Great Britain Rifle Team
Borden, Ontario, Canada
Whilst many have been busy preparing for the season ahead, so too has the GBRT Canada 2025 squad. We recently assembled at an overcast Bisley for our first training weekend of the year, and with less than five months until we fly to Canada, the energy amongst the team was palpable. After a warm breakfast in the Surrey, we headed out to 600 yards, which gave the team a chance to 'dust off the cobwebs' from a long winter break.
The first weekend in May was a busy one at Bisley, with an England squad and three different GB teams training on the ranges alongside those shooting in the Army Open. With fewer than 100 days to go until we depart for Montreal, this weekend’s agenda was to solidify our processes after the success of the training in March. Saturday morning saw the GBRT Canada 2025 squad have the luxury of a breakfast and brief team meeting in the Surrey before heading out to Stickledown for team practice on the punishing ICFRA targets. Given the weather forecast, we were fortunate to … Read more
After a pizza and packing party the night before, the team arose at the crack of dawn, ready for lift-off. A swift bus-packing operation ensued, marshalled by the baggage masters Claire and Pete, along with adjutant Matt, and we bid farewell to Bisley—departing just three minutes behind schedule. The journey to Heathrow was plagued by traffic, but spirits remained high as we rolled into Terminal 2 with our 900+ kg of baggage in tow. Check-in was a relatively pain-free, albeit slightly prolonged, process—made more bearable by designated 'coffee master' Jason, who ensured the team was well hydrated and a little more … Read more
The team’s day began with a leisurely breakfast before our first team briefing in Canada. GB tour badges were awarded and new cap numbers announced by the Captain, followed by a quick briefing by the Adjutant before we split off to reclaim kit from team bags and check over our rifles after the flight the day before. The rest of the morning was spent with a quick trip to the local mall for supplies, after which the team split into three groups. The first of these groups had a quick lunch and then headed off to the local climbing wall for … Read more
For our the last day of R&R before we start shooting, most of the team met up with the local competitors and hosts, Gale Stewart and Nicole Rossignol. They graciously took the time to show us the sights of Quebec city. They were excellent guides, teaching us all about Quebec and Canada's rich history, and fielding all our questions with ease! Some of the highlights included walking up to the Pierre-Dugua-De-Mons Terrace which overlooked the promenade, and walking through the old town. The city centre having architecture that was a wonderful blend of the old and new. After having lunch, we … Read more
The team began their first full day of competition on the scenic Batoche shooting range in Quebec, Canada. With breakfast service only beginning at 0700 and shooting scheduled for 0830, there was little time to waste before heading out to the range. Upon arrival, the team was met with challenging conditions. The combination of low morning sun directly facing the firing point, together with lingering smoke from wildfires in the nearby prairies, created a murky and difficult sight picture for much of the morning. Nevertheless, the team performed admirably, with seven members finishing the morning shoot clean. Special mention must go … Read more
Sunday the 10th of August was the second and final day of shooting at Batoche range in Quebec. The day was destined to be a warm one with temperatures comfortably breaking 30°. The orientation of the range itself is West to East which means that in the early morning details you are shooting into the sun. For some, this necessitated the removal of eagle eyes in order to be able to get a large enough foresight element to cope with the conditions - some new skills were certainly being learned by the team. Three individual competitions were shot in the morning, one at 500 followed by two … Read more
A quieter today, following the end of the Quebec stage of shooting. Some of the team enjoyed the later start and the hotel breakfast, some decided to go out for brunch and others decided to do both.Then there was ample opportunity for people to breakdown rifles into boxes again before we move to Kingston tomorrow. The hotel launderette proved useful for those that already had piles of washing to complete, and predictably several people reported unusual underwear in their returned piles.Groups decided to make the best of the quieter day and split up, one visiting Quebec’s Citadel, another re-visiting bouldering and … Read more
