Much to my consternation I have just discovered that if I write too much the mechanisms that manage this website cut me off in my prime. This accounts for some fractured postings, in particular this one. Apologies.

So it remains for me to thank all those who made this meeting enjoyable, from front counter to bean counter, from admin to range staff and the excellent markers, from ground crew to stats. While the duck?s legs may have been paddling like fury underneath, the outward look was of reasonable calm.

As to the future. We had another batch of superlative ammunition for RWSRUAG. Is it enough to tip the balance towards tighter rings? Personally I think the jury is still out and that we are a long way from that drastic measure. Shrink the central bull? Possibly, but one more year might be sensible to confirm what we suspect is coming closer. I still worry about the effect of any reduction on the number of people that will wish to grapple with an overall tighter target. A national meeting with 1000 competitors may be a viable undertaking. The prospect of an impossible possible and ever escalating costs may well knock a large hole in the flagship fund raiser. It would be interesting to see the income and expenditure account for the July TR Meeting as a stand alone set of figures.

My thought is this. Let us have one more year in this five year ammunition contract as we are. Canvass TR entrants on the possibilities and their preference. Then reflect and come up with reasoned proposals on whether the time is right for a change. The tigers can have their international competitions on the tighter target if they wish and as the Australia match shows it brings out top performance. The number of people in the ties is manageable, and tie shoots do add interest. The one between Parag Patel and David Luckman for the Silver Medal that went to the ninth additional single shot after each had scored 25.5 was a cracker.

And so as the Vulcan of time speeds over the sands of Century, and the misfire of fate burnishes the tin badge of history, we say au revoir to the 150th Aniversary Meeting. No doubt many of us will be there next year as the Algerrhythmn of accuracy meets the pedant of percussion with its cartridge of perfection, and we wish ourselves a happy return.

Toodle pip.

I left you after the conclusion of the Queen's Prize and have been remiss in not bringing you up to date with the Australia Match. Sunday dawned fair with sun and some overcast, but altogether a very agreeable day. There was a gentle breeze from the left with just enough movement to catch the sleeping coach in the Australia Match.

At 300 yards the Australians gave notice of what appeared to be a resurgence, pipping GB by one point with the Channel Islands snapping at the two pairs of heels. At 600 something of a minor calamity hit Australia, losing 17 more points to go 20 off while GB lost six for 10 off. CI moved up into second place losing just 9 at 16 off. Lunch followed.

By 900 the breezes were fooling around enough to warrant a stop by GB. Others were not so prompt and lost a few more points. When all had steadied a bit GB had carded 8 scores of 50 and two 49s, for a total12 off. Australia lost 22 to go to 42 off with CI just ahead on 36 off. At 1000 an initial flurry with the wind was followed by an almost dead flat calm. Teams had to hit it then and GB took the chance. Six scores of 50, a 48, two 47s and a 42 with a shot on the other team target was the outcome, for a total of 1872 with 207 centrals. In passing we note that Tom Rylands who was called from the reserve list to shoot on the previous evening made a new record top individual score with 200.26. Henceforth he shall be known as 'supersub'. In fact all the scores are new records because this was the first time the smaller ICFRA target has been used in this match. Perhaps they should be known as the new benchmark scores, at least for a year

Australia bit back to depose CI by just one point, in the process putting in a protest at some of the marking values given by the butts and equally having it thrown out after the officials had travelled down to the butts after shooting finished to examine the target. They presumably found holes where the holes had been found, not that a perfect score of 50 would have tipped any balances anyway. So it was Australia on 1943.179 in second with CI on 1942.181 third. Canada took fourth spot on 1928.166 followed by Germany and the Malaysia, Holland and Japan alliance.

Down at the Under 25 match it was very different. Australia led GB by 5 at 300 after going clean on their target, led by 5 again at 600, dropped 3 points behind at 900 and finished early with a fine recovery at 1000 to set GB's last man down to make a 50. Nothing else would do. A 49 was useless because of the central count on which GB were too far behind. Tom Hunter shot. Sandy Walker coached the wind. In a gripping finish Tom fired straight and Sandy saw them all into the bullseye. Cue much whoopin and hollerin.

To the Australian Under 25s I would just say this. You made that match what it was. You impressed many during the Meeting with your good humour and by wearing your 'baggies' with pride. It may be little consolation but you were superlative ambassadors and we will welcome you back as individuals or team members in the future.

All the detailed scores are on the website.

I think I neglected to mention a late result last night, that A Wilson of the Australian team had won the Donaldson Memorial final at 1000 yards with 75.12, followed by Peter Griggs of Ibis on 75.11 and Stuart Young of 101 RC on 75.10.

And so to the final Saturday. First off was the final of the St George?s in which all the usual suspects featured. There were 17 scores of 150 at the end of the show, topped out by none other than John Warburton of Huddersfield on 26 centrals. David 'yet again' Luckman followed on 25 with David Calvert third on 24. There were 149s down to 61st.

England then turned on the power in the Mackinnon to make a new record score of 1173.140 with Australia second on 1154.104. Guess who ? Luckman D and Barnett G made 100s. Ireland were third on 1147.104.

