GBRT : West Indies 2013

Short range teams match today. GB only entered one team, in order that there be no more than eight - meaning no need for a second team detail.

Wind was once again brisk from (predominantly) 11 o'clock, causing a great deal of buffeting. Such luminaries as Luckman, Underwood and Calvert served as register keepers and scoreboard dollies as other team members fought for places in the Australia Match team under the guidance of Martin, Jane and Matt.

Great Britain started at 300x with a 394.38, with 50s from Ian, Dave Crispin and Debs, then followed up at 500 with 396.44 and 50s from Ian Shaw, Jon Tapster,  Chris Weeden, Dave Crispin and Debs - Ian's and JT's with 8 V-bulls. Then a substantial break for lunch and some interesting tactics from some team members to keep Martin from the front of the food queue.

Getafix, the (orthopaedic) doc, found himself with an unusual problem to deal with - emergency ear wax clearance for a fellow team member. On the suggestion that he conduct a live video link with ear nose and throat consultant Mr. Parag Patel, he is alleged to have swiftly rebuffed the suggestion that he take advice from a junior surgeon, and anyway "I know what I'm doing because the ear has bones in it."

After lunch, GB put in another performance unequalled by the others on the range, scoring 393.38 with 50s from Ian, Chris "Weeded" (as the range entry list had his name), Dave Crispin,  Dave Rose and Jonathan Hull. Final score 1183.120, comfortably ahead of the opposition, whose scores may be taken as indications of how hard the conditions were to deal with - especially the buffeting. The Channel Islands were second of the overseas teams with 1133; Jamaica were the winners of the West Indies Short Range Championship with 1119. Canada also shot but Australia chose to use today as a rest day, favouring tomorrow's Australia Match practice day for a full day on the range.

GB scores were:
Jane Messer (coach)
Jonathan Hull 49.5 49.5 50.3 148.13
Debs Fenn 50.2 50.3 47.3 147.8
Dave Rose 49.6 49.3 50.5 148.14
Dave Crispin 50.7 50.6 50.7 150.20
Matt Charlton (coach)
Ian Shaw 50.5 50.8 50.8 150.21
Chloe Evans 49.3 48.4 47.4 144.11
Jon Tapster 49.4 50.8 48.3 147.15
Chris Weeden 49.6 50.7 50.5 149.18
Total 1183.120

An extra and very welcome presence on the range today was Deputy High Commissioner Phil Culligan, who had also joined us at our reception the night before. He watched the 600 yards range before firing a few shots with coaching from Jon U and Matt, then joined us as we went beyond the butts with the range officer to see the 70 foot supergun that had, in the 70s, launched a projectile 183km!

After a quick stop to photograph aeroplanes landing and taking off at the end of the runway, the selection team met to choose the Australia Match team. Two or three people were very unfortunate to miss out on places in a strong Australia Match team, but they still have roles to play. The team is:

Captain: Nigel Penn
Adjutant: Charles Brooks
Main Coach: Martin Townsend

Jane Messer (coach)
Nigel Ball
Gaz Morris
David Crispin
Ross McQuillan
Jon Underwood

Matthew Charlton (coach)
David Luckman
David Calvert
Ian Shaw
Tom Rylands
Chris Watson

Reserves: David Rose, Chris Weeden
Butt Scrutineer: Jon Tapster
Medic & hydration: Jonathan Hull
Scoreboard: Debs Fenn,  Chloe Evans

There are five new Australia Match caps: Nigel Penn, Matthew Charlton, David Crispin,  Ross McQuillan and Ian Shaw (and both reserves). Arguably Charles Brookes is also a new cap having only previously shot in the (last ever) Empire Match. Seven team members appear for their (at least) third consecutive Australia Match.