RLA had two competitors who travelled to Stage 3a, provincial level biathlon at CFB Borden this week. Additionally, Duncan Larmer was asked for as a support cadet having been used in that role at other RCAC events. Our two competitors on Saturday were Stephan Paterson and Robert Gimeh who competed in the Open Male as a team. Saturday’s event was raucous with music blasting and over 300 competitors. Male competitors were being housed in a drill hall while female competitors were housed in a gymnasium on the far side of the base – this is of note due to the quality of sleep some competitors got as well as the fact that the males had to travel by bus to get showers each night.
Saturday morning the competitors were able to walk the course (please note), then zero their Daisy .177 air rifles on the range they would be using. Male competitors watched both senior and junior females compete and then it was their turn in the afternoon. Competitors line up for a Sprint competition in which they are side-by side with their partner and at 30-second intervals pairs are dispatched onto the course. Each competitor sprints a km, shoots 5 shots at metal targets that satisfyingly drop as you hit them, run another km, shoot 5 more shots, and finish off a final km. Penalties are awarded in the form of 1-minute, 2-minute time additions, or disqualification.
Robert ran 25:50 due to being assessed 2 2-minute time penalties. Robert missed 3 shots first round and 4 shots second round.
Stephan ran 16:45 and hit every shot. Stephan was disqualified for a course infraction.
Day 1’s finishing position set up Day 2’s starting position for a Pursuit Race. A pursuit race has competitors line up and sent out at 5-second intervals. First to cross the finish line wins. Each competitor runs 5 1-km rounds, shooting 5 rounds four times. (total of 5km) As a result of his disqualification, Stephan started last, but finished 6th, having a time of 28:01, missing 2 shots, 1 shot, 1 shot and 0 shots.
Robert placed 20th, having a time of 35:03, missing 2 shots, 1 shot, 0 shots, and 2 shots.
The boys really enjoyed themselves and hope to be able to participate in a ski and shoot in March.
