It is now 3pm and the one hour lunch break for the markers has recently finished. One member of the team took advantage of the break to return to the accommodation in order to retrieve his bolt since Gary Alexander’s didn’t fit quite as well as hoped, and returned to then shoot a tighter group expected of an armourer! As all competitors were at the 300 yard firing point for the compulsory roll-call at 7.30, it does feel more like tea time!

It is now 3.45pm, back in our team van after a register keeping stint. Worryingly, both my firer and one on the next door target were given misses in a solid string, perhaps highlighting the ease of cross-firing with the targets so close together and the number boards difficult to read. I am aware that at the second range of the day at 900 yards, at least two of our team were attributed misses. The permanent paid target markers are now into their second day and I understand that some may not have marked before; under such circumstances there are doing a very good, if unenviable, job.

Today’s course of fire was 2 convertible sighting shots and 15 “on score” at 300, 900 and 1000 yards. The wind from the rear left sector has increased gradually throughout the day and is gusting between 5 and 11 minutes as I write, though with some prolonged stable patches.

This evening there is a team BBQ to look forward to, although two members (your scribe and the chief coach) have been seconded to the Veteran’s team for their team photograph and pre-match “international” dinner back at the range complex. As is so often the case timings are tight with certainly little time to get bored! Indeed, it is sometimes a challenge to fit in shower, change, meal and team duties in the time available after returning from the range; thankfully our excellent accommodation is just a 15-minute drive from the range. Scheduling has been especially challenging for our ammo prep team (Tom R, Dave A, Dave R, and Angus, with regular assistants Ed and Henry). Their unstinting commitment and sacrifice deserves the highest praise; thankfully much of the work has now been done and they may now enjoy some well-earned time to themselves, to relax occasionally in the evening.

Perhaps we should also spare a thought for the New Zealand and South African teams, each of whom have had to spend most of their spare time in the evenings preparing ammunition, due to logistical and customs failures resulting in their ammunition failing to arrive; they are also now preparing their ammunition with, for them, untried components.

We are now back at the accommodation with 20 mins to “turn round”. This was one of our earliest finishes and shortest days – just 10½ hours on the range. The format has settled down to three ranges per day, string shooting, with six competitors per target. There are approximately 400 competitors spread over 70 targets. With just tomorrow ‘morning’ left to complete the 3 day aggregate and determine the 10 finalists for the shoot-off at 1000 yards, we have 6 of our team in the top 10, with Lucky leading the overall field with 4 points ‘off’. Ed is also on 4 off in fourth place, with Parag, Matty E, Jon U, and Captain Jane on 5 off. In today’s individual ranges we have two 2nd places: James W at 300 yards with a 75.14 (counted out) and Lucky at 900 yards with a 75.11 (closely followed by Jane in 4th place with a 75.10). However, to eclipse these ‘minor placings’ Matty Ensor had an excellent day with 75.9 at 1000 yards to win that range with the only ‘possible’ of the day, David Calvert and Steve East were third and fourth respectively. Matty was second 2^nd on the day with a total of 224.26. David Calvert was third with Ed Jeens 4^th and David Luckman 6^th.

Tomorrow is the end of this series of matches and the top 10 will shoot off at 1000 yards for the US Fullbore National Championships.