at the new Tullamore ranges. This paid off with both F and F/TR classes dominated by American shooters in the individual and team matches. It’s not so well known that around a third of the American entourage subsequently crossed the Irish Sea for a holiday in the Scottish Highlands that included a four-day shooting experience in that most spectacular of locations - West Atholl RC’s Jubilee Range lying along one side of Glen Tilt high above the Perthshire village of Blair Atholl. Only one F Class shooter came across, Tony Robertson but, a full F/TR contingent including coaches and family members made the trip and challenged Scotland to a three range team competition, two sighters plus fifteen score shots at 900, 1000, and 1100 yards.
M
Setting the scene, this event was dovetailed into the Scottish Rifle Association’s annual Long Range Meeting comprising six 15-round matches split equally over 900 and 1000 yards and held over the weekend of 2/3rd July. This longstanding Target Rifle event has included the two F classes for some years now, with their own medals. It usually attracts a healthy entry with traditional ‘sling’ shooters outnumbering the ‘effers by around two to one but, late date changes saw some regulars drop out and this was compounded by the match date falling close to the start of ‘The Imperial’ festival of TR shooting at Bisley. Throw in the American visitors and this year, F/TR actually outnumbered F Class and TR combined.
To accommodate the US visit and that relative rarity, a high-profile transatlantic match, the range was made available to the F/TR shooters on Friday 1st July for practice and by a neat coincidence for the visitors at any rate, the team matches were scheduled for Monday 4th July - US Independence Day. This must have seemed a good omen to the visitors and with their convincing Irish victory just behind them in what had turned out to be extremely challenging conditions, it would have been surprising if they didn’t feel confident now.
They were up against a scratch Scottish team led by Paul Crosbie and comprising a mixture of GB League F/TR competitors, Match and Target Rifle competitors, at least some of whom (especially me) hadn’t even met each other beforehand.
The Americans arrived not only flush with success but as a well-honed team. On the other hand, this was
17
ost readers will know that the US F Class teams put in a maximum effort visit to Ireland for the revived Creedmoor Match
BLAIR ATHOLL
INTERNATIONAL F/TR REPORT
Blair Atholl with all its local ‘quirks’. Most Scottish team members shot there regularly and the Scots had two top coaches in the form of Hamish Hunter and Tim Kidner, who know the range and its moods intimately.
Setting up at 900yd. Scottish coach Tom Kidner seated up front with US shooter Tony Robertson (in blue jacket) record keeping behind.
Mentioning the US team, one striking feature lacking in most European equivalents was the number of lady shooters - Nancy Tompkins and daughter Michelle Gallagher, Kathy Buell (who was also team adjutant), Sierra LoRee Scott, who at 22 years old had to be one
Scottish team captain Paul Crosbie and coach Tim Kidner pause during a wind change.
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