Then it was the turn of the 100 finalists in the Queen's Prize. This was always going to be a contest in which the prize would be lost rather than won, so tight was the field. To make it that much more intriguing the new squadding system that swapped the shooters at the extremities of the range and gently shuffled those in the middle after the 900 yards shoot, was on test, and the winds were going to treat people relatively calmly at 900 and blow about at 1000.

The leaders at the break were Underwood and Barnett each clean, with a gaggle on 2 off. At 1000 it all changed with both Luckman and Barnett dropping away as the wind played tricks. Calvert Jim Corbett of Benalla, Australia, and Jim Bullock of Langar came to the fore with Paul Kent starting a charge. It was a mixed up set of kids, with Ian Robertson of the RAF chasing hard. Matters were slightly confused by the fact that Ross McQuillan showed as leading on two off when Calvert dropped to three. The fact was that Ross was already three off even though in finality he lost his last into the inner to finish on four off, but with one more central than Calvert. Corbett, who is here in a private capacity had a hatful of centrals more than anyone else, but could not match Calvert's score, finishing in the silver badge position after a tremendous fight.

The man from the RAF had it. With three second places already in his history book he was greeted with a tremendous roar from the RAF scoreboard team of "About time too", as he mounted the scaffold to collect his gold badge. In the far distance a wartime Lancaster bomber seemed to salute him as it circled above the crowds at Farnborough.

Time is short tonight after an exhausting week, from the steamy heat to the never ending pursuit of deadlines mixed in with the shooting. Tomorrow we have the Australia Match for international teams of 10 at 300, 600, 900 and 1000 yards. I have a feeling that Australia are smarting after a less successful week than they would have liked. It could prove to be a tense affair.

Most, if not all, prizelists are now on the NRA website. Just the one result remains to be decided tomorrow.

A very cool and overcast start with not a great deal of breeze. What woke most people up was the discovery that, for the first time in the Meeting, it was from the right. Rust had to be brushed off the opposite threads of the sight knob. There were two prime cuts on the plate today. They were the Kolapore and associated side shows, and Queen's II. The Donaldon Memorial final, which is still going on, represents the cheese course.

The Kolapore started with the Jersey team chasing GB for all they were worth, level pegging at 300 yards on 399 each with just 3 centrals to GB's favour. Australia were two points behind with Guernsey and Canada one and two more points away. At 500 GB went clean for 400, with Jersey losing three and Australia just one, to draw level with the Islanders. At 600 GB contained the loss to three more for a total of 1196, while Jersey lost five but the Australians six. So it it finished as GB 1196.195, Jersey 1191.175 and Australia 1190.171 ahead of Guernsey, Canada, Germany and Kenya in that order. GB had five scores of 150 with, inevitably, David Luckman on 150.27 as top gun.

Queen's II seemed to rattle through. There were 15 scores of 150 with that other inevitability Jon Underwood winner of the Silver Medal on 150.26. Yet again Lucky struck the rich vein with 150.22, behind Nick Mace of Guernsey with one more central. The cut was 148.18, with seven of them tie-shooting for two places. I am delighted to say that 'Papa Bear' was one of the two successful applicants for the job. To those that may not immediately recognise the soubriquet, that is my favourite Canadian gendarme Serge Bissonnette, who shot one of the quickest 25.5s I have witnessed. No plotting or scribing there, then. A cadet, Omar Ahmed of 2452 Shawland ATC took the other place after a further 3 shot tie.

The cut was one point higher than last year and, while in the mood for useless statistics, just one point covers the top 69 contestants. Another cadet, Tom Tatchell of the Welsh RA gained his first finals' badge using the Deputy Chief Range Officer's borrowed rifle. Chris Belk of Cambridge, OCRA and Uppingham Veterans, also made the cut to record that he has now qualified for the final in each of the last seven decades, and on the 50th anniversary of his first Bronze Cross victory. Of such joyous trivia are golden memories and landmarks built and remembered.

So we progress to the final curtain, as Frank might have sung. Tomorrow has the St George's final, the Mackinnon and the Queen's Prize final to enthral us. I have given up trying to call the winner of the last of those, but if I had to bet on anyone doing the double of Grand and Queen's I know where I would put my money. Just as it is said to be bad luck to mention the name of Shakespeare's Scottish play so will I keep a respectful silence on that other name. Thus far the weather has been relatively kind and the afternoon here has been a fine end to a British summer's day, sunny with passing cloud and a very gentle set of breezes that have fluctuated from the front and right in the main.

I have been online to metcheck.com and they seem to suggest that tomorrow will remain mostly dry with a variable wind moving from Southerly early on through Westerly during the afternoon. Rain is expected by 1600 with cloud overcast increasing during the afternoon. But then you might have found a differing forecast. We shall see.

Goodnight fans worldwide, or at least as far as Odiham.

11.30. There was an all together fresher feel in the air last night, and this morning dawned bright and sunny with some occasional high cloud at first. As the first two details of the Prince of Wales got under way those of us early and waiting for the third at 0950 could only feel perturbed by the black clouds to the North and West. With the wind jerking around from 7 to 5 o?clock we felt optimistic that it would all pass to the North and that the earlier weather warnings for torrential showers had to apply elsewhere.

