" and with the assistance and generosity of The Canadian National Railways, the Canada Trophy was placed in competition.

The Match Conditions

The Canada Match is always shot in Canada, by a team of 8 firers, two sub-coaches, a main coach, an adjutant, a captain and 2 reserves. Each shooter fires 2 sighters and 10 shots to count at 300, 500 and 600 yards. Great Britain currently hold the record score in the match with 1199 points out of 1200.

The America Match Trophy

The trophy was presented in 2002 on the occasion of the first match. It was made possible by the fund-raising effort of Precision Shooting Magazine. The two figures depicted in the sculpture are the Canadian Jim Thompson, and Alan Warner (standing) of the United States. George Chase a member of the DCRA from New Brunswick was commissioned to design and make the trophy.

The Competition Background

First shot in 2002, the match was can only take place when an official US team is present and competing. The intent is to hold the match every two years. In 2010, the match will be held during the DCRA Meeting at Connaught ranges in Ontario, Canada.

In the inaugural match in 2002, USA, Canada, Great Britain and Germany competed for the trophy. On that occasion, Great Britain won the match from Canada with a margin of 48 points with USA a further 9 points behind them. John Pugsley made the top score of the day dropping only 2 points for a 298.30. At the next match in Raton, New Mexico, the USA beat Great Britain.

The Match Conditions

A team of 8 shooters, two sub-coaches, a main coach, an adjutant, a captain and 2 reserves. Each firer shoots 2 sighters and 15 shots to count at 300, 600, 900 and 1000 yards (or 300, 600 yards and 800 and 900 metres as appropriate to the venue).

First GB Tour

Great Britain and Canada have always had a strong relationship in the shooting world, with GB teams visiting the country regularly in the past and now every year. The Canadian’s also send a team across to Bisley every year. Of course we cannot forget the Athelings cadet exchange, which has been travelling to Canada almost every year since 1910, and has been the catalyst to many British shooters’ sporting careers. But what about the First GB team?

The first GB team to Canada was in 1902 and was the result of an invitation for Great Britain to compete in the Palma Trophy Match, which was to be held in Canada that year. The NRA appointed Major Hon. T. F. Fremantle as Captain and a circular letter was sent out to “the principal rifle shots in the kingdom,” describing the conditions of the Match and asking for applications. A second circular letter was sent to members and supporters of rifle shooting across the country asking for contributions towards the cost of the tour that was expected to exceed £1000.

Major W. F. Bell was selected as the team’s Adjutant and the team was selected from the considerably large number of applicants. Advice was taken from the Captains of the English and Scottish XX’s about the shooting abilities and qualities of the various applicants. The final team of fourteen selected were as follows:

The main party sailed from Liverpool on August the 12th and fortunately, since they were only crossing the Atlantic, the voyage took a mere 10 days! Arriving in Montreal on the afternoon of August the 21st and then arriving in Ottawa by train later that evening. Wilkinson and Paterson joined the team two days later. The team stayed at the Russell House Hotel for the first couple of days then moved to the Victoria Hotel in Aylmer on Saturday the 23rd of August for the remainder of their visit.

At the time it was customary for competitors to shoot in uniform. The GB team were provided with shower-proof shooting suits of Jaeger woollen drill material and grey felt hats. The Captain presented the party members, with a badge, consisting of a Union Jack and the words “British Rifle Team, Canada, 1902,” which they wore on the turned-up brims of their hats.

The team spent a full 10 days on the ranges practising together until the start of the Dominion Rifle Meeting on the 1st of September, where they then competed as individuals. On the 8th of September the Individual matches culminated with the team competing for Coronation Medals to be presented by the Captain and Adjutant. The group then continued their team practices and training until the 11th with the Palma Match taking place on the 13th.

The Palma Match in 1902 was shot between teams of eight firers, with fifteen rounds to count at each of 800, 900 and 1000 yards. The teams used the military issued rifles of their home nation and were allowed to shoot in any position without the use of an artificial rest.

