Today was a full day of individual shooting, with the State Presidents First Stage (same format as the HM The Kings Prize), with 2 sighters and 7 to count at 300, 500 and 600m in the morning, with the Municipal Cup at 800m and the Col. R Bodey at 900m, both 10 to count, during the afternoon.
After yesterdays disappointment, everyone was keen to get back out on the range and re-focus on delivering a good performance for the day. During the Presidents’ First stage, the wind was a steady easterly breeze, enabling 4 shooters with 35’s and a further 9 to score 34, with Tom Shaw leading the pack with a fine 35.6. Back at 500m, a range distance that we had not yet shot, the wind angle started to change frequently, but 5 of the team still kept all 7 shots in the bullseye, with Tom Smith scoring a perfect 35.7. The wind continued to challenge us significantly at 600m, with scores dropping significantly. However, Scott managed to hold his nerve and deliver the only 35.4. This left Scott as leader of the morning, with a 104.10, followed by Tom Shaw maintaining his form with a 103.13.
The two long range shoots after lunch would be the last two shoots of the Grand Aggregate. The combination of a fast changing fish tailing wind, regularly passing through zero, with the afternoon heat, delivered only two 50’s at 800m, in the Municipal Cup. These were from the management team, who were clearly colluding, with Phil finishing on 50.7, with Turbo snapping at his heels with a 50.6. This very much resembled the ambience of the entire week!
At 900m, the clouds started to form, giving some variable light conditions for the squad. This could clearly be seen with a wide spread of scores from 38.1 right through to 48.5, ruining many people’s final grand aggregate score. The remaining member of the management team, Martin, was not to be outdone by his two colleagues, delivering 48.5 in the Col. R. Bodey, with Jumbo on 47.4, demonstrating why he was a “GM” as this also placed him highest in the dedicated England team Grand!
The scores started to come in for the Grand Aggregate, with the following notable successes, excluding the shooters/coaches also shooting for GB and hence listed on their website:
45th Jumbo Lewis
53rd Phil Chapman-Sheath
58th Martin Liversage
The end of a long hot day on the ranges, with only a few shoots remaining. It was time for another early night!