NRA Journal - Summer 2007 - National Rifle Association

from an overdose of Poweraid and was not at all well,but Jim and Mick fought to get the wind right andstruggled through the days shooting to return midafternoon. It was at this point the rest of the teamturned up in dribs and drabs telling tales of the pastweek like the fantastic game reserve, Iain Robertsongetting off speeding tickets, Brian Jones not getting offspeeding tickets and how Mr and Mrs East (Steve Eastand Dave Cole) were checked into the honeymoonsuite at Addo. This was also the day in which welearned that Steven Thomas (next year’s GB TeamCaptain) managed to reverse his hire car into the onlyconcrete bollard on the range!The SABU Championships have been cut by one dayfrom past years, but retain the same events. Very earlystarts became a feature. Brigadier Mac Alexander wasabsent from range officer duties on the first Saturday,as he was elsewhere conducting his last parachutejump ever, so a willing understudy took over thereins and began proceedings with the Scottish Swordbeing held at 300 and 900 metres in the morningand the Dewar Shield for teams of six being heldover 300 and 600 metres in the afternoon. This wasa settling-in day, as the Grand Agg did not start tillthe Monday so it gave the team a chance to get thoseall-important zeros for the coming week. The teamperformance in the Scottish Sword reflected this withsome distinctively average scores. However all changein the afternoon with David Calvert scoring 97.7 andMick with a 97.6.That evening the team had their first dinner as a fullteam. RAF and friends enjoyed a lovely meal in theButcher’s Grill. This was no ordinary meal, it justhappened to be Mick Silver and David Calvert’sbirthdays over the weekend. Vast quantities of foodand drink followed by a 50-something cake for thebirthday boys.Sunday was the only day off at Bloemfontein. Mostenjoyed a long lie in followed by lazing by the poolsoaking up the sun, enjoying the scenery or shoppingin the nearby Mimosa Mall. Dave Cole took to buyingjewellery, picking out sets of earrings for the girls andfinding a brooch for his wife. When shown the broochhe asked the price, 150,000 Rand, which saw Daverunning for the first time in years. You can take themanager out of the bank . . .Monday morning was the first day of the Champsproper. The opening ceremony was a swift affair, withmorning prayers and a welcome followed by a speechby Brigadier Alexander. This was done without notesand gave us touring shooters a great insight into thehistory of the Champs from the Chief Range Officer’sviewpoint. The day held six shoots, with the Free StateCup 300, 500 and 600 metres in the morning followedby the Hamilton team match in the afternoon again at300, 500 and 600 metres. Conditions for the day, andindeed for the week, were dead calm in the morningwith the wind picking up and fishtailing from behind,which made things a little difficult. This saw DaveCalvert and Mick heading the pack in the morning andit got better that afternoon with Steve East droppingone for a 104.9.Tuesday brought another two individual matchesfollowed by a long range team match. The morninghad the Dalrymple Cup over 300 and 600 metresfollowed by the Dave Smith Cup at 900 metres. Theafternoon had the Rhodes over 800 and 900 metres.The Dalrymple Cup produced another high scorerwith Mick scoring 105.9. The Dave Smith Cup sawSteve East heading the RAF with a 49.1; the afternoonsaw the Captain leading by example with NeilMoxon scoring 94.7. Tuesday also brought the firstthunderstorms during the day while at the range. Itwas a spectacular sight watching the lightning comedown while plotting, however when the lightningstarted striking the ground behind the butts all chaosensued. Dave Cole had just lain down as BrigadierAlexander advised those not shooting to take refuge.The range cleared and the targets were removed fromthe frames while he was shooting; to top it off someonestarted to drive in front of the firing point. The towelwas thrown in - we retired for the evening to relax andprepare for another day.Wednesday was the hardest day of the Champs so farwith four individual shoots and a team match over aPalma course of fire in the afternoon. The morning hadthe first stage of the State President’s at 300, 500 and600 metres, then the Municipal Cup at 800 metres. Theteam did well with Mick, Steve and Dave all scoring a103 with reasonable V bulls. It was a great feeling forthe entire team to make the cut for the second stage ofthe State President’s! The long range was a differentstory with the entire team struggling - some with aslow a score as 19.The afternoon saw the RAF drafting in some friendsto make up numbers and creating an All Comersteam to take on the South Africans allowing themto practise in preparation for the Palma in Canadathis summer. Most of the team shot in the low tomid 90s rising to a commendable 98.7 for Mick andour friend John Pugsley shot a 97.11. Wednesdayalso saw the continuation of just finishing shootingfor the day before the heavens opened and anotherthunderstorm lurked over the range. Wednesdaynight saw the naming of the teams ceremony in whicheach team for the Friday shoots would be read out.Our intrepid captain and glamorous assistant, NeilMoxon and Julie Ouston, took a great deal of time andeffort in trying to pick the team, however they endedup naming the entire squad and decided to pick theteam on the day.Thursday at the range is a long day with five shoots.The Jack Mitchley was first at 300 metres in almostdead calm wind followed by the Kings Norton Cup38