With our shooting tour now completed it is time for us to pack up our equipment and say goodbye to Canada and the adventures we have had. A fabulous time was had by all and our sincerest of thanks are extended to our management team for a). selecting such a fabulous team and b). for all the hard work, preparation, planning and execution of such an incredible Great Britain Tour to Canada. We may have been delayed two years, but the wait was worth it. Now to start on our Winter training and goal setting for the next adventure.

The Captain and a well earned rest

America Match

Today is the final day of shooting for team GB in Canada. The America match starts at 0900. 8 firers. 2&15 at 300, 600, 800, and 900m Follow live scores here:

America Match Scores

Current position			Points dropped	#Shooters finished at current range	600m	900m	800m	300m	Total	Vs
1		United States of America	10	0	599 v 79	595 v 76	596 v 73	0 v 0	1790 v 228	228
2		Great Britain	19	0	595 v 66	593 v 70	593 v 80	0 v 0	1781 v 216	216
3		Canada	28	0	596 v 77	589 v 62	587 v 69	0 v 0	1772 v 208	208

	Great Britain
Captain:	Rex Barrington			Reserves:	James Shepherd
Adjutant:	Saxon Brewer-Marchant				John Ritchie
Main Coach	Martin Townsend
		300m	600m	800m	900m	Total
Seth Dowley	Alastair Haley		73.06	74.10	74.08	221 v 24
	Bob Oxford		75.08	74.11	74.09	223 v 28
	Oliver Spencer		72.07	74.07	75.12	221 v 26
	Nigel Ball		75.08	75.11	75.11	225 v 30
		0.00	295.29	297.39	298.40	890 v 108
Reg Roberts	David Young		75.11	73.12	75.11	223 v 34
	Adam Fowler		75.09	74.07	74.05	223 v 21
	Tom Rylands		75.10	74.08	72.07	221 v 25
	Jon Underwood		75.07	75.14	74.07	224 v 28
		0.00	300.37	296.41	295.30	891 v 108
		0 v 0	595 v 66	593 v 80	593 v 70	1781 v 216

With severe weather warnings in place, it was uncertain whether the match would even take place, however, match officials deemed the weather risk acceptable and the match started on time. Incase the weather front moved in and prevented the completion of the match, the firing order of the distances was amended. Instead of starting at 300m, 600m was the starting distance, moving back to 900, then 800, finishing on 300m.

The GB team selected for the ‘America Match’ was the same as the ‘Canada Match’, and despite a strong start, we could not catch the Americans. We had impressive results at 600, however, we dropped a few too many points at 900m for comfort. Pushing through lunch to try and get as much shot before rain stopped play, the team rallied to give full support to the shooters.

During lunch match officials and team captains decided that only an electric storm would stop shooting. Unphased by the heavy rain the GB team suited up and were ready to shoot 300m, comfortable that we could seal the match in conditions that would not phase us, with our well rehearsed wet weather drills.

Unfortunately, however, the Canadians and Americans did not feel the same way. Waiting for the match to start we looked on in amazement as the Canadians and Americans drove off the range. Sadly, the results stood and America wins the ‘America Match’

Excellent – Rain! We’ve got this, boys.

Canada, America – Where are you all going?

After yesterdays successes in the two team matches, it was back to individual shooting today. 

The Gatineau is the last shoot of the Grand Aggregate, and is resquadded in pairs depending on competitors grand positions. 

Team GB had competitors in all three details, with the middle detail being for the top third of the grand board. This was won by American Verne Conant, but not by enough to win the Grand Aggregate, which was taken by Jim Paton. 

The afternoon saw the Governor Generals final, with 8 of GB securing a place in the final 24. There were some fantastic performances by all, but the GG was won by American John Field, with a total score of 299 ex 300. 

Reg Roberts also won the short range aggregate in a shoot off against Brandon Green resulting in 25.3 vs 24.1, Reg only dropped 6Vs in winning the aggregate.

Reg winning the short range aggregate

GB Team Members In GG Final And Their Position

David Young – 6th

Nigel Ball – 9th

Adam Fowler – 12th

Reg Roberts – 13th

Bob Oxford – 16th

Tom Rylands – 19th

Jemima Hince – 20th

Jon Underwood – 22nd

In the evening, all returned to the range to brave the mosquitos for the final prizegiving, and collect an impressive haul of silverware, which unfortunately has to be returned immediately. Back to the hotel, but no time for celebratory drinks as the America Match beckons at 9am tomorrow.

Gov. Gen 2022 Finalists

Gov. Gen 2022 Final Positions

GB Team and their 2022 haul

Great Britain Wins The Canada & Commonwealth Matches

Match Scores

The Canada match is a 2+10 shoot at short range – 300, 500 & 600m on a ‘V’ bull far tighter than we are used to at Bisley. Whilst only a team of 8 shooters took part in the Canada match this was very much a team win, with everyone being involved in the success of the coaches and shooters, with much preparation and coordination behind the scenes.

Which the Canada Match won, it was now down to business to secure the double, and win the Commonwealth Match. With a team of 12 shooters and wind coaches, the team did not disappoint. The double win was secured, and we are only the 20th GB team to do so. Congratulations all round to the team, a tremendous result and what is, for some, the culmination of 3 years training and focus for today’s matches.

Canada and Commonwealth Matches

GREAT BRITAIN WINS BOTH CANADA AND COMMONWEALTH MATCHES

Canada Match Scores

Only 20 other teams have won the double. Many congratulations to the team, shooters and management. Superb result all round.

