Shamelessly copied from a friends blog but thought it might be of interest to you folks seeing as I couldnt find a mention of it in any of the forum posts.
The World Long Range Target Rifle Team Match for the Palma Trophy starts tomorrow. First shots around 1400 BST, 0900 local. Results will appear starting shortly after, viewable on:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wZRP7ns-T6iut7a986y76hBuX5TM-QyUZ1A-yTI7Obo/edit#gid=574461674
The Palma Match is the most prestigious event of Target Rifle Teams. The history stems from a challenge between Ireland and the USA in the late 1800s. The recent format of the match dates from the 1980s, and the early history up to 1995 is well documented at
http://riflemansjournal.########.com/2010/08/history-history-of-palma-match.html
The 1988 match was held alongside the 1988 Australian Bicentennnial Championships, an event attended by teams from around the globe, attracted by Australian promises (fulfilled, to my personal experience) of the best party shooting had held in years, and a top prize of AUS$ 5000 (IIRC). The results and locations since then reveal the honour and glory at stake in the match starting tomorrow:
1985 Stickledown Range, Bisley, England Winners: USA
1988 ANZAC range, Sydney Winners: Australia
1992 Whittington Center, Raton, New Mexico Winners: Great Britain
1995 Trentham Range, Wellington, New Zealand Winners: Great Britain
1999 General de Wet Range, Bloemfontein, South Africa Winners: South Africa
2003 Stickledown Range, Bisley, England Winners: Great Britain
2007 Connaught Range, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Winners: Great Britain
2011 Belmont Range, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Winners: Great Britain
In the pre-85 incarnation of the match (when rifles and ammunition were both "issued"), USA were regular winners, but they have not achieved a win for 30 years. Camp Perry is the spiritual home of competitive shooting in the USA, and the pressure is on the home team to deliver. The 2015 GB team has achieved significant success in the US National Championships, the America match and the Individual World TR Championships. Australia have first and third in the individual World Championships, and South Africa are, as ever, the most tightly disciplined team on the firing point.
This is a test amongst the best of friends. Target shooting is a sport for life, and I expect team members to span an age range of 50 years or maybe more. Given the shooting I have seen over the past four days, I expect to see stunning performances. Given the shooting I have seen over the past 27 years, I expect to see stunning sportsmanship. May the match run smoothly and may the best team win.
The World Long Range Target Rifle Team Match for the Palma Trophy starts tomorrow. First shots around 1400 BST, 0900 local. Results will appear starting shortly after, viewable on:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wZRP7ns-T6iut7a986y76hBuX5TM-QyUZ1A-yTI7Obo/edit#gid=574461674
The Palma Match is the most prestigious event of Target Rifle Teams. The history stems from a challenge between Ireland and the USA in the late 1800s. The recent format of the match dates from the 1980s, and the early history up to 1995 is well documented at
http://riflemansjournal.########.com/2010/08/history-history-of-palma-match.html
The 1988 match was held alongside the 1988 Australian Bicentennnial Championships, an event attended by teams from around the globe, attracted by Australian promises (fulfilled, to my personal experience) of the best party shooting had held in years, and a top prize of AUS$ 5000 (IIRC). The results and locations since then reveal the honour and glory at stake in the match starting tomorrow:
1985 Stickledown Range, Bisley, England Winners: USA
1988 ANZAC range, Sydney Winners: Australia
1992 Whittington Center, Raton, New Mexico Winners: Great Britain
1995 Trentham Range, Wellington, New Zealand Winners: Great Britain
1999 General de Wet Range, Bloemfontein, South Africa Winners: South Africa
2003 Stickledown Range, Bisley, England Winners: Great Britain
2007 Connaught Range, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Winners: Great Britain
2011 Belmont Range, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Winners: Great Britain
In the pre-85 incarnation of the match (when rifles and ammunition were both "issued"), USA were regular winners, but they have not achieved a win for 30 years. Camp Perry is the spiritual home of competitive shooting in the USA, and the pressure is on the home team to deliver. The 2015 GB team has achieved significant success in the US National Championships, the America match and the Individual World TR Championships. Australia have first and third in the individual World Championships, and South Africa are, as ever, the most tightly disciplined team on the firing point.
This is a test amongst the best of friends. Target shooting is a sport for life, and I expect team members to span an age range of 50 years or maybe more. Given the shooting I have seen over the past four days, I expect to see stunning performances. Given the shooting I have seen over the past 27 years, I expect to see stunning sportsmanship. May the match run smoothly and may the best team win.
