Team Diary Tuesday 24th March 2009
The day was dedicated to a practice shoot in target teams after some “zeroing” at 300m. The start was leisurely by normal South African standards; first shot down the range at 10 am, which allowed us to leave the hotel at 8.30 after a relaxed – and surprisingly tasty – breakfast. Expectations were not high after last night’s supper in the hotel, but as one team member rather uncharitably suggested, “it is hard to screw up Rice Krispies”. Last night’s supper was indeed a gastronomically challenging experience but a team led by James Watson saved the day by persuading a nearby restaurant to part with a case of their best red wine at a fifty percent discount through the back door after the team had exhausted the hotel’s wine cellar (which consisted of two half bottles of wine).
Despite the relaxed start, there still managed to be a snafu of sorts as multiple instructions were issued by different members of the hierarchy for the same purchase of copious amounts of water rations for the day. This resulted in one bus which thought it had achieved its goal being instantly chastised, as they left the shop with the victuals, by the Captain who had already purchased the required water the night before but apparently kept this fact on a need to know basis amongst the hierarchy.
After zeroing, we shot in target teams, 2 and 10 at 300m, 600m and 800m with a break for lunch. 300m proved relatively uneventful and the team repaired to its shelter for lunch thinking that all had gone relatively smoothly. The Captain had other ideas….. Whilst consuming another delight – the world’s soggiest cheese rolls, the Captain admonished us for what he considered to be a rather amateurish and laissez-faire approach to message one. One of the bearded members of the coaching team (who will remain nameless, but you might see him in photos wearing the hat again tomorrow) disagreed with the Captain’s assessment as clearly his target had two shooters ready to go on time but received a sharp reminder that there can be only one person in charge!
The two longer ranges were met with some very tricky wind changes, through zero for the early details at 600m and some fast changes – as much as five minutes for the later details at 600m and throughout 800m. The team managed to blow out various cobwebs (for the late party, it was their first shoot for a while) and showing that form is temporary, but class is permanent, high scores on the day were David Luckman and Parag Patel with 147s. Kudos also goes to Matty Ensor for coaching both of them.
At the team meeting after shooting, we were informed that the team ammo, with the new Sierra 155 grain bullet graciously donated by Sierra, was being loaded onto trucks as we sat in the bar. Not, as one team member suggested, in Dubai (although we were led to understand it left there nearly 6 weeks ago), but in Johannesburg – it seems nothing can prevent it arriving this evening, except perhaps the taxi driver strike in Jo’burg although we don’t quite understand the impact of this on the anticipated delivery!
The “meat wave” is scheduled to continue tonight as the team shunned the idea of another leather lamb (we think??) steak at the hotel and head into town to the Famous Butcher’s Grill for what should be a tender piece of beef.
