Starts: March 16 @ 9:00
Ends: March 17 @ 18:00
Location: National Rifle Association,Bisley Camp, Brookwood, Woking GU24 0PB
Based at RAF club house; self-service breakfast available both days at RAF
Saturday
0900-0915 – Captain’s welcome at RAF
0915-1045 – Briefing sessions covering:
- Friends and family guest day (Gary Alexander),
- Team kit (Jonny Borland/Nick Tremlett),
- Fundraising (inc. auction) (Chris Hockley/Rupert Dix),
- Brochure (Andy Barnes),
- Travel plans/bookings (Chris Fitzpatrick),
- Website (Al Haley)
- Winter preparation/weekend plans (Richard Jeens)
1115-1200 – Nutrition talk (Gwynne Jarvis)
1200-1300 – lunch at RAF clubhouse
1300-1330 – team photo at 600x
1330-1630 – 2+10 at 300x and 600x
1700 (or following shooting): debrief at RAF clubhouse
1900 for 1930: dinner at NLRC (with GB team to West Indies). Partners welcome to join
Sunday
Australia match vs. GB team to West Indies
Jon Underwood and Nigel Ball with West Indies team
0745 meet at 1000x for brief and warm up
0830-1000: 900x
1030-1200: 1000x
1200-1300: lunch at NLRC
1330-1440: 300x
1500-1610: 600x
Results will be on the range (weather permitting) followed by debrief at RAF club.
Diary
The teams first training weekend of the year started off on a damp Saturday morning with the team huddled over hot cups of tea or coffee in the RAF clubhouse. The day kicked off with updates from management and other team members regarding activities being undertaken behind the scenes. The captain assured the team that it would be OK because the flights were booked so we are definitely going to Canada!
After a brief interlude the team was presented with a talk on nutrition from Gwynne Jones. The team learned a lot about the glycaemic index (GI) and what foods you should eat to reduce your risk of developing dementia. However, the impression that some of the team got was that it is OK to have a cigarette at lunch because the anti-oxidants in the accompanying cup of coffee would mop up any free radicals. Naturally this is open to debate…
After a wonderfully nutritious lunch of cous cous salad and other ‘exotic’ vegetable and complex carbohydrate based dishes lovingly prepared by the Adj (or should I say his wife) the team rolled out to 300yds for the first shoot of the day.
As many people that have witnessed Bisley in the rain will know, the area behind the 300yd firing point becomes treacherous underfoot in inclement weather, this time was no different. Luckily none of the team made fools of themselves by falling over in the mud (much to the dismay of this diarist as it would make for an entertaining read). Despite this being some team members first shoot of the season, firing point and team drills were fairly good if somewhat rusty.
The move back to 600yds saw some people desperately trying to dry their bedding out as much as possible before the next downpour. Unfortunately Roo Dix didn’t quite dry his bedding out either enough or at all which may have explained the 4minute elevation change during his shoot. In true Bisley fashion as soon as the last shot was fired the rain eased off.
Despite the meticulously planned itinerary stating the debrief was to be held after shooting, the team boycotted to watch Ireland get beaten by Italy 22-15 in the 6 Nations (much to the delight of the non-Irish members of the team). Eventually there was a quick debrief and then the team descended to more important matters, beer tasting. Needless to say despite being sore from their defeat in the rugby, the Irish contingent was somewhat perked up by the thought of beer tasting. Dinner was served at the North London Rifle Club when, dressed in No.1s or as close as possible, the team mixed with the Great Britain team to the West Indies.
Sunday was set aside as a ‘friendly’ Australia match against the GB to WI team and therefore we had to forfeit Jon Underwood and Nigel Ball to the opposition as their loyalties were divided. The forecast for the day was approximately 100% chance of rain and an 80% chance of snow! Luckily there was no snow for the 900 and 1000yd shoot that morning. There was, however, a considerable amount of rain that delayed the start of the 1000yd shoot by a short while. Despite this, the team managed to finish the range with ample time remaining.
Lunch was served in the North and despite all the information imparted by Gwynne not 24hrs before most of the team went for the sandwich and chips option, this diarist included. In addition to the chips, some very patriotically encased blueberry muffins were provided by Roo as an additional sugar kick (thanks must be given to Mrs Dix as the muffins were brilliant).
The outlook was slightly better when 300yds commenced after lunch. The sun even came out for a short period but then the heavens opened and that’s when this diarist discovered that her waterproof trousers aren’t quite as waterproof as they said.
The executive decision was made to call off 600yds and reconvene in the North for hot drinks and prize giving.
GB to WI won the match with 2177.19 to our 2165.151 and the top scorers were Nigel Ball with 150.17 (GB to WI) and Gary Alexander with 149.11 (GB to CA). It was quire ironic that the top scorer for the opposing team was a member of our team as well.
Thanks and praise also had to be given to Steve East for range officering the match and to Jane Messer for coaching the top scorer. Jane was awarded with a Sierra baseball cap that we are certain she will be wearing whilst out in the West Indies.
The team had a brief wash-up back at the RAF and then come team photos were taken for the brochure and website.
Although the weekend was quite wet and dismal there were some good shoot and, living in Britain, it’s always good to hone the wet weather drills! Fingers crossed the team dries out a bit before the next training weekend in June.