GBRT : West Indies 2013

Sunday night’s prize giving was a blast. All our tables for the sumptuous buffet also contained Jamaicans, who were in great form as they brought their magnificent hosting of a grateful GB team to a climax. The speeches were gracious, the rum flowed and the head of the Firearms Licensing Authority presented the prizes after vowing to reduce the time Jamaicans wait for their permits in future. Major Nelson declared the Scots in our party to be honorary West Indians during the introductions; then Charles thanked our many good hosts and praised the Jamaican team’s tremendous improvement at the longer ranges of the team match. It would be hard to overstate how convivial the locals’ company was, as it had been since our arrival. They have also done an excellent job of publicity - we are promised clips of the Monday evening TV appearance that we will miss, by a PR lady introduced from the world of squash by Karen.

We also owe our thanks to Dennis and to “CC” (Canute Coley) for accompanying us to the airport on Monday and helping us clear the rifles through security and customs. They have gone out of their way to help us throughout our stay, starting with their having picked us up at the opposite end of the island at Montego Bay.

Monday was all about travel. After breakfast and an all-too-brief stint by the pool for some in the not-yet-strong sun, we left the hotel at 08:30 for a lunchtime flight to Bridgetown (Barbados), where we would stay on the plane and continue to Port of Spain (Trinidad), before waiting two and a half hours there for a flight to Georgetown (Guyana). We would eventually land just before 10pm and arrive after midnight.

The flight to Barbados was shared with another team – the Combined Campuses and Colleges cricket team. We figured they must be a first class outfit, as their defeat by Jamaica had featured alongside some of our exploits in the Observer newspaper. Certainly some of them looked fearsome. A couple of them dragged maroon West Indies Cricket Team bags. And then Charles recognised one of their party as none other than Curtly Ambrose! Seeing him in the flesh made one realise how scary it would be to face his bowling. He looked frightening while he was relaxing! Unsurprisingly, he was given an exit row aisle seat, to try and accommodate those very long legs.

Otherwise the flights were largely uneventful, save for the discovery by three team members (or rather, by airport security) that they had left some of their tools in their hand luggage, having used those bags as range bags in Jamaica. Such are the perils of a tour where repacking is such a common occurrence. What was odd was that two of the discoveries were made in Trinidad, so the relevant tools had made it through two flights already! In two cases the tools were checked into the hold at the gate; in the third, a pristine multi-tool was given to the VIP lounge receptionist in exchange for some printing and a handful of some welcome (and current) UK papers – FT, Independent and Daily Mail.

Having been confined to aeroplanes, air bridges and departure lounges all day, it was a relief to descend the steps at Cheddi Jagan airport in Georgetown and be returned to the real world… although it was very warm and extremely humid. It’ll be interesting to see what it’s like in the middle of the day! We could not have been made more welcome on arrival. Lt. Col. Stewart greeted us next to the luggage carousel, having already done his best to smooth our path with customs in anticipation of our arrival. He was joined by Ryan Sampson and they helped us with our luggage and with having the rifles cleared. By the time the last of the team cleared immigration, we had finished loading the luggage onto trolleys and were almost ready to move out… and on emerging from the airport into the night we were confronted with a full squad of armed and helmeted soldiers sitting, smiling, on the back of a military 4x4, ready to escort our rifles to their home for the night. And on the way to the hotel, we saw “Great Britain Rifle Team takes aim…” scroll along the electronic ticker hanging outside a building. What a welcome!

On arrival at the hotel after midnight via a distillery and a brewery (no, we didn’t stop), we were paired off with our new room-mates. This correspondent is now sharing with the Vice- (and until Nigel’s arrival Acting) Captain… “Charles In Charge” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km22zWPz4uY)

We have already managed to visit all four of the countries that feature on this tour. And we managed to get in and out of Barbados without dropping a single point! Oh for similar fortunes next time we are there…

GBRT in the Guyanese press:-

http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2013/04/29/great-britain-rifle-shooting-team-due-today