A busy summer so far!

You may have noticed that I have been away for the past month or so. For most shooters, the shooting season is in full swing, and I am no exception.

Competing in international matches allows the shooter to measure their progress. There is nothing like participating in one of the most prestigious shooting competitions in world. Shooting alongside some 750 shooters makes the experience both exhilarating and humbling. It forces you to step out of your comfort zone or the insulated bubble of shooting at home. What competition am I referring to? The Imperial Meeting of course!

The matches are held in Bisley, the United Kingdom. Several different events take place over the course of a month’s period spanning from late June to late July every year. For the Target Rifle (TR) enthusiasts like me, we shoot at distances of 300, 500, 600, 900, and 1000 yards. The Match Rifle (MR) competition is shot at 1000, 1100, and 1200 yards. I dare say that if you are a serious shooter, you need to attend The Imperial Meeting to get a taste of what great shooting is all about.

This year’s Meeting proved quite difficult. The wind wreaked havoc on all of us and the scores showed it. At long distances, the wind definitively took a bite out of you, but even the shorter distances proved difficult. The wind often changed direction and/or intensity while you were on aim, so you had to keep one eye on the target and the other on the wind flags. Believe me when I say that it’s enough to make your eyes go buggy! Regarding the weather, although it rained only occasionally during the majority of TR matches, The Queen’s Prize Final (900 and 1000 yards) was shot in the rain. Fun, isn’t it?!

Now that I have returned home, I must readjust my sights (pun intended) and prepare for the regional and national matches. Having a touch of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), there are many little adjustments that must be done!


- Bernard Pepin