NINE Channel Island shooters competed in the South Africa ‘Bisley’ Open in Bloemfontein.
The competition attracts some of the biggest names in shooting and is the largest competition of its type in the southern hemisphere.
Teams entered from as far apart as Malaysia and the United States, and the CI team was expecting to find the competition over the two weeks to be of the highest standard.The event started with an impressive opening ceremony and the Jersey and Guernsey flags being parachuted onto the range.The first competition was the Scottish Sword, a match fired over 300 and 900 metres, with ten scoring shots to count.
The conditions early in the morning were unlike the weather expected, with heavy intermittent showers playing havoc with individual preparation.
Being accustomed to this weather, the CI team posted some impressive scores.
Leading the way was team captain Nick Mace (G), who scored 49.5 ex 50.10, closely followed by Adam Jory(G) on 48.5 and Alan Le Page (G) on 48.1.Moving back to 900 metres, with showers becoming heavier and the notorious South African wind picking up, it was expected that the team would have trouble reading the wind.
Peter Jory (G) however, led the way with a very impressive 48.3, followed by Alex Langley (J) on 46.2 and Cliff Mallett (J) on 46.1.The afternoon saw the start of the team competitions.
In the invitational match the CI team faced their first problem of the campaign.
Having only nine shooting members for the 12-man team, the team captain ‘borrowed’ his wife Lucy from the England team and persuaded Lynn Johnson (Ireland) and Dot Hume (Scotland) to become honorary Channel Islanders for the day by virtue of their having competed in Jersey and Guernsey on many occasions.The match was fired over 800 and 900 metres, with 15 scoring shots to count.
With coaches allowed, life was easier for the shooters as they would not have to concentrate on the severity of the wind changes that were happening.At 900 metres Peter Jory led, expertly coached by Alex Langley, who was using all the knowledge of his previous visit in 1999 to assist.Nick Mace fired an excellent 74 and Graeme Harris (J) a 73, dropping all his points on his last two shots.
At 900 metres the wind blew almost directly down the range, making reading it a difficult task.Once again the coaches and shooters performed well, with Lucy Mace top-scoring with 73.06, followed by Alex Langley with 72.04, including dropping two points on one shot.
The team eventually finished in fourth place, with South Africa first and England and Great Britain under-25s second and third respectively.
The CI team were also invited to compete in two matches with South African regional teams.
The day began with the Hamilton Cup, fired over 300, 500 and 600 metres with seven scoring shots to count.
Following torrential hail and sleet the night before, the CI team were glad to find the weather had improved for the match and they started at a slow pace averaging a 34 ex 35, with Graeme Harris leading the way with a 35 with four central V bulls.
At 500 metres the team hit its potential as Alex Langley dropped the only point at the range, with Adam Jory top scoring with a 35.05.At 600 metres the wind played tricks and Cliff Mallett had his work cut out coaching the team.
However, he guided them to an impressive score of 203.14, with Nick Mace top with a 35.02.
Graeme Harris was unfortunate to miss out on a maximum score by losing his last two shots at 600 metres.
The afternoon saw the Rhodes Cup, fired over 800 and 900 metres with ten scoring shots.
Cliff Mallett led the way with a 50.03 ex 50.10, followed by Adam Jory with a 50.03.Moving back to 900 metres saw the coaches facing wind changes that amounted to 20 feet over the distance.
Nick Mace performed excellently, coaching Peter Jory and Cliff Mallett to 49.02 and 48.01 respectively.The individual events were due to start today.
Article posted on 1st April, 2004 - 12.00am
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