The event took place between the 06 – 09 Mar 08 in Riga, Latvia. Personnel from nine different countries were represented, making up a total of 126 individuals in 40 teams. The countries represented were: Austria, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the UK. This was the first time the UK had been represented sending a team of five to compete.
The team travelled out of the UK on the Wednesday evening and were met and picked up at Riga Airport by Sgt Andris Kulikovskis and the Liga Ruksane; they joined other international teams on the transport and were delivered to their Hotel in the centre of “Old Riga”. Early the next day the team were taken to the Range complex for weapon and safety briefs followed by a practice period. The weapons the team were to shoot were the 9mm MPDV sub-machine gun, 9mm DPV pistol and .22 LR pistol.
Early on the Friday morning the team took part in the Official opening ceremony, then for the remainder of the day and Saturday saw all the teams competing in the three disciplines and generally having a fun time making new friends. Early in the Saturday afternoon CPO Geoff Kendall (Team Co-ordinator) had to select a two man UK team to shoot in the International shoot off with the .22 LR pistols. On completion of the International shoot there was the trophy presentation and Official closing ceremony, lead by Colonel Juris Zeibarts.
The UK RNR Air Branch team performed well throughout the three shooting disciplines with CPO
Geoff Kendall being the highest placed UK individual in all three disciplines. He was then joined by PO Baz Nesbitt in the two man International Team shoot off. The team, mainly comprising of members from the RNR Air Branch, finished in the middle of the pack; 20th out of 40 teams. In the International shoot off, the team finished 7th out of 9; the opposition were very good and demonstrated their familiarity with this style of competition.
On the Saturday evening, the Latvians hosted a buffet style meal with refreshments at the Hotel “Radi un Draugi” in the centre of Old Riga. Each team was presented with a cut glass plaque and other smaller mementos as a thank you for travelling to Latvia and entering into the spirit of improving the co-operation between NATO and PfP countries.
