04 ORA Meeting Day 2

GBRT’s assault on the Ontario Rifle Association’s championships continued apace on Saturday, with wins for the Captain (50.8 in The Tait at 300m) and for Stu Young in The MacDonald Stewart at 600m with 50.9 followed by a sparkling 23.2 in the compulsory extra 5 shots – thankfully that was an outright win by 2 Vs. Results of the final shoot (800m) were not available by tonic o’clock. Canadian V-bull rings are just half the radius of the Bull-5 ring, making high V counts a notable achievement.

This diarist declares an interest, sadly unprofitable, in today’s tie shoot for yesterday’s 500m shoot, The Bankers. Canada’s Pat Vamplew managed to overturn the “30 years of ‘hurt’” cultivated mainly by a learned Fat Controller.  A junior Fat Controller was not quite equal to Pat’s 25.3, making 24.2. Rex Barrington of the Wandsworth Team scored 24.1, preserving GBRT’s honour at the hotel, even if not on the range. So, we (or at least Nick Hinchliffe in absentia) make do with 2nd on this and also in The Brassey (today’s 500m) for Graham Nelson with 50.7.

Conditions today continued the hot, dry and sunny theme, with no breaks via cloud cover, which yesterday afternoon made life difficult for shooters and coaches alike, with dark sight pictures and disappearing mirage. This year’s Bisley Meeting was very good preparation for Connaught from both temperature and light points of view but nowhere near the same humidity.

Wind today was very light in absolute terms, with less than 2 minutes required throughout the day. With almost no flag activity, wind judgement was wholly reliant on mirage, which proved deceptive for many especially when crossing through Zero – plenty of opportunity to overcall a perceived change or to be a little fazed by the heat and bright sunlight.

The firing points are blessed with a comfortable thick carpet, although Liam finds it all too easy to sink a bit far into it. He also forgot his ammo today, deserving a lollipop. Overnight dew fall means a damp first shoot for all and there is evidence of wildlife at any time of day. The bushes on the mantlet had thankfully been trimmed since yesterday afternoon, taking off the top several inches of foliage which had encroached on sight pictures.

Tomorrow completes the Grand Agg with shoots at 600m and 900m. We go into this with Martin Liversage, David Young and this diarist all with 1-off and Nigel Ball, David Crispin, Jon Underwood and the other diarist on 2-off. In the Lt. Governor’s Final tomorrow, GBRT goes in with Nigel Ball, Lauren Crowson, Jon Underwood and this diarist on 1-off and the Captain, David Crispin, Chris Haley, David Young and the other diarist on 2-off. Martin Liversage makes one of these lists but not the other on the basis of having put someone else’s sight settings on his rifle at 800m today. Oli Russell made 50.7 at 800m in a 10-round shoot containing 3 misses: quiz question – how can this happen?

The Youngs’ BBQ calls. Lauren has expressed interest in more sausage. Hopefully some big results to report tomorrow.