GENERATIONS of Jersey shooters are in action from today at the Bisley Imperial, which marks a major milestone for one of them.
Cliff Mallett is taking part in his 70th consecutive Bisley, seen as the pinnacle competition for the sport.
The lineage for the Mallett family itself stretches back even further: taking into account his parents, it will be their 100th consecutive appearance.
‘It’s pretty incredible,’ said the JRA’s Dan Richardson.
‘There aren’t that many people still going in their 80s.
‘Cliff is in a league of his own there, but it says something about how inclusive the sport is too.
‘It’s brilliant. He doesn’t shoot as much as he did, he picks and chooses, as is his right, but he’ll be shooting in all the main competitions and shooting every day. He’ll be shooting to win, the fire still burns.’
The first Imperial Meeting was contested on Wimbledon Common in 1860 when Queen Victoria fired the first shot and gave a prize of £250 to the best individual marksman.
It was originally available only to regular and reserve military personnel, using the issued service rifle of the day.
Today, the National Rifle Association holds the Imperial Meeting as an open competition and, after the pandemic restricted visitors for the last few years, Bisley is this year expected to be back to full strength.
‘It’s the largest fullbore rifle event in the world, especially this year with touring teams returning for the first time since pre-pandemic. There will be teams from the US, Australia, Canada, Kenya, Guernsey, Jersey and others,’ said Richardson.
Some 900 people will take part over the coming days.
The Imperial Meeting includes the Queen’s Prize, the most prestigious event in shooting – seen as the equivalent of the US Masters in golf or Wimbledon in tennis.
Jersey will have up to 40 people taking part in the meeting, including a large junior contingent.
‘We have a very proud record of winning various competitions.’
That has not yet extended to the top individual competitions – the Grand Aggregate or the Queen’s Prize.
The Queen’s is split into three stages, taking place on Thursday 21, Friday 22 and Saturday 23 July.
The JRA have a match against London and Middlesex this afternoon, while their individual competitions begin tomorrow afternoon.
