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After the BBQ the previous night when many people ate steaks that were bigger than the plate, all had an early night. We woke promptly (some earlier than others to make the 8am detail) and set off as is now customary to the range for breakfast. Encouragingly, we finally had a string of two days’ good weather and the temperature was beginning to get to what is usually expected (ie. hot and sunny).

To summarise today: we woke up, we ate, we shot, we shot, we ate, we shot, we shot, we shot, we returned home, we ate, we slept and we were happy.

In more detail: this morning we shot 300m and 500 yards, both of which were part of the Letson (the Canadian equivalent of Queen’s I), which was 2 sighters and 7 to count. The early details at both ranges were relatively easy shoots, with still conditions and a small amount of mirage to show minor wind changes – a perfect opportunity to test wind zeros! As the morning progressed, conditions became slightly trickier, although nothing outside of half-minute changes was necessary. A highlight of the morning was when Angus McLeod took on John Deane (also from the UK) at 500 yards in a tie shoot and put in a strong score of 25.4 to win the McDougall – more silverware that we can declare to our avid readers. Talking about tie shoots, the Adj announced at breakfast the time of the ‘cross shoot for Monday’s aggregate’, which is to be held between Jane Messer and Jon Underwood on Wednesday. If it’s really a cross-shoot-off, we know who will win…

After lunch (but at lunchtime – 12:30), the team took part in the Coaches’ Match, a two and 10 to count coached pairs match at 900m. The GB team that took third place, with 100.11, was called “Big Boys Don’t Cross Shoot” (Martin Townsend coaching Stuart Young and Angus McLeod) – aptly named, not just for Stu’s expolits but also because, immediately after the name was chosen, Martin walked into the hut to say that there had been a “huge gust of wind” (honest!) at 600 yards that had blown him onto the next-door target. Sadly, the Americans took the top two places by one v-bull. GB pairs were third (100.11, above) and fourth (the “Cheeky Kawasaki Nutter” team of Charlton, Drysdale and Nuttall, who scored 100.10 after cutting 4 bull-five sighters, gaining 2 Vs in the process) with several of them beating the recently minted Commonwealth Games Silver Medal pair despite the latter only dropping one point. GB did well but the Americans do look very strong.

After the Coaches’ Match, the Alexander of Tunis and the 600 yards leg of the Letson were the entertainment for the afternoon. Conditions for the Tunis were not as bad as the previous day’s long range and four of the team managed to get 50s, with Alastair Haley leading the way with 50.7 which was only enough to secure 3rd place. 600 yards proved to be tricky enough, though, that 35s were not very common. In the end, five managed to go clean with 105s and Will Broad led the way with 105.15. On the day as a whole, Alastair was the only team member to go clean (including the Coaches’ Match as well) to come second in the Jack Gorrie Aggregate (the aggregate for the day). Five others only dropped one point and this meant that Jane Messer is still leading the Grand with one point dropped, one point ahead of second and two ahead of third. Emma Nuttall is currently chasing her in 5th place and we have eight placed in the top 20 (and 14 in the top 50).

After a quick turnaround at the hotel, we all went to the traditional NCRRA corn boil and sausage BBQ. The corn was exceptional, but obviously not enough for a few members of the team who snuck off early to go and find some lobster to eat! The rest of the team enjoyed the friendly company of the locals before returning to have another early evening before the Presidents, which is the equivalent of Queens II, except that everyone gets to shoot it. The score will be combined with the Letson to determine the 50 who will go through to the Governor General’s Final on Saturday…

On a lighter note, one suggestion that was made yesterday, was that a loader should be supplied for Nigel Ball to make sure that he (a) used the correct rifle; and (b) used the correct ammunition in the right rifle. It seemed to work as Nigel seems to have banished his run of 49s and didn’t drop a point in the two 900m matches!