Soldiers from across the Mercian Regiment have returned home after competing in an international shooting competition.
Reservists from the Mercian Regiment shooting team have returned home after competing in the Reserve Forces international shooting competition held in Riga, Latvia. The team, which comprises Reservists from Widnes, Stoke, Wolverhampton and Burton upon Trent, are the best shots in the battalion.
After arriving in Riga with weather at minus 20, the team headed to the Latvian rifle range, located under a school in the centre of Riga, and were issued weapons for the competition. They were the Latvian Reserves pistol, Sig P210, and the obsolete Carl Gustaf submachine gun, both 9mm. Outside of the comfort of the SA80 A2, the submachine gun was the team’s first challenge being fully automatic, with the expectation to master the art of single shots – a discipline of snap shooting unfamiliar to the British.
The competition was packed with competitors from many different NATO countries. The atmosphere was lively and sportsmanlike, with the more experienced competition shooters from countries such as Sweden offering their sage advice.
The Mercian Team came 10th out of the 19 other teams, which on a weapon system they were not familiar with is admirable, especially as they outperformed the other UK teams. That evening the team were hosted by the Latvians with a traditional meal and a time for socialising with the other international teams. The following day the team attended the closing ceremony with the Latvian team entrants and prepared for recovery to the UK.
4 Mercian is an army Reserve (Part Time) unit based in the following locations: Wolverhampton, West Bromwich, Worcester, Kidderminster, Stoke-on-Trent, Burton, Nottingham, Mansfield, Widnes, Stockport and Ellesmere Port. For more information visit www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/mercian-regiment/