Connaught Grand Aggregate – Day 3

Connaught Scores

Today the team had just another day on the range, but there was a different story for Captain, Rex Barrington, and his management team. Rex had the unenviable task of selecting his team for tomorrows Canada and Commonwealth Matches – the focal point for the tour and all the training we have done. With every team member shooting incredibly well, and everyone having raised their game, the task was no easy on. After much deliberation and encouragement of team members to perform at their level best, the team was selected! Good luck everyone.

Connaught Grand Aggregate – Day 2

Connaught Scores

The team embarked on day 2 of the Connaught Grand aggregate with a Queens 1 shoot in the morning, followed by the first of our teams shoots in the afternoon – The coaches match, 2+10 @ 900m and the Outlander, 2+15 @ 900m and 2+15 @ 600m.

With team selection in process all of the team were keen to put in some solid performances and I don’t think anyone made our Captain and management team’s selection easy. Whilst no-one went clean in both matches, there were some solid performances all round. Sadly, despite performing well and team drills going smoothly, the Americans won the Outlander match.

Outlander Match

2022 98 14 Coaches Match Teams
2022 08 14 Outlander Teams

For the first time since we have been in Canada, the heavens opened! Fortunately this was just minutes after we had finished the matches and enabled us to dash back to the hotel to shower and don Number 1s for the GBRT reception back at the Connaught ranges. Having cornered the market in Pimms and Lemonade, we were able to make litres of Pimms for our guests. As several of the team can happily drink Pimms by the bucket we were able to cater for all. Tom Rylands also created his own version of Pimms.. and from my own experience of drinking it, it is more explosive than the Bergers we have been using all trip.

Pimms O’Clock

Connaught Grand Aggregate – Day 1

Connaught Scores

Today the team embarked on day 1 of the Connaught 2022 Grand Aggregate, with some very solid performances being made. Conditions were largely benign, bt fierce heat in the afternoon made for challenging long 2+15 details at long range. Despite the conditions the team dug deep and delivered incredible performances, winning everything on the day. Other notable mentions in despatches go to Saxon, who smashed them in at 600m with a fabulous 50.6. and Tom Rylands with a 50.8 @ 900m. Champions of the day, however, were our veterans with a clean sweep if the prize list.

Nigel Ball – Winner of John C Brick

I turned up and won something. I think I may have won this before!

Reg Roberts – Winner of Alexander of Tunis

I’m pumped for this and I’ve already lost track of the number of 50.9s I’ve got.

David Young – Winner of the Army and Navy Veterans.

These whippersnappers and colonials can’t keep up with me!

It turned out that the big spectator event of the evening was the 5 way tie shoot for everyone who shot 75.11 at 900m yesterday in Army & Navy Veterans including me.  2 sighters and 5 to count with a time limit of 1 minute per shot – no need to rush then!  Two inners for sighters so the stress of whether to convert a 5 evaporated.  Apparently the two USA shooters had finished before I started on count.  All finished except me so  everyone was hanging on my last shot, it came up slowly on the line – as soon as the dummy boa oars appeared in right hand corner the RO declared the tie broken and me winner.  Gracios handshakes all round.  This was all against the backdrop of me dropping the rifle and having a badly bent ladder that Kevin straightened in the morning as best he could.  Tom Rylands had ladders with him so they will fit a new one that evening.  A great day in the end !!

Post shooting it was down to business prepping for the GBRT reception party to be held Wednesday 17th August. Pimms was definitely order of the day. Appointed drinks attache, Yusef Ali, was tasked with sourcing 20L of Pimms and 30L of lemonade. An easy challenge!

Have we enough?

The team kicked off the ‘Pre Grand’ with gusto. Whilst the flags didn’t show too much activity, the mirage told a different story. Some strong scores were achieved, notably James Shepherd, with his newly modified rifle, putting in a solid 35.7 @ 500 yards. Today has been a great opportunity to fine tune our Nova Scotia zeros ahead of the Grand main meet and to reacclimatise ourselves to some serious heat and lack of shade. Keep up the solid work, team.

A top tip of the day is to avoid driving over a dead skunk on the road, as that is a gift that will keep giving for the rest of the day.

Finally, a very Happy 21st Birthday to Jemima!

Happy Birthday Jemima

Today the team drove to Connaught Ranges to ‘Walk the range’ and to collect their squadding cards and to do as much prep as possible before the ‘Pre-Grand’ shoot on Monday 15th.

Being only a short drive from the hotel we assembled on the ranges to benefit from the experience of our wind coaches and management team. Many thanks to Martin Townsend, Reg Roberts, Jon Underwood and Rex for briefing the team as much as possible as to what to expect from the conditions and the range. For many of us, this was our first visit to the range, and learning about the nuances of the range, wind conditions and mirage was invaluable.

Connault Range Walk

With the ‘business’ part of the day completed it was back to the hotel to assemble the rifles and for last minute adjustments to be made. Many thanks to Armourer Kevin for getting his wood work tools out to make some stock modifications to James’ stock. We all enjoyed seeing waste parts of James’ rifle on the floor and in the bin. Rifle assemble completed it was in to the local town for an authentic Chicken Wing Experience, joined by some old Canadian and American rifle shooting friends. We also took the opportunity to wish Jemima a Happy 21st Birthday with some ‘Mud Cake’. Happy Birthday Jemima!

Stock mods