Framlinghamian 2023-2024 Single page - web 144dpi - Flipbook - Page 264
SOF | OF SPORT: RIFLE CLUB
Old Framlinghamian
Ri昀氀e Club 2024
BY STEVE MCDOWELL, SHOOTING CORRESPONDENT
It hardly seems days since the last report
The Great Britain Ri昀氀e Team consisted of
was written and already, I’m late with this
not only our Veteran Team, but the ‘Palma’
one!
(a senior GB team) as well as Under-21s
and Under-25s, so all in all there were
Once again, the Old Fram Ri昀氀e Club
about seventy UK shooters assembling
season is stretched by international
in Bloemfontein. Competition is truly
competition.
international, with similar teams from
Canada, the USA, Australia, New Zealand,
Kenya, the Channel Islands, Japan,
Germany, and, of course, the hosts, South
Africa. The World Championships are
held every four years, although this was
extended to 昀椀ve years because of Covid,
with the last event held in New Zealand in
2019 (when James was also selected). In
all there were about 450 competitors, and
this includes some independents, who are
able to enter for the individual events.
Selection for this team started three
years ago, with a large squad of about
forty gradually being whittled down
to the twenty chosen to travel after a
reconnaissance tour to Bloemfontein in
James Mehta and John Halahan
March 2023. Although veterans (i.e. over
60 years old) this was a very accomplished
John Halahan (S72-75) and James Mehta
team with six Sovereign’s prize-winners,
(S67-75) were honoured to be selected for
and multiple Commonwealth medallists in
the Great Britain Veterans Team, shooting
the crew, and so we both felt fortunate to
in the World Long Range Championships,
win selection.
held in Bloemfontein, South Africa in March
2024.
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