At the end of August a Scotland team travelled to the United States to compete in the Spirit of America Matches run by the Bald Eagles Rifle Club, the culmination of which was the ‘America Match’ open to international teams sanctioned by the International Confederation of Fullbore Rifle Associations (ICFRA), the World governing body. This took place on Friday 13th September 2024.

The America Match has been in existence since 2002 and began as an “intermediary” match for U.S. teams to educate themselves about international competition during the years between the Palma Match, the latter held in conjunction with the Target Rifle World Long-Range Championships. Originally, the America Match was contested solely between the U.S. and Canada, but now the match is open to teams from other countries.

Bruce Logan, Lindsay Peden and Richard Dryball

The America Match is usually competed for by a Great Britain team but as the Palma and World Championships had taken place earlier in 2024 and a second GB team is not permitted in the same year by the UK NRA rules, consequently it was open to the home nations with Scotland and England sending teams.

On arrival, the team took a few days to acclimatise to the rarified 6500 feet average altitude and to explore the Colorado area. There were reports of fishing, sightseeing, shopping, train rides and Pikes Peak (14500 feet) conquered (by car). The team reconvened on Wednesday 4th September to take over the spacious competitor accommodation on the USA NRA Whittington Centre Range Complex in Raton, New Mexico.

A practice day followed. Most felt acclimatised to the warmer weather (cool in the morning and warmer in the afternoon - 28 °C) and the thinner air.

Before the team tackled the America Match, there were the Spirit of America Matches. The competition consisted of seven days of shooting comprising a mix of four days of individual shooting and three days of four person team competitions. With an early start at 07.00, sign in, a signal cannon fire and colours (raising of the Stars and Stripes and the US National Anthem) at 7.30am. Each day’s shooting consisted of both short and long range shoots with several stints of marking with trips to the pits (butts) in a couple of iconic big yellow school buses repurposed.

The Scots had mixed fortunes in both the individual and team competitions. Cash prizes were awarded based on each day’s short and long aggregates. While no outright wins were recorded, Claire Halleran picked up a mighty $15 for second place in the short range aggregate on day one and highest woman in the Grand Aggregate.

Simon Dickson, Jams Anderson and Alice Ogilvie

There were three Scottish teams entered to the Teams competitions and the overall team aggregate of three matches - Scotland’s Team Claymore claimed the aggregate prize – Lindsay Peden Wind Coach, Bruce Logan, Richard Dyball, Claire Halleran and Angus McLeod as shooters.

Morning View from the Accommodation on the Ranges

Throughout the week we enjoyed a variety of weather conditions, the winds generally being light in the morning and getting stronger as we watched the thunder and lightning storms build up over the Rockies. Once the squalls arrived the winds became difficult and some competitors suffered from unwanted solicitations from the ‘Windy Monkey’. At least one member of the team recorded a miss at 1000 yards without knowing which side of the target the shot had gone. Thankfully no time was lost due to poor weather.

The America Match was shot on the final Friday with teams of eight firers, two target wind coaches, a main coach, reserves/plotters and a Match Captain. This saw the whole of our touring team gainfully employed. The course of fire was 2 sighters and fifteen to count at 300yrds, 600yrds 900yrds and 1000yrds.

The competition was close at short range but as the day and distance increased the conditions got harder - the trickier winds arrived and the points differentials widened. Scotland suffered particularly badly at 900 yards. Team USA prevailed and did an amazing job regaining the 10 points lost due to a cross shot at 300yrs, taking the match from England by two points, having waited 10 minutes for their final shot.

Final results

Team 300yrds 600yrs 900yrds 1000yrds TOTAL

1. USA 1188.73 1195.70 1170.40 1166.45 4719.228

2. England 1197.82 1193.56 1153.35 1174.46 4717.219

3. Scotland 1194.70 1180.50 1128.23 1151.30 4653.178

For the team dinner the Scots were booked into the St James Hotel in Cimarron, a famous local landmark renowned for its previous gunslinging clientele (Jessie James, Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill et al) in the 1880’s, I can confirm there were no extra bullet holes added to the ceiling decor in the bar that night.