GBRT : West Indies 2013

After a late evening team meeting once Party B had arrived, the team retired last night with some of them aiming to catch two nights' sleep.

Most of the team departed for the range this morning  at 07:45 to practise at 300, 600 and 900 yards, while others left at 09:45 to do just 600 and 900. But with shooting only eventually starting at 10am, everyone ended up doing 300 and 900.

Matters were also delayed by a downpour during 300. On the plus side, weather wise, the rest of the day gave us sunshine that was much less hard work to shoot in than our previous Caribbean venues, helped in part by the stiff breeze that came mostly from 11 o'clock.

Lunchtime brought not just an excellent lunch - a choice of chicken,  tuna steak or burger - but also reacquaitance with old friends from Australia, Canada and the Channel Islands and (for the most part) newer friends from Guyana, Trinidad and Jamaica as well as some of our Barbadian hosts. Some of our number felt very much at home in their company - none more so than DC, who - on autopilot perhaps - put his kit in a Channel Islands bus before expressing his dismay that it wasn't in any of GB's (identical) ones. Very reminiscent of last summer's Australian hut moment in Canada!

At 900 yards, the headwind was mostly 0 to 3 left and was refreshing enough to make Barbadian shooting conditions quute the most pleasant (and least sweaty) we had experienced on tour. Most people shot with a coach so the latter could learn more about the conditions.  Unusual features of the range at 900 included the walk or drive up there from the BRA hut along the range road while shooters fired past us at the targets,  and the sight of aeroplanes (large and small) taking off just behind the clubhouse.

After a quick change back at the hotel,  the team met for the Adjutant to tell us about van allocations and squadding for the next four days and for the Captain to hand out GB tour badges to everyone.

From there we travelled to St. Ann's Fort, the Barbados Defence Force HQ, for the Meet & Greet.

Our vice captain is feeling very much at home here by the way - in addition to seeing Charles Chocolates, we have found Charles Bar and Grill, Charles Watersports and now Charles Unisex Salon.