This Is Jersey

By Chris Lake

JERSEY’S shooters have returned from Bisley having proved they are the second best short-range team in the world, writes Chris Lake.

For the third time in as many years they finished second, overall, in the shorter competition, although they finished outside the first three in the long-range competition on Saturday, finishing fourth for the MacKinnon trophy with 1105 points (89 v-bulls), three points behind Ireland and also behind winners England and Scotland, who were in second place.

Despite having ‘the worst draw possible,’ according to team captain Colin Mallett, they still beat Wales, Guernsey, Canada and Kenya in Saturday’s confrontation.

At the end of the day for their overall performances in all competitions they were also awarded the Dominion Trophy for aggregate scoring.

‘Home advantage will always favour England,’ said Mallett yesterday.

‘But over the last three years we have shown consistency and have been second, at short-range, on each occasion.

‘Jersey have some of the best shooters in the world.’ Mallett was also full of praise for Daniel Richardson, a Victoria College sixth-former who guided an England under-19 team to a win over their Canadian counterparts with a personal best of 103 ex-105.

‘It will be a year or two before he joins the full senior squad but the potential and determination are there,’ Mallett said.

‘He is focused and has ambition.

He is definitely a squad member for the future.’ In Saturday’s individual competition for the St George’s trophy, Alex Langley finished 40th, Richard Benest 57th and Bruce Horwood 63rd.

In the Queen’s competition Horwood was 80th and Mary Norman 99th.

The overall squad was: Colin and Cliff Mallett, Alex Langley, Ian Jones, Cliff Cotillard, Peter Stock, Sue and Andrew Le Cheminant, Bruce Horwood, Mary and John Norman, Richard Benest.

The JRA’s next competition is the Jersey Open Championships, at the end of August, to which the London and Middlesex Rifle Association and the Lancashire Rifle Association have been invited.

Article posted on 26th July, 2004 - 12.00am