I am delighted to have been asked to Captain the GB Rifle Team to Canada in 2013. Chris Hockley will be my Vice-Captain, Richard Jeens Adjutant and Nick Tremlett will lead the Coaching Team. Like so many shooters I made my first trip to Canada as an Atheling and that was in 1967. I was back in 1975 with The GB Team and in 1982 with the Palma Team.

It will be a short, unaccompanied tour to shoot the DCRA Meeting only. This is so that we did not exclude potential applicants by time away from family or work and it will help in keeping the costs under control. The dates are 13 – 26 Aug 2013.

The team selected is a great mix of stalwarts of the GB Team, others honing their skills and for a number this will be the first time they have represented their Country. Of the 20, half are English balanced by an equal number of Celts. Four ‘New Caps’, 4 Queens Prize Winners, 3 Commonwealth Game Medalists, 2 Queens Medal Winners and the Reigning World Long Range Champion.

I thought that the role of the GB Captain would be totally focused around building a winning Team. Unfortunately that is not the case, a majority of the time is spent fundraising. So I would like to thank the Overseas Teams Fund, the ‘V’ Club and those companies, organisations and individuals who have supported us.