Note that clickable links to today's ranges, matches and aggregates are provided following the commentary.

Sat 23 Aug 2008

Jim Paton won the Governor General's Prize for the fifth time this afternoon. Jim finished with 293.29, two points ahead of Emil Praslick III, 291.27, and three up on Bruce Bullock, 290.25, and Ray Smeltzer, 290.22. The afternoon was warm, somewhat humid, with a fresh breeze. The latter made significantly large shifts in both strength and direction, causing scores in the Final to be relatively low. Not too many peopple broke 70 at 900 metres.

Earlier in the afternoon, the F Class Final was fired. For the most part, conditions were more benign than they were later. However, about half way through the 900 metre range, the wind increased quite dramatically from a fairly placid 3 minutes to a much more testing 9 or 10. It was quite a challenge, as I can attest. Marius de Champlain completed his excellent week by winning the Final with 343, from Dave Rumbold 336, with Dale Rathwell and Matthew Wolf on 329. Remember that for F Class, 'vees' score 6, so the HPS here was 360. To drop just 17 vees over 60 shoots is good shooting!

With the firing of the Finals, many other aggregates were completed, too numerous to mention all of them here. The scores in the two ranges of the Final constitute the Patron's match, in honour of our Governor General. Bruce Bullock had the top score with a fine 145.11 (ex 150) in the testing conditions; Marius de Champlain took the F Class with 166 (ex 180).

The Canadian Target Rifle Championship (the Bisley Aggregate) was also won by Bruce Bullock with 956.84 from Roger Romses 953.89 and Paul tremblay 952.98. Peter Westlake has the nucleus of a strong team for Bisley in 2009. The F Class Championship was won by Marius with 1138, from Dave Rumbold 1120, and Matthew Wolf 1099.

I should go back to Friday afternoon for which I still owe you a report. The Commonwealth Match occupied centre stage. Foor this year, the team size was reduced to 8 shooters. Canada had a second team firing alongside, for team development purposes. The official Canadian Team won the match with 780.78, from the USA Goodwill Team 735.48 and the Rest of the World (Australia, Bermuda, Channel Islands and Jamaica) on 727.43. Canada also won the Under 25 Long range Team Match 765 - 738 over the British Cadet Team (the Athelings).

On Saturday morning, the Canada Match was fired, with the same particiapnts. This was a much closer affair with Canada winning on 1191.141, from the USA 1187.135, and Rest of the World 1147.103. Canada's under 25s won the Short Range Match 1180 - 1174. One result that I do not have is that for the new Seniors Team Match, fired alongside the Canada. This is designed to foster the development of the Canadian Veterans Team for the 2011 World Championships.

After the chairing of the winner, the Prizes Presentation Ceremony got underway. A notable moment was the handing over of the DCRA Presidency from MGem Tom de Faye to BGen Ray Romses. Tom has served for 11 years as our President, a period of quiet and effective leadership. Special badges for long time members were awared: 50 years - Bill Garland and John Marshall; 60 years - Edson Warner; 70 years (!) - Bill Hall and colin Brown. Aaron Daley was MC for the prize giving, which, despite the very large number of awards, went along with more dispatch than in some years.

And now, for Sunday, there is just one more matter to be concluded, the final part of the Commonwealth Games Trial. Satruday's scores shook things up a little, so that the leaders are now: Jim Paton 1633.163, Des Vamplew 1626.180, with Paul Tremblay and Pat Vamplew both on 1624.164. Lurking in 5th place is Bruce Bullock with 1624.161. The weather for Suday may be unsettled, with showers possible. Much may still happen.

The Macdonald Stewart Dinner at the Chateau Laurier on Friday evening was the usual fine affair. A rare evening of civilised social interaction, after the week of slumming it at the range!

Last night Stan and I went to Al's Steak House, a local institution. I had not been for a year or two, and I can report that the steaks are still excellent, the service (for once) was good, Al's salad dressing is as tasty as ever, and the prices are ever more appalling! And Al still refuses to put an advert in to the Marksman, despite many shoots over the years having eaten at his emporium.

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