June 2013 - Department of Defence

sportS A S O L D I E RBritish and Pretorians braai andshoot clay targets togetherArticle and photo courtesyLt Col Ged Argyle, Chairpersonof the British Army Clay TargetShooting TeamThe Pretoria Military Clay TargetClub (PMCTC) recently hostedthe British Army Clay TargetShooting Team during theirtour of South Africa in Maythis year.This was a fantastic opportunityto travel to South Africa to enjoy someexcellent sport with like-mindedshooters. The PMCTC was able toaccommodate three types of clayshooting disciplines and to help setup a fourth - English Sporting - whichwas relatively new to the members,but offered the opportunity to explorea new discipline in clay shooting.The ground offered excellentfacilities; the hospitality offered bythe South African Team was second tonone. Everything ran like clockworkwith the resident club members providingunparalleled support, not justwith the shooting, but by providingan abundance of barbeques or braais(to use the vernacular), good companyand great sport. Our host’s hospitalitydid not stop at the range as we weretreated to a very special evening at theMilitary Order of Tin Hats (MOTH)Club, an organisation not dissimilar tothe Royal British Legion in the UnitedKingdom where we enjoyed yetanother spectacular braai!Over the course of the two weeksthe team competed in nine days ofconcentrated shooting, includingfour competitions where both teamsacquitted themselves well and sharedin the honours. Top shots included:WO2 Tony “Old Man” Masters, SimonArbuckle (British Army Coach) andCapt Neil Broomhead, each achievingthe coveted title of overall Army HighGun. However, the competition wassteep with WO2 Kobus Liebenberg,South Africa’s five times OlympicSkeet Champion heading up the SouthAfrican Team. This provided hugelyvaluable cross-pollination of skills thatenhanced the tour members’ experiencein the less rehearsed disciplines,notably trap shooting, while exposingthe PMCTC members to the formfavoured by the British, ie EnglishSporting. Competition was fierce withexcellent camaraderie being enjoyedby all; strong bonds in both militaryservice and clay shooting made forhighly rewarding events that ensuredthat all participants were consistentlychallenged, competitive pressuremaintained and the training andcoaching reinforcing.Unbeknown to the British Team,a PMCTC tradition dictates that a“straight” (ie no misses) on a standmeant that the “winner” was requiredto throw his hat aloft while theremaining club members took potshots! Suffice to say WO2 Tony Masters,Sgt Mark Robinson, Simon Arbuckleand WO2 Rob Howe are now allproud owners of severely aeratedheaddress!Every member of the team had amost memorable trip which for manywill be a once in a lifetime experience.We all made great friends andenjoyed some fantastic, unforgettableexperiences. This tour would nothave been possible without thewonderful and generous support ofthe PMCTC and I should like to recorda very sincere vote of thanks to allmembers of the club, especially: CaptErnst Victor, WO1 Wilna Els, WO1Johan van Wyk, WO1 JP Meyer, WO2Bertie Huisman, S Sgt Gert Jansen,Sgt Cicilia Marx, Sgt Marius Els, CplRene Jansen and Mr Dave Skews,the Braai master! Special mentionmust go to WO2 Kobus Liebenberg,Chairperson of the Club, who workedtirelessly to help arrange the tour andto make sure that everything workedperfectly during our stay. It is difficultto over-emphasise the generosity andkindness of everyone at the club.It is the intention of the ArmyRifle Association to extend aninvitation to the PMCTC to visitthe UK on a reciprocal tour in Jun2015. We have a hard act to followand although we cannot promiseto reciprocate with the weather,we are confident that we can stepup to the challenge and very muchlook forward to welcoming a SouthAfrican team in 2015.Exercise Pretorian flush British Army Clay Target Shooting Team - South Africa 2013.J U N E 2 0 1 3 • 45