Wrong.

I managed to finish in the dry, thanks to some quick shooting by all three of us and some converted sighters, before the rain began. The slowcoaches got well and truly caught by the start of the deluge. By 1030 it was of the stair rods variety and at 1050 CRO Tony Clayton put his foot down with a determined squelch and delayed the start of the fourth detail to prevent the dissolution of the targets.

All of this chat has a purpose: messrs Luckman, Barnett and Underwood were all squadded in the deayed detail that would determine the outcome of the Grand Aggregate. I am now going down there to try to find out what is happening.

Later: for David Luckman this will seem to something of an epic day. None of his rivals were going to let him go quietly with both Underwood and Barnett posting 75s in that same detail. It was David?s to lose, in effect. But he did not and his 75.12 held them all off to give him 698.106 and the title, to go with his 2007 success. Barnett was second on equal points but a hatful of centrals adrift, 698.78. Underwood was third staying ahead of Gaz Morris on centrals with Sgt S Hier fifth, a brilliant week in the Grand for him. The top 50 go down to Adam McCullough on 687.90. The top 200 bottom out with S Carson on 680.61.

Of course there was the result of the Prince of Wales to go with all this Grand stuff. Miss D O'Kelly of the Irish RC mde 75.14. No one else could match it. Gaz Morris was the best of two 75.13s and P Slater of Old Epsomians was third.

Then we come to the National Match, and a real shock horror for the system, depending on your affiliation of course. In one of the tensest encounters that I have witnessed Scotland turned up the wick and took the fight to the auld enemie. Lindsay Peden's team led by one point after 300yds. They then surrendered the lead and England had it by one point after 500yds. Quite what the quietly spoken Scot said to his team before the 600 shoot I do not know, but it obviously had the effect of that slow march onto the Murrayfield pitch all those years ago when the Scots destroyed England's hopes of a grand slam. It was a great team shoot, done quickly and with clinical efficiency. It left England playing catch up and they just leaked a couple of points too many leaving Scotland the winners by one point and one central bullseye. Congratulations Scotland: commiserations to Paul Stevens and his English team and congratulations to David Luckman and his coach Anton Aspin for a pluperfect 105.21, every one a central.

Then we lurched into St Georges II in the new programme. The three hundred became 100 and produced one of the best tie shoots I have seen in some years. First the filtration process, being 15 shots at 600 to add to your Georges I score. There were a hatful of 150s and a further bigger hatful of 149s. Parag Patel and David Luckman tied on 150.26 and shot a tie. Mike Barlow of Fife & Kinross was third on 150.25. The cut, which is subject to forensic checking, and was when I left the stats office an hour or so ago, seems to be all 149s in and all 148s out, but there were some missing cards. I leave it to tho

Another glorious day with bright sun, blue skies and the occasional puffs of high white cloud. It was not quite as sticky as earlier in the week but hot enough all the same. The good old brisk breeze, accelerating to a strong wind, continued to blow from the left all day, sometimes seeming to dip sharply but often not as much of a change as it might seem.

The primary item on the agenda was the first stage of the Queen?s Prize, where hopes are always high and often dashed. Sgt S Hier of the ATSC rattled in a maximum 105 with 19 of the 21 shots in the central. I confess that I do not this shooter and I have not been able to find out anything about him or her. My profuse apologies. I do know David Luckman of Sedgemoor who was second and Jim Corbett of Benalla, Australia who was third. Indeed I had the pleasure of watching him and Ian Jones of Jersey in a clinical tie shoot for the Daily Telegraph that Jim won by 25.4 to 25.3.

The cut for the second stage came at 102.6, slightly lower than the scoring thus far in the Meeting might have suggested, broght on no doubt by the afternoon wind that destroyed many ambitions.

The Conan Doyle resulted in yet another tie with five people on 50.9. They are Tom Rylands of Manchester, J Branch of GB U19, Miss H French of RAF Air Command, Zulkeflee Hamsan of Malaysia and David Rose of Epsomians. There were 41 maximum 50s with the last one registered by Hanna Pugsley of Wellington College.

And so to the Grand, with just the Prince of Wales to come. We have a new leader in David Luckman on 623.94, ahead of Glynn Barnett on 623.66. Third is Jon Underwood on 622.86 while Gaz Morris has dropped to fourth on 622.77 dropping five points on the day. Paul Sykes of Bedfordians climbs up to fifth. Four points cover the top 14, but realistically the battle is between Luckman, Barnett, Underwood and Sykes. Barnett has to gain a point on Luckman: his centrals count demands it. Luckman has to match Barnett but not let the others slip past.

It is all on the PoW. Stand by for some gripping action. My apologies that this is a little later than normal. Submissions to the papers and the Umbrella Tent meeting intervened as did an odd desire to eat. Back with you tomorrow to wind up all this excitement. All the results are on the website.

An early day for anyone not involved in County shoots, with just the St Georges first stage today counting towards the Grand. The signs at 0630 were mixed, with a highish overcast and not a whisper through the leafy oak tree canopy above the caravan site. It was making up its mind whether it would join the Northern forecast and dump rain or stay Southern and clear up.

