Day 2

In the morning, the team met promptly at 7.20am after breakfast, having mostly managed a few hours sleep after yesterdays journey. Kit bags and rifles were loaded and we departed the hotel on time for the drive to Camp Borden, where we were due to shoot. This was easier said than done and, as with everything in North America (cars, roads, portions), Camp Borden was slightly larger than anticipated which made it difficult to actually find the range. Martin Townsend, lead driver, was even more perplexed when he found out that the McDonalds, that had acted as a waypoint for finding the range on previous tours, had been demolished.

Once we arrived squading details were given out and set up our kit at 300 yards. The course of fire for the day was individual shooting – 2 sighters and 10 to count at 300, 600, 900 and 1,000 yards. This proved to be an excellent chance to sort out zeros for the ammunition. Each detail was preceded by a few minutes of time to complete blow off shots if required, followed by a 2 and 10 to count. Though 300 yards was relatively straightforward (problems with deactivated bolts aside), the challenge increased towards 600 yards where the weather became warmer and the wind started to fishtail. One of the main problems that then revealed itself was the classic shooter’s dilemma of whether to trust the mirage or the flags: today the mirage seemed to reign supreme, although of course, there were many moments where neither the mirage, nor the flags, were really telling the truth.

After 600 yards we had a light BBQ lunch behind the range and, for those on the second detail of fire at 900 yards, the chance to put the speaker systems in our outrageously oversized hire cars to the test. After a fix of Pink Floyd from Archie Whicher, the second detail of 900 yards commenced, the wind trickier in the initial stages but incredibly calm for the last few shots (just half a minute left in some parts). 1,000 yards was once again uncharacteristically calm for long range and was potentially the comfiest shoot of the day as the weather cooled towards the late afternoon.

Overall, the team performed well today and capitalised on the opportunity to blow away some post-travelling (and jetlag related) cobwebs. Angus McLeod and Will Broad performed particularly well, coming second and third on the day and each dropping a single point.

Team list for tomorrow’s match against Ontario is:

Coaches	M. Townsend	M. Charlton	B. Winney
Shooters	T. Drysdale	D. Armstrong	A. McLeod
	P. Chapman-Sheath	D. de Vere	E. Nuttall
	P. Wheeler	J. Ford	S. Young
	W. Broad	I. Shaw	J. Underwood
Reserves	A. Haley	L. McKerrell