The entirety of the British team shot in the prone position, as did all but one of the Canadians who shot from the back position. A significant proportion of the American team also shot in the back position as they felt it gave them a steadier aim and enabled them to get a smaller eye relief. Unlike the back position still used today in Match Rifle, this form of the back position was done using standard issue rifles with the sights set up for prone shooting. The back position then, involved passing the butt of the rifle over the right shoulder and holding it steady with the firer’s left hand behind their head. The trigger was operated using the right thumb and the recoil of the rifle absorbed using a strap attached to the rifle and passed around one of the firer’s knees.

At the beginning of the match, the Americans had the advantage, using superior weapons and ammunition; they were able to achieve much better elevations. The Americans were using specially prepared bullets with Laflin and Rand powder whereas the British and Canadians were using cordite ammunition made in Woolwich. As a result the American team had a good lead after 800 yards but at the longer distances, the greater wind reading skill of the British team came through. At 900 yards the GB riflemen made up the deficit and then some, going into the lead. At the final range the Brits held it together to finish off as the victors by 12 points. The full results were:

Lastly, I should mention the costs of this tour; the team were fortunate in being able to gain special reductions on the cost of their steamer tickets for the voyage to and from Canada, the Tram and Railway tickets in Canada as well as their Hotel rooms. The overall cost of the tour was £45.05 shillings per person, which in today’s money is around £4200. The team received nearly £800 (£74000 today*) in donations to cover the cost of the tour.

* Conversions made using: http://safalra.com/other/historical-uk-inflation-price-conversion/

National Rifle Contest 1860

In April 1860, an announcement appeared in the Times that 'The Council of the National Rifle Association having resolved that the gold medal and chief prize of the Association shall be shot for by the Volunteers at the National Rifle Association meeting in July next, with a small bore-rifle, at ranges of 800, 900, and 1,000 yards, are anxious that the competitors should contend, as far as possible, on equal terms.” So began the National Rifle Contest, later the Imperial Meeting of the National Rifle Association, and one of the great traditions of national and international sport in Great Britain.

Wimbledon Common, the site of that first meeting and for the next 28 such meetings was, as now, a large open expanse on the southwestern edge of Victorian London. Well served by railways at both the Wimbledon and Putney ends of the Common which could convey both competitors and spectators relatively easily and cheaply from all over London and the country to the competition - it was a perfect site. The Common was already used by the London Scottish Volunteers and the Civil Service Volunteers for rifle practice. Rifle ranges had sprung up all over the Home Counties in that flurry of enthusiasm that characterised the first years of the Volunteer Movement which was formed for Home Defence in the face of an invasion scare and at a time when the Regular Army was hard pressed overseas in various Imperial conflicts. And there is, indeed, some argument that the National Rifle Contest and Earl Spencer’s enthusiasm for the Volunteer Movement saved Wimbledon Common from the predations of the Earl’s gravel extraction and building plans just at the critical moment.

However that first meeting was not without its challenges. The spring of 1860 was wet and the work of making the butts and placing the hoardings around the Common as well as building the pavilions for an expected royal visit, placing the stores and the offices for the NRA Council took both time and money which the infant NRA didn’t have. Fortunately local landscapers, fatigue parties from the Guards and sailors from the Navy Department at Woolwich were deployed to the swampy heathland of Wimbledon to build the ground and have everything ready for the first competitions in early July.

On the afternoon of 2th July, 1860 – described in an enthusiastic press as the first day of summer that year - hundreds of competitors and thousands of spectators met at Wimbledon Common where Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales and other children of the Royal Family were greeted by the Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston, the Minister of War, Sidney Herbert, Lord Elcho, the first chairman of the NRA Council as well as the serried ranks of the officers and men of the newly formed Volunteer Corps. The Volunteers were well known for their elaborate uniforms – described by some as more picturesque than military – and the colour of the scene must have been fantastic.