It chose the latter with a burning sun trying to penetrate the cloud as the day progressed. The result was a dead flat calm for at least the first detail of the Georges and a stifling, oppressive, muggy, dead heat. Periods of sun did nothing to remove the sticky feel to the day. The result was a high scoring Georges where you had to score 74 and at least 8 centrals to remain in the top 300 and go through to the next round. There were 146 scores of 75, the lowest being 75.5, but why should that worry you if you get it.

Kip Morton of the RAF and Dr Isao Matsumoto of London University will shoot again for the Bronze Cross. The cut was 74.8 ending 4V5V5V. Last year it was 73.12, or thereabouts.

In the Grand there has been a little shuffling behind Gaz Morris who remains two points clear with three shoots to go. Jon Underwood has been displaced by David Luckman on centrals with only one between them. Glynn Barnett is fourth and Bill the bearded wizard Richards leaps from eighth to fifth. Five points cover the first 16. It looks like going down to the wire again on Thursday in the ever unpredictable Prince of Wales, unless we have interventionist weather tomorrow.

The County matches are labouring on this afternoon and evening and you can see the aeroplanes fizzing about over at Farnborough. We were treated to the magnificent sight of the last remaining Avro Vulcan delta wing cold war bomber of Falklands fame lumbering over yesterday with its four Rolls Royce Olympus engines thundering away. It made all us little boys that never grew up feel weak at the knees.

A little later: in County short range Surrey were the winners by one point from London. The Long Range trickles on as I type. As usual all the detail is in the small print of the lists on the website. Here endeth the day?s scribbling.

It has been a very hot day despite the breeze that continues to blow, all the time edging round to blow from the South West, which in lay terms means from over your left shoulder. Just keep taking plenty of fluids. Everything is a sticky soaking mess as you peel off your shooting jacket.

Monday means the Times at 300, the Corporation at 1000 and the Wimbledon at 600. We start furthest away whey the first detail in the Corp is understood to have produced its fair share of 50s with A Sims of the Australian team just potting Nick Tremlett of Widsor on the tie shoot after both had made 50.10. The tie went 24.4 to 24.3 in favour of Sims with Ant Ringer second with the only 50.9.

The Times produced a rare surprise in the form of an outright win - OK, after the mandatory five tie shots - from the three 50.10s when Chris Claridge of ATSC knocked out Mick Silver and Andy Luckman by being the only one of the three able to hold the bullseye for all extra five shots.

So to the final act of the day, the Wimbledon. It too had its fair share of fluctuating winds, at one minute straight across from the left and in the next spluttering and unable to make up its mind how far to turn down range. Two relative unknowns top the list. Alex Gill of ATSC and Cadet Purdy of the Athelings both on 50.8 will shoot a tie. George Cann of Exonia was third, the best of five 50.7s.

The aggregates are now starting to flow thick and fast. The Monday went to Gaz Morris of Uppingham Vets (that is Veterans and not animal doctors). The Stock Exchange was won by B Picton of the Australian U25s, and the Young Riflemen?s to Cdt A Dowle of the Athelings. The Howcroft Newspaper went to David Calvert of the RAFTRC. The Belgian team match belongs to Gifford Grant Wandsworth Red. The cut for the Donaldson Memorial final at long range was 142.9 with none other than AndyLuckman holding that honour carrying a 44.0 in the Corporation. Brilliance will always shine through.

All the details of first, second and third places will be on the website results pages. Tomorrow we have the St Georges 1st stage, 15 at 300yds, followed by County Short and Long Range in which car headlights have to be turned onto the Stickledown targets as the evening light wears away. Just kidding, I think.

Finally, there are changes at the top of the Grand. Gaz Morris on 397.47 now leads by two clear points from Jon Underwood on 395.58. David Luckmn is just one central behind at third, and Glyn Barnett is a further 17 centrals off in fourth with Ant Ringer leading five on 394. The top 15 are covered by four points. The top 50 cut is at 389.50, the spot occupied by Kitty Jack and the top 200 cuts on 384.42.

More tomorrow.

The signs this morning at 0600 hrs were not all that encouraging. Light rain tinkled briefly on the roof and it was breezy and overcast. However as the day wore on the clouds disappeared and the afternoon was sunny and, if had not been for the brisk wind, would have been very warm. As it is we are now in a glorious British summer evening with a roasting setting silver sun slithering down over the Stickledown butts.

On the menu today were the Alexandra (10 at 600yds), the Duke of Cambridge (10 at 900yds) and the Daily Mail (15 at 500yds). 175 more points to be had in the Grand. All the competitions had a left hand wind to deal with, edging towrds 'over the left shoulder' at times on Stickledown. Early on it blew at 3 to 5 minutes on Century, and later from about 4 to 8 minutes at long range. It changed in strength and direction gradually declining towards evening. Early light was clear but the midday sun brightened up considerably and the evening light behind the Stickledown targets was positively awkward.

