The long list for the squad to represent GB in the Palma Match, to be shot in South Africa in the spring of 2023, has been announced and includes six Scottish shooters in an extremely strong squad.

The Palma match is for international teams and comprises teams of 25 members, being the Captain, Adjutant, Main Wind Coach, 4 target coaches, 16 firers and 2 reserves. It is gruelling match, shot at the end of the World Long Range Championships and, unusually for an international match, is shot over two days, with each day at distances of 800, 900 and 1000 yards, or the metric equivalent.

In Britain, preparations have already started in seeking to regain the trophy from the current holders, Australia, and a long list of 54 people for the GB squad has been named to train together in 2021, with a reduced size squad touring to South Africa on a reconnaissance trip in 2022 before final selection of the touring team later that year.

Six Scottish shooters have been named in the long list, four of whom have already shot or coached several times in GB touring teams. Congratulations should be given to Scots Matthew Charlton, Bruce Logan, Lindsey McKerrell, Ian Shaw, James Shepherd and Sandy Walker who have been selected into a very strong GB squad which has been selected from over 100 applicants.

Eight of the named GB squad have won one or more medals at the Commonwealth Games and six have won the Queen’s prize on one or more occasion, so there is a lot of solid experience in the squad and makes the selection of six Scottish athletes all the more impressive.

We wish them all good luck in their quest for final selection to the team in 2023.

Report by Lindsay Peden, FBR High Performance Rep & Coach