With our time in Quebec at an end and the ranges of Borden calling, today was spent covering the first half of the journey West. After convening for a breakfast accompanied by varied discussions on poetry, the local concrete industry, and the right way to eat a banana, the inevitable game of luggage tetris was tackled. With 6 cars once again wedged with shooting paraphernalia, the team set off for the next stop of Kingston, Ontario. Although travelling separately, all cars seemed to experience a mysterious magnetic pull towards Tim Hortons to refuel on coffee and Timbits along the way. With … Read more
The weather broke overnight, giving a welcome pause to the high temperatures that we have been seeing. The Hotel we are staying in, sits on the edge of Lake Ontario. A great choice! Team members took advantage of a relaxed day in Kingston with leisurely strolls around the town, waterfront, cafes, museums and shops. There was the opportunity to partake in a lunch boat cruise of the thousand islands area and learn a bit of history of the area. We also enjoyed the hotel facilities, pool and bar. As we reflect on the weekend shooting in Quebec, we owe a special … Read more
Rain stopped, sun back. Cars full for the next journey. Arrive to unpack… …Here at Borden Inn, Preparing, for tomorrow The real work begins. BW
As the second half of our tour gets underway we found ourselves at a significant milestone; today we finally started shooting at Borden. Spirits were high as many had performed very well in Quebec, but we all knew as we headed down the range that things were about to get more serious. Legions of grasshoppers fled our approach as we got into position, and we were warned during the safety briefing that we needed to be careful with our rubbish in case black bears came to investigate. We were told that shooting might stop mid afternoon due to the heat and … Read more
The Mons range at camp Borden never ceases to amaze. The team settled into a good routine at the motel and managed to get out to the ranges with plenty of time to spare. A foreboding safety brief from the CRO about fire risks set the mood for the day, with the programme consisting of long range shooting only for the day. Quick off the mark, the team capitalised on the early detail’s lack of any surprising wind, until the second detail experienced the first of the major 3 minute changes through zero towards the end of their shoot. Our Captain … Read more
From blistering heat the two days before to a far more comfortable temperature and a far more refreshing day on the range. Oh yes apart from the rain. Well it would be rude for the Brits not to bring the weather with them. With a murky start, we were underway for the last shoot of the Grand Agg. Brandon Green clear of five points managed to secure the win with a strong finish of a 50.6. Finishing 398.43, still five point clear of Jon Underwood with a 393.44. Congratulations to Brandon for only dropping two single points over the three days. … Read more
The DCRA Starts and the weather cools. This morning saw a welcome drop in temperature and a clear and sunny sky as we made our way back to Mons Range for the start of the DCRA Championships.Todays programme was 300 x2 and 1000 x2 for the Tilton (not in the Grand) and the MacDougall (in the grand)Conditions at 300x were rather benign with a gentle 0-1moa drift from the right and many 50’s recorded across the field. The now well drilled range staff and competitors rattled through the 4 details in good order and we broke for lunch by 11.30! The … Read more
Tuesday morning dawned grey, cool and drizzly ahead of the first shoot of the Letson at 300x. Then, after the President’s 300x we stopped for a long lunch break in an attempt to dodge the worst of the rain. Some team members made trips to the Borden base Tim Hortons, for warming coffees and boxes of Timbits; while others took the opportunity for a Power Nap™️. After a third soaking of the team captain by Jeremy, whilst he was trying to adjust the gazebo cover, it was just as well that Simon and Tom decided that hot tea was required, and … Read more
Walking onto the Mons range at Borden, it’s always a great pleasure to see the waves of grasshoppers springing up around your feet from every tuft of grass, there are many thousands of them (what is the collective name for grasshoppers - a bounce?). Having spent the evening drying out wet kit, we were greeted with more rain as we arrived at the range, so all our hard work was soon undone as we ventured out into the drizzle to shoot the Letson at 500 yards and our kit was soaking again in minutes. A certain submariner was particularly pleased with … Read more