The Alexandra is another tie, with five domestics and one Guernseyman on 50.9 to shoot off. They are R Jackson of Welwyn Phoenix, Dr John Deane of Dursley, Simon Cane of O Guildfordians, O Collas of Guernsey, Dick Ellis of Wandsworth and Philip Dawes of Bedfordians. There were 97 scores of 50. The Daily Mail has also gone the same wy, this time with three scores of 75.13 from Jonathan Kent of O Epsomians, Andrew Le Cheminant of Jersey, and N Watson of Sheffield, two Xs and an O. There were 61 scores of 75.

On the hill the DoC has also produced a four way tie, with Charlie Clifford Evans of OGRE, A Walker of Framlinghamians, Jim Corbett of Australia and Stuart Young of 101RC all making 50.9 among 82 scores of 50.

A number of aggregates and team matches have come to fruition, among them the Steward, won by O Epsomians B team. The Sunday aggregate went to David Luckman of Sedgemoor (a clean 175.25) by one central from Jumbo Lewis of ATSC with Tim Green of LMRA third. The weekend aggregate went to Jonathan Kent of Epsomians (348.48) with Lewis second by 4 centrals and Luckman third.

But what you all really want to know is who leads the Grand. Here Lewis remains clean on the first four shoots with 250.34. John Pugsley is second one point behind, equal on centrals. Jonathan Kent is third by a further central, and uncle Paul Kent fourth by a point. Julie Ouston is fifth. The top fifty go down to 5 off, Simon Glen being the marker at 245.29. The top 200 marker is Mrs A Tracey on eight off at 242.23.

The full and ultra detailed lists are available on the website, or will be shortly. The Coriander and Chilli sausages are nearing consumption. The Canada team reception is an hour or so away. It is goodnight from me.

Bright sun and no real wind at 0600: overcast and breezy by 0830. A stiff South South Westerly at that, after lunch swinging nicely up the range over on Stickledown where the Lovell at 1000yds was going on. It varied in both direction and strength offering plenty of scope to cop a bird or worse. My corrected plot ran from 4 to 10 left. Down on Century it moved in a lesser degree early on in the Donegall but became more interesting for the Telegraph.

The Donegall at 300yds on Century produced a good harvest crop of 116 scores of 50, but only five were maximum 50.10. They were David Luckman of Sedgemoor, James Robertson of Australia, Gary Childs of Exonia, John Tapster of Old Johnians and Ray Smeltzer of Canada. Each shot five extra tie shots and Luckman and Robertson will go shoulder to shoulder later, each carelessly - it is just envy - dropping one into the ordinary bullseye as the others fell away. In the pack there were three scores of 49.9.

In the F Class ranks Davids Pickering and Lloyd each made 90 and David Kent made 89.

The Lovell proved altogether more problematical. Sweeping breezes poured across from the left early on, from around the left shoulder but veering around to have a more Westerly bite from near on 1 oclock. Quite exciting and exasperating for the shooter. Six souls managed a 50, led by Jonathan Kent of Old Epsomians on 50.6 from S Witoroski of PPRA, who must forgive me for not knowing either his first name or his Club, and Marek Kirkillo Stacewicz of Bedfordians, both on 50.5. I would be delighted to be enlightened, particularly as it is getting late and typing both names is taxing before the brain has been fed.

I pause while a low flying Aston Martin of James Bond vintage driven by James Dallas goes past the command centre.

The Daily Telegraph, the first port of call in the eleven matches of the Grand Aggregate, has resulted in a tie between Jim Corbett of Australia and Ian Jones of Jersey both on 75.13. The match had a nasty fluctuating breeze seeping from the left over the shotgun layout and havering about which way to turn when it got to Century. It caught out many but there were 36 scores of 75, the last being none other than Glynn Barnett with 75.6, recently returned from Dubai or somesuch. No loss of skill there then.

And so to the Aggregates. The Tucker went to Les Wicker of Hailsham on 247.32 to add to his Friday win, a huge three points ahead of Rick Shouler of Langar. The Saturday Agg went to Jonathan Kent on 174.23 from Jumbo Lewis of ATRC on 173.20. All the lists should be available soon on the NRA website.

And finally?.. In case it has escaped your attention, issue 1 of the 2010 celebratory edition of the Earwig has been posted in pdf format on the news section of the NRA home page. We are working hard on issue No. 2 for publication in a day or so. I end with a tale from the Stats Office. A young shooter appeared at their door. He explained that he had had a rifle problem or something in the Donegall earlier that morning. He had mended it and please could he have another go. Full marks for trying and enthusiasm.

Good night. I can hear the sound of a band at the BCRC.

2130 hrs: I am mightily obliged to that fons et origo Jim Thompson for the information that Stan Witorowski is from the Prairie Provinces Rifle Association. My apologies to Stan and his colleagues for not working that one out.

Well, we got to the end of yesterday in fine late evening sunshine with some high scudding clouds, but with the winds still zipping in from the left (Southerly) to blow the Veterans cobwebs away. Around midnight we got a sudden severe downpour and for all I know there may have been more later, but I missed it if so, sleeping soundly after the annual past pupils dinner and AGM.

