World Cup Ft Benning, USA
May2010
The United States of America! The land of the big…………………….everything! I’ve been to the US once before years ago for a week. It was a rare occasion adjusting my clock backwards on arrival!
Peter and I joined the rest of the GBR team, who came 4 days before us, to complete the Rifle and Pistol team. Great team spirit flowed.
My Air Pistol match was my first event, in a slightly cramped range. There wasn’t much room for spectators, but I found it almost more awkward watching the Men’s Air Rifle than I did shooting.
My training proved to have been effective and this was the beginning of ensuring it all comes together on the day. I shot an excellent group of shots, but unfortunately just to the left, due to being a little too tense. Positive points have been carried forwards.
Three days then followed where valuable Sport Pistol training time was available to me. Not being able to fire my .22 very easily in the UK, these opportunities were greatfuly received.
Having taken my experiences from my Air Pistol, my precision was really starting to come together which was evident in my sighting and initial series of the match.
My rapid stage I was very pleased with, and the way coped with a poor first series. I almost lost more points in that than in the remaining 25 shots! I was also very pleased with how I coped with a malfunction half way through the 4th series, when I was CRUSING! Just to add to the tense situation, the weather turned and massive storms began. As the last shot was fired the range had a power cut! Brilliant timing for everyone but me, as I still had my malfunction series to shoot! Waiting for the range to re-power I stood up and shot another 49/50!
The Rifle team shot well, with 2 performances from Jen McIntosh and Jon Hammond narrowly missing out on a final position.
Experiences that ‘MasterCard’ could just not buy were gained! There was no closing ceremony, but an excellent opening ceremony to begin the competition where our new GBR kit was on display!