From the octagonal Royal Pavilion at the centre of the ground, Queen Victoria received the addresses of the dignitaries acknowledging both her Majesty’s and the Prince Consort’s support for the Volunteer Movement including both her Majesty and Prince Albert giving prizes to be competed for by the Volunteers. Her Majesty fired the inaugural shot from a Whitworth muzzle-loading rifle placed in a mechanical rest which had been carefully aimed by “some experienced rifle shot” at a target 400 yards away. Mr. Whitworth handed the silken cord attached to the trigger to Her Majesty and “a dead silence was preserved” as Her Majesty gave a slight pull on the cord and sent the bullet toward its mark. A great cheer was raised and the first signal showed the score as a “centre” - and the shot had stuck within an inch or so of the centre of the target. Someone there on the day recorded that “That one rifle shot awakened a thousand echoes, for the cheers which greeted her Majesty’s shot had scarcely died away when the pings of bullets from other rifles followed on the crack given from a hundred weapons.”

Her Majesty and her family visited the firing points and Lord Elcho explained to her Majesty and Prince Albert the arrangements for the competitions. Towards evening her Majesty and the family entered their carriages by the Windmill - still a landmark on Wimbledon Common today - and the crowds who had attended that first rifle meeting wended their way back to London.

Of course that first Queen’s Prize was won by young Edward Ross, Cambridge undergraduate, son of the famous sportsman and deerstalker Horatio Ross and his wife, Henrietta Ross (reputedly an excellent shot in her own right) w ith a score of 24 out of a possible 30. How many know, however, that the wooden spoon in that first Rifle Contest was won by Murray of Cringletie with a score of 0 (Perhaps he was the very first competitor who said “There’s always next year….”).

That first meeting, then just a week of competitions, was not overly “military” in its nature. Some 200 Volunteers were in the camp in that first year, but by the mid-1870s some 2200 men were living in the tent city which was erected each year on the Common. Even in that first year a number of the London Corps decorated their tents and made their “batchelor homes” look “smart” as their friends and family came to the Common to see the shooting and ,at night, home-made entertainment prevailed in the Camp.

The National Rifle Contest of 1860 was decidedly a great success and as John Scoffern described the very Victorian feelings at the end of that first meeting:

“It is all over. The shots are fired and the prizes won. Victors are being patted on the cheek by fair ladies; not to count those sweet osculatory rewards, of which, time out of mind, it had been ungentlemanly to tell. It is all over. The joyous wine cup may now go round. No matter a little unsteadiness of hand tomorrow or tomorrow: let the hand tremble in response to the emotions of the heart. No more bull’s eyes at short range and centres at a thousand. From your iron perch come down, Aunt Sally – in the name of peace, come down. No more shall that red apron of yours lure erring bullets to perdition; or swell the treasury of the banker’s pool with the tribute of a crown. Butts and mantlets and tents away! Let bleating sheep and lowing kine symbolise the blessings of gentle peace on the lead-besprinkled sod. Let daisies raise their drooping heads; kissing the zephyrs that waft away the wreaths of sulphurous smoke.”

The language of 2010 may be different but let us not forget that so began the National Rifle Contest. Many of its traditions survive, and others have changed, but we can celebrate the 150 years of competition, camaraderie and love of a unique sporting event.

Shooter's Worst Nightmare

Several years ago there was an article in the NRA Journal about prostate cancer which seemed an unusual topic to cover in a shooting journal. Considering the age range and gender of many in our sport it was actually a very wise idea for recognising the symptoms early enough could save lives. I have decided, therefore, to write about what happened to me just after the New Year as it was only because I recognised the symptoms which meant that I am not now partially sighted.

