Monday morning, 18 July - revised again

I was too weary last night after the Canadian Reception even to look at the NRA web site and write my comments. Just as well, since yesterday's results do not yet show there (9:15 am)! Perhaps there's a computer glitch, or perhaps the NRA Stats Crew were at the party and are still recovering.

The Reception was a good success with a large crowd attending. The cool weather meant, perhaps, that attendance was a little lower than in some years, but this is a quieter year at Bisley anyway. With the beer bars on the veranda, the die-hards settled outside and braved the weather. The less Spartan stayed indoors, but the scrum never became unbearable. The noise level was impressive, even for deaf old me, since all shooters shout at each other knowing that at least 75% are hard of hearing. The Team Members looked after the bars. Julia Evans had made an excellent selection of nibbles which she arranged to be carried around by some young people. The very regrettable (officially mandated) absence of the Canadian Cadet Team prevented our young shooters from doing this, a fact that was observed and commented on by several of our guests. Apparently rumours were also circulating that the Reception itself had been cancelled because of the Cadets - N OT true!

Now to yesterday's results. The whole world must be waiting on the NRA for the details, since the web site is busy and one can't yet connect! The Weather Office had called for intermittent showers, but they underestimated both the frequency and strength of these. Nearly everyone got soaked at some part of the day, either while shooting or coming or going. There was also a blustery wind with quite large changes. But, in spite of all this, scoring was reported to be high. When/if the NRA comes back to life, I'll add some more.

Today's weather looks much the same. It's overcast and windy as I look out to the west, but there are also some patches of blue sky. Included in the day''s schedule is the 1000 yard Corporation, that maker or breaker of Grand Aggregate dreams/fantasies. The Times (300y) and Wimbledon (600y) complete the programme.

10:00 AM. the NRA web site is still not accessible, but I've just taken a look at the score boards. Fine drizzle falling.
In the Alexandra, 600 yards, Jim Paton was 7th with 50.7 and Steven Spinney 49th with 50.5. Scoring is high!
Daily Mail, 500 yards, 32 Jim Paton 74.11, the last 'X' in the list; Marc Landreville apparently shooting as Class 'O' 43rd with 74.9.
Sunday Aggregate, 27 Jim Paton 171.23.
No Canadian that I could see in the lists for the Duke of Cambridge, or the Weekend and Clementi Smith Aggregates. Nor is there a Team Member in the top 50 of the Grand.

6:45 pm The NRA web site has risen from the dead. There is little to add to the above, except some news on the Grand. With 250 points possible, UK shooters David Luckman and Peter Bromley are each one off. Top Canadians are Jim P:aton and Serge Bissonnette at -7, with Alain Marion one point further behind.

It will be interesting to see how today's shooting may have affected things, but I'll report on that later. Now I'm off out to dinner at the North London RC.