Day 5 of the 2019 World's.- The Closing

Different from other years, and possibly another thing that merits repeating is the separation of the Awards meal (whether lunch or dinner) from the rest of the event.
People have time to relax, re-connect with reality and start thinking about the long trek home.
​To ME, that means disassembling the gun

Packing almost everything, and getting ready for the flight back.

I wasn't happy flying with Aer Lingus on the way out and I wasn't happy with the return, either, but we survived, the gun arrived well and you cannot really ask much more than that.
But, we are getting ahead of ourselves.

One of the criteria of choosing the venue was that the "main hall" could house a 600 person meal.
Why so many? because out of 436 shooters, some take a "significant other" to the official ceremonies, there are a bunch of dignitaries that also need accommodating, not the least the sponsors, and so, as the WFTC's grow and grow, the needs also grow at an even larger pace.

But let's put some faces to the names you can find in the score's tabulations.

First award given was Piston/Ladies, on the left Ingrid Reinu (3rd) , center Luciana Silveira(1st) and right Heli Jalakas (2nd)

Next, Junior Piston; on the left Rein Reinu (3rd), Faustino Avondet (1st), and Eva Maria Tõnurist (2nd)

Now, Veteran Piston; on the left, Ray Apelles (3rd), and on the right John Amos (1st) Dan Horrocks had departed.

PCP Ladies: left to right: Natalie Shead (3rd), Ana Pereira (1st), and Helen Carragher (2nd)

PCP Junior; left to right: Bianca Müller (3rd), Redvers Gallagher (1st), Dylan Varney (3rd)

Piston Teams, left to right: Germany (3rd), England (1st), USA (2nd)

PCP Teams, left to right: Wales (3rd), Spain (1st), England (2nd) It's important to note that it was a VERY CLOSE result, only 2 points (or 0.4%)  separated 1st from 2nd.
Should we start planning a team shootoff procedure?

And now, individuals, 10th to 4th in Piston:
At rear, left to right: Nicolas Godan, Bruno Silva, Ferenc Toth, Jan Homann
In front: Brian Samson, Leo Gonzales, Joel Goodwin​

And the Piston Podium: John Farbrother (3rd), Steve Privett (1st) , John Amos (2nd)

Now the individual PCP's, 10th to 4th,
At rear, left to right: John Chopping, Ferenc Sas, Dan Eley, Steve Franklin
In front: Stefan Kawnik, Redvers Gallagher, Luiz Barreiros

And the PCP Podium:
José Redondo (3rd), John Costello (1st), Jack Harris (2nd)​

By the end of the day, we had a wonderful event, really good shooting was posted by the top shooters, we learned quite a lot, and I feel that everyone is pumped up to do our best to go to South Africa in 2020.

As the South African delegation presentation for the 2020 WFTC's took as a motto:

"Africa is calling"

Hope you have enjoyed all these pictures, it is a pleasure and a privilege to go to a sporting event wearing the Team USA shirt, I would hope that many of you now realize that you do not have to be "superman" to take the decision to compete and carry out the dream.

Who knows? we may meet in some place.

Keep well and shoot straight!






​HM