I was walking up Guildford High Street on the Sunday after New Year when I noticed a bright flashing light on the edge of my field of vision. Whenever I looked down and up it seemed to happen. This was just an irritating semi-circular flash to start with but then I noticed my eye filling up with floaters. My first thought was that I had burst a blood vessel in my eye but I then remembered a colleague at school who had the same symptoms and did nothing about it. He soon lost much of his vision due to a detached retina.

I didn’t expect any opticians to be open on a Sunday but the lights were on in Dolland & Aitcheson. My usual optician is, naturally, Specsavers in Newbury but considering the situation I just went in and spoke to the lady at reception. Within moments I was having drops put in my eye and a very thorough examination with lights and a machine for looking at the back of the eye. The optician said she couldn’t see any sign of a detachment but still gave me a letter and told me I was to go straight to A and E. The A and E was packed so I was expecting to be waiting for hours only to be told I had to go to Chertsey as the opthalmist on duty was there. After a fraught journey I arrived at another packed A and E … does everyone play football on a Sunday? My letter worked wonders for clearly Guildford had warned them I was on my way. Many eye drops later I was told that it was a very small tear right on the edge of my retina that could be sorted out by laser surgery and I was to come in on the Monday to have that done. I was told not to rush about or exert myself and they didn’t seem too worried.

Monday morning saw me travel to Guildford for a long wait in the eye department with drops and more drops and more sitting around. The same lady saw me and was keen to show the consultant before what I had been told was a routine and non-intrusive operation. The consultant spent nearly an hour with me shining lights into my eye until finally he decided that due to fluid behind the tear (there were now two tears) it had to be an operation in London rather than the laser surgery. By this time the snow had started to fall and as I had to be in Moorgate eye hospital for 8 am it seemed wise to get on the train and stay at the RAF club.

I was wise to have travelled up the night before for when morning came it was clear that the county was closed down by a huge quantity of snow. The underground was fine and I arrived on time. It didn’t take long before the eye drops and sitting around had started again. The eye surgeon saw me and said there were now four tears and that I would be operated on at one o’clock. I had the choice of general or local anaesthetic and opted for the local for I had never been in hospital and didn’t want to miss the excitement by being asleep. This meant that I could eat and go for a wander around London for a few hours. They draw a big red cross above the eye so they don’t operate on the wrong one and it would have been nice if someone had pointed this out before I went out into the streets of London.

Before long I was sitting waiting for my turn and chatting to some of the others who had no idea how they would get home with all the snow. It was very strange to be lying in the room next to the operating theatre having all sorts of anaesthetic drops in my eye and seeing the needle coming towards me. You can’t feel anything but you can still see and as you can’t close your eye it doesn’t take too long before you can’t even see for the retina becomes bleached with all the light. They protect the other eye by covering that side of your head so I was pleased that I had given permission for a student to watch for it meant the surgeon had to give a running commentary. Two probes were then put in which I could just about see their outline but I couldn’t feel anything apart from continual running water over the eye which was cold. For an hour he very carefully froze the areas around the tears (now nine in total) and removed all the fluid from they eye. I could just make out all the ‘floaters’ being sucked up the tube and they put a gas into my eye to push the retina into the right place as the frozen areas healed and the scars held the retina into place.

I then had to sit for two hours with my head down without moving which was very uncomfortable. I was glad to be taken up to my room to sleep after a long day. For the next four weeks I had to sleep with a cover to protect the eye and face down but with my head to the left to make sure the gas bubble was pushing against the retina in the right place. I had four sets of eye drops which all had to be put in at different intervals which took some getting used to. One had to be shaken and another kept in the fridge and each seemed to have been made especially at the eye hospital. I also had to be careful not to move too fast or else the bubble busts into hundreds of smaller bubbles which then gradually joined together.