This morning is bright and breezy and I can hear the early birds popping away in the Astor, club teams of six over a Queen's I course of fire. Metcheck.com suggests that the weather will stay bright and breezy for today with a little rain (showers) but will turn cloudier tomorrow. Even as I type light rain tinkles on the roof and it has clouded over darkly.

Some late results from yesterday:
Schools
Cadet Pair: 1. Dollar Academy 188.12; 2. Lancing 183.10; 3. RGS Guildford 181.7.
Cadet Four: 1. Dollar Academy 368.21; 2. Greshams 358.24; 3. Elizabeth College 352.17.
Spencer Mellish: 1. L Jarvis-Bicknell (Marlborough) 48.3; 2. E Graves (Fettes> 47.4; 3. H Schwar (Bedford) 47.3.
Reserve: 1. O Swann (The Oratory) 43.2/21.2; 2. J Allum (Wellington) 43.2/21.0; 3. H Awin (Epsom) 43.1.
Cadet Grand Agg: 1. M Barber (Elizabeth) 272.29; 2. A Dowle (Epsom) 270.28; 3. D Rowell (Exeter) 270.25.

The schools veterans' results will be later still. Unusually the cards are not yet with stats. More later on today.

Later: 2000hrs
The weather forecast was a little wrong it seems. The morning was not very nice at all with some nasty slanting rain borne in on the stiff winds. Call it showers if you will but it was penetrating if you got caught in it. There were tales of corrected values of 7 to 9 left at 600 yards in the Century match (600 & 500) and quite a bit more n the Admiral Hutton at 900. The winds remained all day and are scheduled for tomorrow, but all the informed folk say that the forecasts they have accessed point to the temperatures warming up.

Let us look at the matches. The Astor County Championship, which is really for clubs that have qualified to represent their county, resulted in a win for the Old Guildfordians pushing the City of Newcastle team into second place by not very much for the second year running. Guildfordans also took the schools veterans A and C team prizes and a second for the B teams last night so they are quietlysatisfied with the early haul.

The warm up Hutton saw a three way tie for first place between Peter Holden of OGRE, James Watson of Uppingham Veterans and Geoff Dyson of the visiting Australians all on 50.8. There were 19 scores of 50. I will have to check on the Geoff. The back to front Century was won outright by Alex Williams of Uppingham Veterans. His 99.13 pipped Martin Millar of Comber and my Sussex colleague Les Wicker by just one central bullseye. I will have to check the Alex.

Wicker took the Friday aggregate with a fine 149.19, given the conditions, chased by our old maestro Nick Tremlett on 148.19, equally adept at Match Rifle or TR. Parag Patel of Epsomians was third with 147.18.

F Class Century fell to David Kent on 169. F Class Hutton shows L Oliver on 77 as the winner.

Tomorrow it all gets a touch more serious. the Donegall at 300 and the Lovell at 1000 are the two warm up matches. The Grand starts with the Telegraph at 500 yards.

Thanks to Dave Rumbold and Jim Thompson from Canada and to Skip Epp from USA for their good wishes. And

Some reasonable amounts of rain overnight, judging by the drumming on the roof of the van. At 8am there are medium height clouds scudding across from the general South bringingsome sharp showers to greet the early shooters in the schools Ashburton Shield. Lots of air traffic going into Farnborough: I am told it is the air show there next week. Stickledown Hill can be a fine viewing point as some of the more exotic aircraft do their down the runway approaches.

The sun is now struggling to break through and there are some patches of blue appearing.

Later: the Ashburton is finished and has resulted in a thrilling win for Epsom under some very difficult conditions. Rain, strong gusting winds and late in the shoot an emerging sun, saw quite a number of wide shots appearing. Epsom, under Clare Huxter in just her second year in charge, started strongly at 300 and consolidated at 600 yards. The Match is shot in the order 300, 600 and 500. They faltered just a bit at 500 but held on by the skin of their teeth to make 763.42 to Greshams 762.40. Points win prizes. Cheltenham were third on 753.39.

The full lists with Cadet Pair and Four results will go up later. Just treat this as a sort of stop press.

The Veterans matches now beckon to be followed by a variety of dinners, AGMs and reunions that put paid to the evening. Oh, and the airplanes are practicing ever stronger. Perhaps that is what inspired the RAF winners of The Opening Shot match for teams of four at long range to call their team Reaper.

Ashburton Shield (300, 500 & 600yds)(br) 1. Epsom 763.42; 2. Greshams 762.51; 3. Cheltenham 753.39.(br) Opening Shot (900 & 1000yds)(br) 1. RAFTRC Reaper 578.58 (N Moxon 146.19); 2. Hertfordshire 578.58 (J Sweet 146.19); 3. ATSC Magenta 576.51 (B Taylor 147.18).

I am a little late tonight, for which apologies. It was not just thinking about the nature of the day, and the prickling sensations around the nape of the neck.

I have now moved into the command centre for the duration and had to fit in a visit to the local Sainsburys for provisions. In any event the main match of the day ran late thanks to a torrential rainstorm at around 3.30pm. The wet stuff hammered on the roof like machine gun fire for about thirty minutes and, quite wisely, the match rifle folk stopped for a breather between 1100 and 1200 yards.

