News
Day 24 – The Return Home
Day 23 – Recovery
Day 22 – Palma Match Day 2
Featured Team Members
Jackie Davies
Having quite firmly stated that she had retired from team touring in 2019, Jackie has revealed that she has the breaking strain of a hot KitKat and is delighted to accept Jeremy’s invitation to work once again with the GBRT as a team Physiotherapist for the 2024 World Championships and Palma Match in South Africa. This will be Jackie’s fifth GB tour and fourth Palma tour and she is looking forward to seeing many friends from all over the world again.
Jackie still lives and works as a Physiotherapist in Alberta, having moved there in 2010. With ongoing professional development courses, she has some new skills to “inflict” on the team as well as relying on the trusted favourites! In her spare time, she enjoys an eclectic mix of clay shooting, tai chi, skiing and kayaking.
Chris Mitchell
Chris began shooting at the Oratory School some 20 years ago to escape supervised homework sessions before continuing the theme at Exeter University. Chris has now shot with both England and GB both on home soil and abroad, is the Berkshire county captain and a member of the Cardinals Rifle Club. Chris is looking forward to returning to Bloemfontein having shot there with the GB U19s in 2009 and more recently in 2023 with GB. He’s excited to experience the challenge and intensity of the 2024 World Championships.
Outside of shooting, Chris works as an engineer for Transport for London. Having tried his hand at most other sports and convincing himself that shooting wasn’t taking up enough of his time, Chris can often be found running marathons, ultramarathons and the occasional triathlon.
Under 25s
Jemima Hince
Jemima began shooting in 2016 at Wellington College, under the tuition of Nigel Ball. Her love of touring started in 2017 with the UK Cadets tour to Jersey. In 2018 she visited South Africa and Canada with the GB U19s and Athelings and has now toured Canada three times, returning in 2019 with England and in 2022 with GB. As an individual, she has competed in Scotland, Jersey and Phoenix. In March 2023, Jemima travelled with the GB U25s to South Africa, where they won both international matches. She looks forward to returning in 2024 for the World Championships and hopefully securing more victories.
When not shooting, Jemima enjoys coaching cadets and in the rare occurrence she is away from the ranges, she is completing her final year of a Chemistry degree at Surrey University. When time permits, she can also be found sailing, skiing or walking her Labrador.
Under 21s
Hayden Thomson
Hayden first began shooting in 2017 at Dollar Academy under the watchful eye of Craig Stewart and was appointed Captain in his final year. He is currently a member of the Exeter University Rifle Club and is in his second year of studying International Relations with the intention of going to Sandhurst after graduating and embarking on a career in the Army.
Having toured to Jersey and Guernsey, with the Athelings and GB U19 teams respectively, he is looking forward to touring further afield with the opportunities for varying shooting conditions and cultures that are to be experienced. A true Scot, he shot for Scotland in this year’s National Match, and West of Scotland in the Inter Counties and is pleased to be representing those north of the border. Following the tour, he hopes to continue shooting for Exeter University and help continue the team’s recent successes.
Veterans
David Calvert
GM3 SB3 SC2 SM
Bloemfontein is arguably David’s second ‘shooting home’, having competed in all 25 SA Open Championships held there. His first shooting visit to South Africa was to Kimberley in 1996, when his RAF Club team won the Protea Match and he won his first of eight SA Open Championships.
David has represented GB on more than 50 occasions and has toured with GB, Ireland and RAF Club teams to 35 shooting venues in 20 countries across six continents. Individual Target Rifle achievements include four Gold Medals for Northern Ireland over 11 consecutive Commonwealth Games, and three Gold Medals in the H.M. Queen’s Prize. David has also represented GB in Match Rifle, Smallbore Rifle and Service Rifle.
Away from shooting, his interests and activities include family, golf, occasional skiing and scuba diving, and flying as a part-time instructor pilot in the RAF Reserve.
Paul Charlton
Paul started shooting at Wimbledon Common where his school is sited, continuing at University before a career induced hiatus to qualify as a Chartered Accountant.
Paul received a GB Match Rifle cap in the 2001 Woomera followed by a GB Target Rifle cap in the West Indies, before the famous Ireland National win, both in 2002. Paul proudly helped Ireland win the 2005 Elcho after a 97 year gap before touring to SA with GB in 2006, Ireland in 2009 and the GB Veterans in 2023. A previous winner of The Albert in Match Rifle, he shot the first ever twenty shot 1200 yard HPS in the world, a feat subsequently matched by two of this team.
Retired from business, he is grateful for the continuing support of Margaret, family and friends and looks forward to a second Veterans World Championship, amongst the friendly shooting fraternity and sorority in Bloemfontein.
Tour Information
Captain’s Foreword