As the weeks went by the gas bubble gradually dissolved and was replaced by fluid. It was strange that the bubble looked as if it was at the bottom of my eye but was actually at the top as everything is upside down. The bruising seemed to go quite quickly and before long I was booked in to see the consultant to see if the operation had been a success. I arrived at a snow free tube station only to find that there was a green line all the way from the underground to Moorfields which had been completely covered with snow the last time I had been there. I was seen quite quickly and it was good to meet the other patients as all those who had been operated on the same day were seen together. All was clear and within a week I was off all the drops. In the cold weather my eye still ached but the vision was back to what it was but without any floaters at all. They tell me I will have a cataract in the eye within two years due to the gas but they will sort that out in a quick operation.

So what have I learned from the whole experience. Well I now know that if you see flashing lights followed by floaters you should just go to A and E. If you leave it a day then the detachment is starved of oxygen and so even if it is reattached it doesn’t work.

To Stretch or not to Stretch

A misleading title I suppose, as there is plenty of evidence to support stretching. Research continues to support the outcome of targeted, well-performed and timely stretching.

The method of stretching hasn’t changed much in the last 30 years, with the general consensus being that a stretch should be held for a minimum of 20 seconds (30 seconds preferable) and repeated at least 3 times. To maintain flexibility, the stretching should be done once daily. To improve flexibility, stretching should be done at least twice if not three times daily.

Stretching should be targeted at the correct structure (most commonly a muscle or a group of muscles) and should not be painful. If done well, the sensation should start as a light pull, which should ease off during the 30 seconds and allow further application of the pull (leaning more into the stretch). After stretching, the body part should feel more supple. However, this may last only a short time initially. To achieve permanent lengthening, research suggests that it can take 6 weeks of targeted stretching.

Where the jury is out, is whether stretching as part of a warm-up or warm-down regime is beneficial. Anecdotal evidence suggests it is, but more recent research has led to reports that people are wasting their time stretching as part of a warm-up. Some say that stretching is only beneficial if done on a warm body, yet the research previously done did not require a “warmed-up” body to achieve results.

So, what we are saying here is that the evidence is perhaps still somewhat lacking to confirm the benefits of stretching as part of a warm-up.

Now, before you stop your stretching as part of your warm-up (yes, the regime that you were taught at school/in the armed forces/ by other sportsmen/by therapists etc), consider this; is it doing any harm? There is inadequate evidence to suggest that correct stretching as part of a warm-up is harmful. There is evidence to support that putting the body through an active range of motion starting with small movements and increasing the range of movement (for example; swinging the arms gently by your side, then increasing the size of the swing) is beneficial to the body before forming a functional activity. It doesn’t matter whether this is shooting, playing golf or hanging wall-paper. This is effectively a light and active stretch.

I hope that if you have read this to this point, you are screaming at the page “what about the psychological benefits?” Consider this; if stretching has been part of your regime for the last number of years of your successful shooting career, then the chances are it is beneficial to your preparation for achieving good results. It may be that the stretching you do is merely perfunctory, but as it is now routine, it allows you time to mentally prepare for the shoot ahead of you. Therefore, the stretching is now more vital to your regime than you think.

If you have not done stretching as part of your warm-up and preparation regime, is this a time to consider it? If not for the actual benefits of stretching then perhaps for the benefits of mental preparation. Simple stretching does not have to be complicated and as said above, should not be painful.< ;/p>

On an anecdotal note, I strongly recommend some form of physical warm-up, best started with the range of movements mentioned above. I also believe that these movements and a light stretch will advise you whether certain parts of the body are stiff and need more attention prior to a shoot or later in the day. A stiff and tired body is more likely to suffer from injury. This injury may appear mild (sore neck, aching shoulder) but will eventually hamper your ability to perform at a high level and gradually reduce your ability to perform at any level. I therefore, also advocate light movement and stretches as a warm-down. Having held your body in an asymmetrical position for shooting, the body is grateful for activity back in its normal symmetrical (nearly!) position and any areas needing more attention may be highlighted.

So yes, I am a believer of stretching, when targeted and performed well, in a timely manner.