It was the Elcho Match, redolent of sensible breaks for lunch and cream teas, and laced with needle adversity. Scotland edged into an early lead at 1000 yards, pulling out eight points over England. They added another 10 at 1100 yards before the heavens opened. After the refreshing rain England attempted a fight back but failed: they lost one further point to the Celts who ran out winners by 19 points on a total of 1734.174.

Observers do not agree that this was near to a record score. What they do say is that Scotland did achieve a record for the match in that not one single magpie appeared on their board. It was a matter for some very good humoured celebrations, aided by the realisation that they had retained, and not regained, the Shield. The detailed breakdown of all the scores can be found in the results section of the website.

I have also to draw your attention to a small venture in recognition of the 150th anniversary. Back in the 1860s there was published at Wimbledon Common a newspaper called the Earwig. This was an early attempt to provide the contestants with a topical organ of wit and erudition. For 2010 it has been resurrected and has been enclosed in every squadding envelope. We intend to post it as a pdf download on the website in the next few days, and we are going to publish one or two more editions as the Meeting progresses. More information will follow.

Tomorrow is what the late Harry Eaton christened Black Thursday, the day of the Ashburton and the Schools? Veterans. The weather is forecast as being on the change, back to high pressure and more clement climes after some sporadic showers. We shall see. It is a fractious day at the best of times so I just might not make it to the keyboard. But do not worry: in the words of Schwarzeneger ?Oilbebak?.

Rain overnight in Sussex and I suppose it may have happened at Bisley too given that I am on remote access at the moment: not a great deal of it though, laying the dust is I think the expression. As a result it has been a very humid day with gentle breezes.

Overnight McLeod of McLeod lay in pole position as the Albert approached. Fifteen at 1000, 1100 and 1200 without the wasteful sighters. The squadding as always was reshuffled to bring the leaders together on the same detail: ultra sophisticated these Match Rifle folk.

I do not have all the grisly details but suffice it to say that Angus was not about to let it all drift away from him. With Stuart Collings falling back McLeod put in 220.28 to rack up a final total of 987.106, too good for any of the chasing pack. Indeed Jim McAllister would have had to make 224 to beat him, a tall proposition on any basis. Nick Tremlett moved up to third with Mike Barlow fourth and Collings fifth. So we ended with three Scots in the top five and, so someone told me, a total of 12 Scots and Welsh in the top twenty.

Congratulations to Angus, a relative newcomer to Match Rifle if you look at the pedigree of some of the names behind him. The victory and the title will be all the sweeter.

Albert (1000, 1100 & 1200yds)
1. G James (Welsh RA) 222.23; 2. J Peck (NLRC) 221.25; 3. Barlow 220.30.
Hopton Agg
1. A McLeod 987.106; 2. J McAllister 983.109; 3. N Tremlett 982.116; 4. M Barlow 982.95; 5. S Collings 978.79.

However, I had a very restful day yesterday culminating in a champagne tea with she who must be obeyed on the sun-kissed terrace of a rather nice hotel not far from home. I have to say that, notwithstanding the excellence of BCRC's teas at Bisley, the sandwiches (crusts orff) and the scones and cakes were superb. Had to do a penguin jump-up-and-down act to squeeze in dinner.

I digress. Sunday saw a couple of fine shoots from Rob Lygoe to take both the Cottesloe and the Wimbledon (20 at 1000 and 1100yds respectively). George Barnard of Leics and N'Hants annexed the Armourers and after five of the seven events had been completed the top five in the Hopton (as represented by the Weekend Agg) contained some familiar names, with only four points in it.

Cottesloe (1000yds)
1. R Lygoe (Dursley) 100.15; 2. Tremlett 99.15;3. 3 Major AR McLeod ATSC 99.13.
Wimbledon (1100yds)
1. Lygoe (Dursley) 99.10; 2. N Brasier (LMRA) 98.9; 3. McAllister (NLRC) 97.10.
Armourers
1. Mr GV Barnard Leics & Northants RC 97.9v; 2 Mr DA Friend Sussex RC 95.8v; 3. Mr JS Collings Windsor RC 95.7v
Martin Parr (Sunday) Agg
1 Mr MJ Barlow Fife & Kinross FBRC 290.25v; 2 Mr RJ Lygoe Dursley 289.31v; 3 Major AR McLeod ATSC 288.29v
Weekend Agg
1 Mr JS Collings Windsor RC 573.44v; 2 Mr MJ Barlow Fife & Kinross FBRC 572.48v; 3 Mr JA McAllister NLRC 570.59v; 4 Major AR McLeod ATSC 570.57v; 5 Mr CN Tremlett Windsor RC 569.64v

Monday 12 July
A day of mixed weather, with some spits of rain, good fresh breezes and sun. Enough to test skills and patience. Angus Mcleod shattered the field with some fine shooting in the Edge (20 shots at 1100 & 1200 yards), posting a highly respectable 197, three points clear of John Pugsley with Nick Tremlett third on 193.
That leaves us with one shoot to go to decide the Hopton, the feared Albert, bereft of sighting shots. McLeod has vaulted into the lead from fourth last night, just one point ahead of Stuart Collings (the Australians have sent him back) with Jim McAllister third three points adrift. Tremlett and Barlow lurk one more point away in fourth and fifth. As usual one can say it is all up for grabs on the last shoot. Will we see a Collings return to the premier fold? Will Angus be on a McLeod? Will Jim nurdle his way through? Will Tremmers make it four in a row? We shall see.

