This will be a fairly brief report tonight since, as I write at midnight, the full results are not yet available on the NRA web site. Since some of our team members are not that swift in putting up their scores on the team board, my data and subsequent comments are incomplete. I hope to be able to edit these remarks in due course.

It was another warm, sunny day, with quite variable and fickle (depending on who you speak with) winds.

There were two non-aggregate matches, the Donegal (300 yds) and Lovell (1000 yds), plus the Daily Telegraph (500 yds) which is the first shoot in the Grand. Here is what I have so far, which I'll amend and/or add to tomorrow.

Donegall: 1. Parag Patel, 50,10; 24. Renee Paquette, 50.7; Daniel Chisholm just off the prize list with 50.7.

Lovell: 1. DA Taylor, Altcar, 50.5; 46. John Chapman, 46.5.

Tonight we went to the British Commonwealth RC for a reception. Perhaps it really is a sign of the times, but this, as was last night at the NRA, was also much smaller and quieter than I remember.

Tomorrow, there are three more Grand Aggregate matches, plus the Canadian Teams Reception in the evening   

This was the first day of individual competition, with two events: the Century (500 and 600 yds) and Admiral Hutton (900 yds). Depending on the squadding some people finished quite late in the evening. It was a fine, sunny and mild day, with a blustery wind. One report to me from Stickledown spoke of a fast fishtail ~7 left to ~3 right. Scores on the NRA lists are pretty high, a tribute both to the shooters and to the new GGG ammunition.

Not all of our team members have put their scores up on our board yet, but the NRA lists are out on the web site. Here is a brief summary.

The Century: 1. Colin Mallett, Jersey, 100.16; top Canadians 11th Scott Murray 99.13 and 22nd Daniel Chisholm 98.14.

The Hutton: Parag Patel, Old Epsomians, 50.10; 17th Scott Murray 50.7, 28th John Chapman 50.7 and 44th Paul Dudzinski 49.7.

The Friday Aggregate: David Calvert, RAFTRC, 149.21; 16th Jim Paton 147.14 and 26th Paul Dudzinski 145.20. Entry to aggregates is optional and Scott Murray seems not to have joined this one. His 149.20 would have placed him 2nd.

This evening there was the Overseas Teams Reception hosted by the NRA. A smaller event than some of those that I remember from previous years but it was a bit less of a scrum and perhaps more enjoyable as a result. Here are the four ladies on our team enjoying the evening: Anna Paton, Renee Paquette, Alix Voorthyuzen and Cheryl Hearn.


Tomorrow there are three more matches: the Donegal (300 yds), Daily Telegraph (500 yds) and the Lovell (1000 yds).  The Telegraph is the first event in the Grand Aggregate.

This is written on Thursday late evening.

The match with the Barbarians was fired at 900 and 1000 yards in interesting conditions. From what I heard, fairly rapid wind changes of some 6 or 7 left to 3 or 4 right, made it quite a challenge for the shooters and their coaches.

The match result was very close: 1. Barbarians, 721.39; 2. Canada, 718.42. Of particular note in the individual scores, was that of Julie Ousten, of the BaBas, who made an awesome 50.8 at 1000 yards, engineered by her coach Keith Trowbridge.

After the match, both teams repaired to the upper balcony of the LMRA for exchange of awards and some very well earned refreshment.

Earlier in the morning, we had the final rifle checks done by Fred James of the NRA, and then the team photos taken by Tim Webster. When I have one of the latter, I'll try to post it in a future report.

In the evening we held our usual Team BBQ, with guests welcome. Serge Bissonnette, ably assisted by Jack McKellar, looked after the steaks and chicken.The catering staff did wonders as always!

That is the end of our team shooting for a while. the individual matches start tomorrow with the Century and Admiral Hutton. I will try to report on scores when I can find them. Those who are more impatient might look at the NRA web site www.nra.org.uk and follow the links to 'Competitions' and 'Imperial Meeting 2015', where you will eventually find them all.   

Yesterday we fired the traditional International Teams match organised by the Royal Air Force Target Rifle Club. The location this year was at Stoney Castle Range.

The first of these matches was held in 1975 between Canada and the RAF. As far as we could ascertain yesterday there were only three people present who had been at that inaugural event 40 years ago: Chris Fitzpatrick, 'Chalky' White and myself!

