GBRT : West Indies 2013

Today was all about the long range team match. We had a minor lie-in as the West Indian teams were due to shoot first, then drove to the range for 9:20 to find ourselves amused by the fact that the Canadians had already been there for two hours, apparently not having been briefed on the two detail format.

Conditions were sunny and warm with a stiff headwind to make it seem pleasantly warmer. Not so pleasantly for the coaches... although the wind amounted mostly to small numbers left,  it did switch from the right a few times and the angle would sometimes square (without exactly announcing the fact in a loud voice) sufficiently to push shots out into the magpie or even the outer.

After 900 yards, GB Red had dropped 15 points and led by 10 points from Australia, with GB Blue a further 4 points back. Ian Shaw had a stunning 50.6.

The break before 1000 yards was punctuated by lunch, followed by the West Indians' detail during which some team members were able to avail themselves of an "athlete's nap" for much needed recovery. Nigel Ball looked like he was missing Erica the Palma physio, laid out as if on a mortuary table.

1000 yards was at times eventful, with the headwind still stronger. GB Red dropped a further 24, while GB Blue managed to improve by a point to drop 28 and overtake Australia who had dropped 38 more. Final scores were:

Great Britain Red (Captain's) 761.59
Matt Charlton (coach)
David Luckman 48.5 48.0 96.5
Ian Shaw 50.6 49.4 99.10
Chris Weeden 48.5 43.2 91.7
David Calvert 48.5 48.2 96.7
Jane Messer (coach)
Nigel Ball 47.4 46.4 93.8
David Crispin 48.2 48.4 96.6
Tom Rylands 48.4 45.2 93.6
Jon Underwood 48.6 49.4 97.10

Great Britain Blue (Vice Captain's) 743.36
Martin Townsend (coach)
Jon Tapster 47.4 47.3 94.7
David Rose 44.3 46.1 90.4
Debs Fenn 45.4 42.1 87.5
Chris Watson 49.1 48.3 97.4
Charles Brooks (coach)
Gaz Morris 47.3 49.1 96.4
Chloe Evans 45.1 45.1 90.2
Jonathan Hull 45.2 45.2 90.4
Ross McQuillan 49.3 50.3 99.6

Australia 737.47 (Jim Jeffrey 99)

Canadia 673.23 (Stefan Isaacs 94.2)

Channel Islands - not enough manpower to add the scores up yet says Cliff!

The Milex Cup for the West Indies Long Range Championship was won by Guyana on 697.30 (Lennox Braithwaite 91.5) by 25 points from Jamaica. Trinidad, Barbados and Antigua were 3rd, 4th and 5th. Congratulations Guyana!

Tonight we are hosting all the West Indians at our hotel. Quick turnaround, followed by a very brief feed so as not to deprive our guests of canapés,  and then a few friendly rum punches before an early bedtime in anticipation of tomorrow's short range teams match - that's what I expect the rest of the evening to hold...