...Well when you put it like that...IainWR wrote:I'm sure there are many who may not appreciate the magnitude of this.
The Palma match is formally titled "The World Long-Range International Team Match for the Palma Trophy". It is one of the oldest international sporting events in the World, having been initiated by a challenge issued from the Riflemen of Ireland to the Riflemen of America in 1873. It has been contested on 29 occasions from 1876 (USA beat Ireland, Scotland, Australia and Canada) to 2011 (GB beat South Africa, USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand). GB has won 5 out of the last 6 matches (1992 Raton New Mexico USA, 1995 Trentham NZ, 2003 Bisley, 2007 Connaught Canada, 2011 Belmont Australia) and been second in the other 3 of the last 8 (1985 Bisley to USA, 1988 Sydney to Australia and 1999 Bloemfontein to South Africa). It has similar status to the Americas Cup in yachting or the Ryder Cup in golf - it may only be staged when a USA team is present.
The selection process for the Palma team is intensive, extensive and rigorous. The Captain must have previously led a GB overseas touring team and must have shot or coached in the match. Thus there is a small and exceptionally talented group who may take the honour of leading GB in this the most prestigious circumstance. There are no formal preconditions for selection, but nobody in the modern history of the match has earned their first GB cap in the Palma.
Steve has worked, pretty much unsupported, for three years to get this team place. I've watched Steve develop from a good County (Oxford) and Service (Royal Air Force) shot into a true international in South Africa, to a superb record for England in the National Match and on to this place in the finest rifle team in the World. GB as a team did all the easy stuff to gain an edge back in 1992-1995, and massive credit is due to Colin Cheshire for his leadership of those two teams. The competition, particularly the USA, have been playing catchup ever since. If it was simply a matter of shooting and adding up the scores, USA would now probably have the edge. GB keep winning because we have the finest wind coaches and the best team cohesion - the truly astounding firing point discipline of the South Africans notwithstanding.
This year's match, on the USAs home ground for the first time in 23 years and against a home team led and coached by supremely talented and experienced men (Emil Praslick, their Chief Coach, is I believe the Senior Instructor at the United States Army Marksmanship Unit), will be an enormous challenge. And just because the USA has the home advantage does not mean that the rigorous South African team or the flamboyant Australians will be out of the pack. New Zealand and Canada, though outsiders, will compete seriously and cannot be ignored, and others will contine to develop.
Steve has taken himself, by his own efforts, to the pinnacle of our sport and embarks on the toughest defence of a title ever undertaken by a GB rifle team. As well as pure skill, the test will be of discipline, organisation, preparation, commitment, tenacity and resolve. I wish Jane, Steve and all of the team the very best of success.
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