Edge (1100 & 1200yds)
1. McLeod 197.21; 2. J Pugsley (Exonia & Tiverton) 194.24; 3. Tremlett 193.25.
Hopton Agg (latest)
1. McLeod 767.78; 2. Collings 766.59; 3. McAllister 763.79; 4. Tremlett 762.89; 5. Barlow 762.65.

Well blow me down, and I am not sure I expect you to believe me, I have just seen the results for today, and Calvert has won the Saturday Agg. The full results of the Whitehead, the Halford and the Agg are already posted on the results section of the website, but here is the top three parade (without any attempt to get the spacings right):

Whitehead 1 Mr AJ Burgess West Wales ML 2 Mr GV Barnard Leics & Northants RC 3 Mr AL James Welsh RA	1000x 75.10v 74.8v 75.9v	1100x 74.9v 75.8v 74.6	Total 149.19 149.16 149.15
Halford 1 Wg Cdr DP Calvert RAFTRC 2 Mr JA McAllister NLRC 3 Mr JS Collings Windsor RC	1000x 71.5v 68.4v 68.3v	1100x 73.4v 71.6v 71.3	Total 144.9 139.10 139.6
Saturday Agg 1 Wg Cdr DP Calvert RAFTRC 2 Mr JMB Baillie-Hamilton West Atholl RC 3 Mr AL James Welsh RA	Whitehead 74.8v 71.5 75.6v 73.10v 75.9v 74.6v	Halford 71.5v 73.4v 71.8v 67.3v 71.9v 66.3v	Total 289.22v 286.27v 286.27

After such technical detail let us switch back to the real interest that permeates the British psyche - the weather. It is hot, very, very hot. It has been hot and rain-free for the best part of three or four weeks down here in the South of the country. Some five or so weeks ago, around 20 May, we had a major fire in the danger area behind the butts. You can read about the narrow escape for the camp area in the latest NRA Journal, but for our overseas readers (please do not hesitate to make yourselves known to guv.bastille@btinternet.com or to karen@nra.org.uk ) it was a major incident that the Fire Brigade and NRA staff managed with great competence.

There seems to be a cycle and we get such a blaze every seven years or so. Remembering a little of the natural history that was dinned into me by struggling tutors all those years ago, it is a natural process. Hopefully it will have made any repeat during the next fortnight much less likely, but everywhere is tinder dry, so BBQ addicts keep it under control. I digress.

The forecast is more of the same heat tomorrow (Sunday) accompanied by the erratic breezes that have teased their way around the ranges over the past weeks. They are not easy conditions. That is altogether a good thing, in my view. It tests the skills of our top shooters and provides the real individual battles against the elements that are so much part of the enjoyment of our sport. Mind you, I can already hear the shrieks of "lottery" from the sorely disappointed.

Rain is expected on Monday and again on Wednesday, but the heat and humidity are likely to last until the start of next week when the temperatures will drop, Westerly winds, clouds and possible showers will last until Wednesday and then brighter weather will follow. At least, that is my reading of the Metcheck.com charts - and I could be so, so wrong.

It is reassuring to be back with you again and I expect to woffle on each

Saturday 10 July
Incredibly it is that time again. I really only woke up to the fact yesterday when someone mentioned the word diary. This year the Annual Bisley Meeting is special. It is the 150th anniversary of the founding of the United kingdom National Rifle Association. I collected my squadding cards this morning: the envelope contained several reminders of the fact, including a natty 150th anniversary pin badge.

It made me think. I first came to Bisley as a cadet with my school team in 1962 to shoot in the Ashburton. I ended up sharpening the chalk as someone else possessed of a lesser twitch than I made the cadet pair into a twosome. My first full Grand Aggregate, after the usual lapse to find gainful employment, was somewhere around 1971. So at a conservative estimate I have known the place for over 40 years. There are many others who comfortably surpass this mundane total.

But the point is that the sport has had, for so many of us, a permanence in our lives. We make the annual trek like some of the African animals: I leave lemmings out of the comparison. Why do we do it? The answer is that we enjoy both the occasional successes, whether measured by medals or by our own personal targets, and we make friends in passing. Long may it continue.

I have to jerk myself back to the present. The next fortnight promises all of the events we have come to expect and more. I noticed a variety of entertainments - talks and courses and a mighty display of whizz-bangs and pyrotechnics from the fireworks brigade.

We of course welcome all our overseas guests and their entourages. The Canadians as usual, the Australians in whose honour we have an Australia Match, the Kenyans, and all our regular attendees from the Channel Islands and mainland Europe. I am sure that there is a full list somewhere on the NRA website - or there should be.

We kick off with the Match Rifle where Milord Tremlett is the cheerful chappie to beat. My outside punt would be Nick Brasier or David Calvert - assuming that they are both shooting the full course.