UK Association Honours for Alexandre

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The Muzzle Loaders Association of Great Britain has awarded its prestigious Doneghal badge for 2010 to the Jersey Muzzle Loaders' long range shooter, Mike Alexandre.

The Doneghal is presented every year to an individual who has either had some exceptional shooting performances or as a reward for extraordinary service.

This year the award was made to Alexandre in recognition of his consistently high standard of shooting in UK championship events.  Mike won the 900 yard championship held at Bisley earlier this year and added third place in the Whitworth cup last Saturday - 30th October 2010.

This was the last event in the Jersey Muzzle Loaders' competitive season and it has been a successful year for the Jersey club.  In addition to Alexandre's long range rifle activities in the UK, Jersey's short range specialist Gareth Callan hangs up his shooting boots for another winter looking back on gold in the French Open and Silver with the GB team in the world championships last August.

Both shooters gratefully acknowledge the support they received from their employers, Standard Bank and British Airways, together with the help of the Jersey Muzzle Loaders, their friends in the Jersey Rifle Association and Jersey Pistol Club and the Education Sports and Culture Department.

World Championships - Portugal - August 2010

Gareth Callan came 5th in the offhand matchlock shooting in near zero visibility in very difficult conditions.  The British team, which included Gareth, won the silver medal in the Tanegeshima team event.
 
In the kneeling event, Gareth finished in 4th place. J ohann Karlsson of Sweden won with 93 and three competitors then tied with identical scores of 90.  Group size was used to separate the places, Gareth missing the bronze medal by only half a millimetre!
 

Offhand Open Shoot - 25th July

George Gallichan                   Tom Arnold                      Sue Franklin    

It really was a case of something old and something new, at the Jersey Muzzle Loaders’ offhand championship on Sunday morning 25^th July 2010.

The “old” was represented by veteran George Arnold who has been winning medals at local, national and international events since the Jersey Branch was founded in the 1970s.  Returning to short range shooting after a break of many years, George shot like he had never been away and scored a superb 90 with his Enfield rifle, which was comfortably enough to win the military rifle event.

The “new” was represented by another George, this time 14 year old George Gallichan who won the patched ball class with an excellent score of 75.  George excelled in this, not only his first ever competition but also his first shoot at 50 meters. A great future in shooting sports clearly awaits Gallichan. 

Another new-comer, Tom Arnold also did very well, winning the free rifle class with a good score of 80. 

Competition for  medal places was fierce with Larry Berridge, Martin Godel, Sue Franklin, Gareth Callan and Gerry Weir shooting well and challenging the winners.

The afternoon was devoted to running the “Hythe” competition, something the branch has not done for ten years.  This spectacular event is based upon the 19^th century test of marksmanship at the Hythe Infantry School of Musketry.  The target is a five foot by 18 inch rectangle with a 1 foot inner and 5 inch bullseye, scoring 1, 2 and 3 points respectively.  5 shots are fired offhand at each distance of 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 yards, with no scopes, shooting jackets or other aids allowed.  All equipment must be carried, with no trolleys or tables to load from – not an easy thing to do with a muzzle loading rifle.  Congratulations go to Tom Arnold once again who won the event and is showing a real ability at offhand shooting.

Finally our thanks go to Callum Alexandre and Peter Laffoley who did a great job doing all of our scoring for the competitions. 

Results:

Hythe Team                      Butt Marker Callum Alexandre          Gareth Callan                        George Arnold   

Photographs by Pete Laffoley

Schutzenfest - Wedgnock - 9 May 2010

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Jersey Muzzle Loaders' Gareth Callan won two of his events at Sunday's Schutzenfest held in Warwick.  The Schutzenfest is the British Open Competition and is also a qualifying shoot for selection to the Great Britain Rifle Team.  Gareth entered 4 events, winning two and taking second place in the others.  This marks a successful start to his competitive season and is good preparation for the World Championships in August, when he travels to Portugal with the GB Team.

Gareth gratefully acknowledges the tremendous support he receives from his employer, Standard Bank, and Jersey's Education, Sport and Culture.

E-mail Secretary:   Adrian Le Brocq <newlandshouse@hotmail.co.uk>

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