JERSEY’S shooters were in outstanding form at Bisley yesterday and Wednesday as Andrew Le Cheminant’s accuracy gave him first place in the Berryman aggregate while the Island team won the Overseas competition against other teams from Kenya, Canada and Guernsey.
Add Colin Mallett’s first place in the Pavey competition, against 14 other competitors, and yesterday was a red letter day for Island shooting.
Le Cheminant’s 75 ex-75 in the Prince of Wales challenge meant he totalled 689 ex-705, moving him to 19th place overall (out of 1,085 competitors), alongside Bruce Horwood who also forced his way into the top 50 (to 41st position) with a final 685 ex-705.
Of them all, Channel Islands champion Le Cheminant’s performance was one to savour.
He is having a vintage year.
His unerring accuracy placed him first in the Berryman aggregate, which effectively means he has been the best shooter on the Bisley range over the last two days.
As for the 100 per cent 75 shots made, 75 bulls scored, he said: ‘The pressure was lifted with three shots to go, because I knew I would remain on the leaderboard even if I failed to hit the bullseye.’ Jersey captain Colin Mallett must have felt a similar satisfaction by winning a competition shot concurrently with the grand aggregate and pre-grand shoots.
His score of 921 was enough to win the Pavey, ahead of 13 other top internationals.
In the other senior competition Cliff and Colin Mallett, Bruce Horwood, Ian Jones, Andrew Le Cheminant and Chris Cotillard read the wind strength and direction better than the other teams and, despite a five point penalty for firing a shot at an adjacent target in error, ran away clear winners as they finished eight points clear of second-placed Canada.
Said a delighted Horwood afterwards: ‘It was a job well done.
On paper I reckon we had the best team in the competition, but you still have to perform and be counted.
‘We were very professional out there and as the competition progressed the younger team members became far more accustomed to the 600 yard firing point.’ Meanwhile Victoria College cadet Daniel Richardson was selected to shoot in the AG Bell under-19 match, Great Britain v Canada.
Although he said he was ‘delighted’ at the selection, he admitted to being ‘anxious’ before heading for the range.
He need not have worried; in the early stages of the competition he had registered 103 ex-105, the highest under-19 score to date.
In the other events the Mallets finished fifth in the family competition, Ian Jones and Bruce Horwood were third in the Fulton pairs and the Jersey Rifle Club were fifth in the Astor competition, for Great Britain rifle clubs.
Article posted on 23rd July, 2004 - 12.00am
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