The annual matches hosted by the RAF against the Home Countries, took place at Bisley over the weekend of 18/19 May. Strictly England does not take part in the matches but shoots alongside and treats the matches very much as rehearsals for the National and Mackinnon international matches held in July, fielding an experienced team. Nevertheless England remains the team to beat.

For Scotland the weekend is treated very much as a training exercise with younger and less experienced shooters very much encouraged to attend, and with team drills and practice over each morning and a short range match (300x, 500x and 600x) on Saturday afternoon and a long range match (900x and 1000x) on Sunday afternoon. The Scotland squad comprised 31 people (including coaches) with varying degrees of experience.

It was agreed that the match on Saturday would comprise 16 preselected shooters per team, firing 1 sighter and 7 to count at each of 300x, 500x and 600x. With the wind being fairly benign scores were relatively high but some loose shots saw Scotland 2nd to England but ahead of Wales and the RAF.

Scores in the match were as follows:

England 1664.231

Scotland 1632.194

Wales 1628.183

RAF 1610.129

Top scorer for Scotland was Angus McLeod with 105.14

On Sunday we turned to long range with practice in the morning and some very high scores in relatively easy wind conditions. The afternoon comprised a “Mackinnon” match with teams of 12 preselected shooters firing 1 sighter and 10 to count at 900x and 1000x. Scotland’s wind coaches worked well together in more tricky wind conditions but again there were some loose shots. In what turned out to be a very close match, Scotland finished 3rd behind England and Wales but ahead of the RAF.

Scores in the match were as follows:

England 1165.118

Wales 1161.117

Scotland 1157.121

RAF 1090.117

Interestingly the aggregate of Scotland’s top 12 shooters (ie including those not counting within the preselected 12 in the team) was 1168.120.