Tucker Valley Range in Trinidad.Barbados 1000 yards - so which way does the wind blow?Barbados 600 yards with view of the clubhouse and facilities.Martin Townsend and Jim Scobie in Jamaica - you need the water.Norris Gomez “ . . . and that’s my excuse!”Jamaica - both teams firing at 500 yards.Southern Palms Beach Club, Barbados met with full satisfaction.28“And they say being Captain is difficult.”(All photos: West Indies Team)
grazing nonchalantly in the line of fire, ensured thatJamaica would be a new experience. Once the riflesarrived we were quickly into a 300 and 900 yards practicebefore lunch and, although the day had begun withblistering heat, a cooling breeze soon made life at leastbearable in the shade.Colonel Saunders, a local military commander, presidedover the unfurling of the two national flags and made aspeech of welcome before firing the first shot, in themanner of Queen Victoria at Wimbledon. However, hewas obliged to send a message 5 before being awardeda V bull.At 300 yards Hugh Kilpatrick secured the only possible,a 50.7. At 600 yards, Andrew Tompson led with 50.7,followed by Canute Coley with 50.4. Continuing hisform exhibited in Trinidad, Andrew won the day’saggregate with 99.14, tieing with Hugh on the samescore, ahead of Canute with 99.9.Thursday 9 MayThe weather started hot at 500 yards with just a lightreadable fishtail. Once again it was Andrew Tompsonwho led, this time with 50.8, followed by Gary Alexanderon 50.7, and Sarah Rennie and Steven Thomas with 50.4.At 900 yards around midday, in one of the hottest shootsof the tour, Paul Charlton overcame the thick mirage toscore a fine 50.4. The 1,000 yards shoot got underwayafter lunch under a darkening sky; rain started to fall asthe first detail finished and eventually the 1,000 yardscompetition had to be scrapped. Andrew had alreadyscored 49.1 to establish an unassailable lead in the GrandAggregate, but after deleting that score, he had won itanyway with a score of 196.25 from Hugh 196.23 andPaul 195.21.In the evening an informal reception for was held by theGB Team for our hosts, in the pool area at the PegasusJamaica Hotel and the evening was filled with anecdotesof the kind reserved for such occasions.Friday 10 MayThe day of the next team match had dawned and theCaptain had decided on a format with a distinctly Irishflavour, the three coaches all being drawn from theEmerald Isle. After the intense heat and tropicaldownpour of yesterday, the morning had a slightly morecomfortable feel about it as shooting commenced. GB’s12 shooters established an 11 point lead after 300 yards,adding 10 points at 500 yards, a further 17 at 600 yardsand 14 at 900 yards. Taking the best eight, GB scored1561.187 against Jamaica’s 1533.131. Predictably, GB’stop score was Andrew Tompson with 197.24, coachedby Peter Barry; top Jamaican score was Keith Hammondwith 196.19.<strong>Rifle</strong>s were once again dismantled and packed in whathad now become a well oiled drill and soon the team,scrubbed and dressed in Number Ones was boardingthe bus to the reception and prize-giving at the residenceof Dr Warren Blake. Here we enjoyed a delicious supper,washed down with rum punches; after speeches ofcongratulations and thanks all round, fond farewellsfollowed and the team returned to the hotel.Saturday 11 May - BarbadosThis was another day of travelling with much hangingabout; it was early evening by the time that the teamarrived in Barbados for the last, and biggest, leg of theshooting tour.A short bus ride delivered us to the Southern PalmsHotel, interlinking accommodation units styled withhints of hacienda and set in what is best described as aromantic beachside location. Here eight team memberswere soon in the warm embrace of loved ones who hadtravelled out to join us. After drinks and supper in andaround the hotel, couples drifted away to the nowfamiliar night-time accompaniment of tree frogs andcrickets, backed by the rhythm of the ocean. Othersalready well versed in the rum punches of earlier portsof call, set about an in-depth evaluation of the Barbadosversion.Sunday 12 MayThis was the first day of the tour when team membershad the opportunity to spend a day totally without anyteam arrangements or commitments. Predictably the daystarted slowly and the first delight was the spectacle ofthe immaculate environs of the Southern Palms, itsadjacent beach and the Caribbean Sea seen for the firsttime in dazzling daylight. The gardens, well stockedwith hibiscus and bougainvillea, and shaded by treesranging from mahogany to a wide variety of palms, arecooled by the Barbados sea breeze. A quiet day aroundthe hotel and beach was enjoyed by all. In the eveningeveryone assembled for informal drinks and dinner tocelebrate the birthday of Pearl Townsend, who had doneso much to help Martin to make a success of the tour.Following dinner an intrepid group of the youngerunattached explored the social opportunities presentedby the surrounding bars and clubs.Monday 13 MayParagon Range is set within the military complex locatedbetween the airport and the sea. For our practice session,the temperature was similar to that prevailing in ourprevious ports of call but the humidity was muchreduced and a steady breeze provided a fishtail straightdown the range.In the evening all the teams were entertained to areception by the Governor General, Sir CliffordHusbands GCMG KA at his magnificent residence. Priorto departure to the reception, the team photograph wastaken at the hotel; Mary Scobie was asked by anAmerican hotel guest: “Are those guys Squeegeesalesmen?”After the reception some team members returned to thebar to eat, to the accompaniment of a live band playingharmless favourites. Andrew Tompson accepted theoffer of a guest appearance and wowed the audiencewith a stomping guitar and vocal performance of JohnnieB Goode, putting the house band singer somewhat inthe shade.Tuesday 14 MayThe first day’s competition at Paragon Range turned outto be “showery with bright intervals” not dissimilar to29
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