We put in two teams of 8, with a mix and match of shooters and coaches. It's all part of the learning experience in trying to determine which are the most compatible working arrangements. The day was mostly fine, with a blustery wind and occasional showers. There are not many wind flags at Stoney Castle, which adds to the challenge.

The results of the match were:
1. RAF "Chipmunk", 1159.163; 2. Army TRC "Green", 1153.122; 3. Canada "X", 1144104; 4. West Indies "Mongrels", 1124.106; 5. Canada "Y", 1099.90; 6. RAF "Shackleton", 1087.88; 7. Army TRC "Red", 1070.92.

 The RAF hosted a reception at their Club House in the evening.

I should have noted earlier that Daniel Chisholm fired in the Match Rifle Competitions earlier in the week. He used his target rifle with a scope, but fired "off the elbows" with no rest (our old TR-O style). Daniel finished in 43rd place in the overall aggregate out of 102 competitors, a most commendable performance!

We have also been joined in the Pavilion by Francis and Marielle Bezeau. Francis will be firing as an individual in the F Class events starting tomorrow.

Today we are to fire against the Barbarians RC on Stickledown in the afternoon. This is the last team match before the major NRA events next week. The Team BBQ for members and their guests will be this evening.

Just back from the BBQ at the Commonwealth Club following the match. It's always an 'interesting' affair, not starting until late afternoon, and finishing in the gathering gloom of the evening. Today's match was fired in fine, sunny weather with a brisk breeze from the left. During the course of the shooting, the sun shines first on the front of the targets, then sideways and then from behind. The light changes were quite challenging, especially for older eyes, of which we have a number. We did have some fairly considerable problems!

The results were:
1. BCRC 1053.125; 2. Australia Captain's 1043.112; 3. Australia Manager's 1029.83; 4. Canada X 1011.78; 5. Canada Y 983.67

A little disappointing perhaps, but I am very heartened to see developing shooter-coach relationships, which I hope will stand us in good stead later on.

In the evening, the BCRC hosted us to this very enjoyable BBQ.

Tomorrow is the match against the RAF at the Stoney Castle Range. This match was first started in 1975, so this is a significant anniversary. We shall again be entering two teams.

 

Our two groups returned from the North and West yesterday. By all accounts, they were very well looked after in terms of both shooting and hospitality.

I have not yet been give the detailed scores from either of the matches.However, Huddersfield RC won both events in Yorkshire.

Against Wales, the match being held at Yoxter in Somerset, with seven shooters on each side, Canada won narrowly by two points 677 to 675 and 1 vee-bull.

Leo Poulin and Bruce Lister arrived yesterday, and with Roger Mullin's anticipated  arrival today, our TR team will be complete.

We have entered two teams of 8 firers in the British Commonwealth Club match this evening, so nearly everyone will have a busy time. The same thing will apply against the Royal Air Force tomorrow.

It continues relatively mild. Some showers are forecast for today, with a blustery wind.

Saturday 4th July. Greetings to all our friends in the USA!

It's been very warm at Bisley all this week, with temperatures reaching record levels in the UK on Wednesday. Last night there were some thundershowers, and it is a little cooler today.

The members of the Team have been gathering during the past few days. Daniel Chisholm arrived at around noon on Friday and was immediately pressed into service as a Coach in the match against the North London in the afternoon.

There had not been much time for practice, especially in team shooting, so the assignments for the match were somewhat ad hoc in nature! We had one team of eight shooters, along with a full complement of coaches and plotters. The North London put out two teams, both filled with strong and experience shooters. The wind on Stickledown was quite variable from the right all afternoon. All in all, the match was a good work-out for our shooters and coaches. We began reasonably well at 900 yards, but conditions at 1000 yards were quite challenging and betrayed our lack of previous work.

The results were:
1. NLRC "B", 752.69; 2. NLRC "A", 751.63; 3. Canada, 738.56. Our scorer was Scott Murray with 96.10, followed by Cheryl Hearn 95.8.

In the evening, the NLRC were our hosts for dinner at the Club. As always, this was a most pleasant occasion. Some commendably brief remarks were made, with awards and souvenirs being exchanged.

This morning, one group left quite early for matches in Yorkshire today and tomorrow. As I write this, the second group for the match against Wales at Yoxter in Somerset is preparing to depart. All are due to return on Monday, when I'll report next.