LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
A few deep breaths in, exhale half a breath and gently squeeze a trigger within five seconds to send a pellet hurling 10 metres at a target that's only 4.7 cm in diameter.
Fort Simpson cadets Sgt. Janelle Bruneau, left, Chief Warrant Officer Jennifer Gast and Sgt. Robert Harold will compete in the Stage 1 National Marksmanship Championships in St. Catherines, Ont., next month. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo
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Three members of the 2860 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps in Fort Simpson will be repeating that sequence of actions a lot in the coming weeks at they prepare to compete in the Stage 1 National Marksmanship Championship.
Cadets Sgt. Janelle Bruneau, Chief Warrant Officer Jennifer Gast and Sgt. Robert Harold earned spots on a composite team that will be representing the three territories at the nationals as a result of their performances at the Northwest Regional Stage 3 Marksmanship Championship that was held in Whitehorse from April 5 to 8.
Finished third overall
The Fort Simpson team, which also included cadet Cpl. Sakaeah Nahanni-Allen and Cpl. Rebekah Isaiah, finished third overall in the Northern area.
At the regionals, the cadets shot two relays in the prone position and one in the standing position, both from a distance of 10 metres. In each relay the cadets had 20 shots, one for each target with the ultimate goal being the 10-point ring – a mark about the size of a tip of a pencil lead.
Body positioning and breathing are two of the most important factors in being successful in marksmanship, said Gast, who's competed in the nationals twice before.
Standing relays
For the standing relays, cadets stand with their left side facing the target and jut out their left hip, creating a platform for their left elbow to rest on so they aren't straining their muscles to keep their Daisy 85C3 air rifle steady. The cadets' body position has to be just right.
"It's essential to shooting properly," Gast said.
Being focused and relaxed is also important. Before a competition, Gast, 17, avoids foods with lots of sugar like candy and chocolate and anything with caffeine.
Gast is looking forward to going to the nationals for a third time. It's an opportunity to meet new people from all across Canada, travel to new places and see how much more competition there is, she said.
This will be Harold's first time to the nationals.
"I think it will be fun. I'm looking forward to it," he said.
Harold, 15, prefers the standing position over prone. With standing the cadets get to see each target before they shoot the next one, which allows the competitors to gauge how they are doing. This, however, can also work against a competitor if they aren't shooting well, he said.
At the regionals, Harold's best prone relay gave him a score of 90 out of a possible 100. His standing score was 133 out of 200.
"You have to have patience and you can't rush your shots," he said.
Each cadet has 30 minutes to shoot 20 targets in each relay. Harold said he normally uses all but five minutes in the prone relays and all but one or two minutes in the standing relays.
Bruneau, 16, also prefers the standing position.
"You have to be calm and focused and have good technique," she said.
This will be Bruneau's second time to the nationals.
The competition is taking place in St. Catharines, Ont. from May 4 to 11.
The three cadets will be practicing at least twice a week in the lead-up to the event.
