GBRT : West Indies 2013

Our guest diarist (you can tell he's a guest diarist because he's quoting from the Guardian) writes:

Last night's team dinner at the excellent Pisces restaurant,  a short walk up St. Lawrence Gap from the hotel, occupied the team's evening, and the menu of seafood, steaks (or both) seemed to be enjoyed by all.   Guest of honour (and birthday girl) Pearl Townsend seemed very pleased with her gift of a painting of a traditional Barbados chattel house.  She also (narrowly) avoided setting herself alight on a birthday cake which arrived bearing something closer to a distress flare than the traditional candle, so all in all the evening could be declared a success.   The Main Coach, enjoying his favourite surf & turf, was advised by some of his teammates of the late Christopher Hitchens's opinion of lobster, amongst other things.
http://m.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/dec/16/christopher-hitchens-quotes-bons-mots  Every day's a school day...

The whole team was squadded in the two morning details again for today's 2+10 at 500 yards and 2+15 at 900, a first taste of long range competition in Barbados.  We were pleased to be joined by the Australian Team, who had been squadded in the opposite half of the day to Team GB previously, but had made a special request to join us.

49s and 50s were plentiful among the British contingent at 500 yards with DC (the Calvert one) coming out on top with an excellent 50.10, no mean feat on the tight international standard v-bull. By contrast, Matt had a 49.0. The first of the two morning details at 900 yards was unanimously declared by those shooting to have been the hottest experienced so far, despite the breeze.  A tricky, fine-angled wind added to the testing conditions.   The second detail had a different set of challenges.   The headwind from the sea finally brought several short rain showers with it, and although this offered respite from the heat, the fine rain borne on the wind into the shooters' faces meant that many of those using 'eagle eyes' had to stop repeatedly to dry them out or abandon them altogether. Despite the differing conditions,  scoring was similar across the two details where there was GB participation.

As we broke for lunch it transpired that Lucky had opened the door to the chasing pack, having dropped his first points in Barbados with a 72.  Jon Underwood  (also clean going back to 900) dropped one point at long range to hold the lead.   Jane dropped one (fortunately getting to string shoot solo) to be a point behind,  as did DC, who followed his 50.10 with a 74, with Lucky now lurking on three off.  Honours at 900 went to Nigel (Ball), with 75.10, leaving him on four off. Martin tried to persuade him that he had to have a re-shoot... but not everyone needs one.

Most enjoyed the excellent food at the range before retreating back to the  "pink palace" that is our Southern Palms base camp.  Plans for afternoon sunbathing were somewhat frustrated by recurring rain showers,  so the afternoon's activities were a mix of refreshing dips in the crashing waves,  crazy golf,  catching up on washing and sociable refreshments on one of our many seafront balconies. The evening's "après tir" began with a rum punch reception hosted by our hotel manager, followed by various dinner arrangements. 

Team GB will complete our individual shooting in Barbados in the two afternoon details tomorrow,  so a relaxing morning awaits (weather permitting). Love to tour!