LIBBY Hart has become the youngest ever fullbore rifle shooter to claim the Channel Island Championship crown.
At just 16 years old, the Jersey Rifle Association member enjoyed her finest day in the sport, competing in Guernsey.
The event pits the top eight shooters from each Island, with Hart also becoming the first female shooter to lift the trophy in what has always been an open shoot contest.
Her achievements follow on from Debbie Thompson winning the first stage of the CI Championships earlier this year.
The showcase tournament was last shot pre-pandemic in 2019 and it is the first time that the second and third stages were shot at Guernsey’s Fort Le Marchant range.
In the morning shoot, Hart dropped just two points over a Kings II Course of fire, which placed her in second behind Sarnian Peter Jory.
She also attained her first ever possible ex 50 at 600 yards with 50.08.
Her impressive shooting continued in the afternoon, going on to score her first ever possible ex 75 with a 75.10 at 300 yards before concluding with 73.9 to take the title with a total of 296.40, narrowly pipping Guernsey’s Nick Branch, who fired 296.25.
A delighted Hart said: ‘I am surprised and excited about my score and winning the title.’
Jerry, Hart’s father, was also in attendance and said: ‘This is one of my proudest days of Libby’s shooting career so far.
‘It is a testament to all the different shooters who have helped and supported her up to this point and we’re very excited for the Island Games next month.’
Hart will represent Team Jersey at the 2023 Island Games in the 10m air rifle competition, pitting her skills against some of the top air rifle shooters in what will be her first international contest.
Victoria College and Athelings Cadet, Julian Magalhaes also had a remarkable CI Championships debut, scoring 293.27 to place sixth overall and the fourth-placed Caesarean.
