Winter 2002 - National Rifle Association

Friday 12 July - The Morning After . . .Friday brings the Kolapore, and subsidiary fixturesalongside. Anton Aspin must have had a premonition,as there were no Irishmen in his record-breaking team.However, just down the range the Combined Serviceswere taking on the Home Countries. While the militarytwelve decimated the Home Countries teams, the Irishturned up in dazed bunches. Some had been to bed,one or two all too obviously had not. Nobody reallycared – the magnificent deed had been done, and on thisdull and calm morning just being there was enough asfrom all across Century Range friends came to offer theircongratulations on Ireland’s greatest day.Flat calm. Overcast. Near perfect conditions except forsome rain late in the morning and again towards theend of the afternoon. The record performance in theKolapore was a pointer to the way the day would go.Great Britain and Jersey were level after 300 yards on398.58 but an excellent 399.63 at 500 yards gave GB athree point lead over Canada now in second place. TheUnited States made a tremendous effort at 600 yards fora 398.58 but all eight GB shooters put them all in for thenew record - only three points dropped in the entirematch for a score of 1197.175.Great Britain also triumphed in the Under 25 TeamMatch; Susie Kent getting in a bit of practice for theafternoon’s shooting with a very nice 150.19.Being beaten in the tie shoot for the St Georges BronzeCross had obviously rankled with David Calvert so hewent out and won the Silver Cross instead; 26 othersalso must have thought they were in with a chance aftertotalling 150 but David’s 27 V bulls were just not goingto be topped. Those on 148.20 tie shot for the last threeplaces in the Final.A score of 147 in Queens II would usually mean a fewbitten fingernails; a score of 148 would bring smug grinsto many faces; a score of 149 and you’d be back in theClubhouse with a well-deserved pint or two . . . but notthis year! If you didn’t have a 149.17 you weren’t gettingin and even then you’d have to tie shoot for the finalfour slots; previous Queens Prize winner Ant Ringer justmade it, Susie Kent being last girl in. Seriously easyconditions together with excellent ammunition resultedin 46 scores of 150 and 67 scores of 149; the Silver Medalwent to the RAFs Iain Robertson with 50.10, 50.8, 50.10;two Vs clear of the field and of the previous record.Another V bull shortage for Martin Millar on 404.48 asthe Fulton Aggregate went to Glyn Barnett with 404.58.Only one full house in the Marjorie Keir Aggregate -Adam Jory of Guernsey was two points ahead with his260.34 but a fine performance from Cdt Sgt GeorgeWilliams of Greshams School gave him a well deservedsecond place.Saturday 13 JulySummer showed its face again. A sunny, warm morninggradually clouding over, giving variable light for theQueen’s Final, and by the start of the 1000 yards shoot,the cloud had thickened to near overcast. The wind,although light, was almost straight down the range,giving rapid changes either side of zero that could takethe unwary to the magpie.Sixty-six people went into the final of the St Georgescarrying a 75, in pole position were David Calvert, AntRinger, Colin Brook and John Pugsley all on 75.14. Onlynine people managed possibles at 900 yards with ScottMurray of Canada totalling 150.21 for the Gold Cross.Closely in second place was Peter Chapman with 150.20and in third Mary Boston with 150.18.Ireland went out full of determination for the Mackinnonin an attempt to do the double. England had other ideasand from the start didn’t let anyone come close; when ateam attains the top score at both ranges there is not alot anyone else can do. The Dominion Prize for theaggregate of the Kolapore, Overseas and Mackinnonwent to the United States.Saturday Afternoon - The Queen’s Prizeby Iain Robertson (SM)For the last two years I have written at least part of theQueen’s Final report from the point of view of thescoreboard, from where, too often, I have had agrandstand view of the greatest event in the world’s leastinteresting spectator sport. This year I found myself witha different angle.Friday afternoon had been delightful. So many peoplecame up to give congratulations. I knew all of them,but I was surprised that so many knew me. It was also adelight to tease some very good friends. Richard vanLingen was, I think, the first to ask how I had done as Icame off the point at 600, and the temptation wasoverwhelming to reply “Dropped two”. When I wentto weigh in and he figured out how I had not actuallylied, the abuse was spectacular.Mindful of the Mackinnon the next morning, I had aquiet Friday night. Karen forced me to discuss what itwould be like to win (and made me promise not to drinktoo much if I did!), and very privately I had thoughtthrough how the Gold Badge could fit on my jacket withthe aid of the sling keeper. You have to believe that it’spossible.Came the day and the time. I have shot the Final before,and used to be a subscriber to the view that it is the mostfun event of all – nothing to lose and all to play for – butthis was different. I was having a great year and I wasgoing forward in the lead. Unfortunately 99 of theworld’s best were at most a single point and a hatful ofVs behind, and it was clear that it really was anybody’sPrize. Controlling the adrenaline was a major issue, andI was working hard to use routine as an antidote tonerves.Despite being one of the earliest arrivals on the range,and sorting all my kit in good time, the start came uponme at a rush, and the 900 yards shoot progressed in ablur of intense images. I chased the wind as it flickedbetween two minutes left or so and a bit of right. Itobviously wasn’t entirely straightforward – the shooters47