A total of 19 marksmen from the Jersey Outdoor Smallbore Rifle Club will join hundreds of other UK and overseas shooters at the week-long event to compete for the Roberts Trophy which is shot every eight years, alternating between the US and UK.
The gruelling competition over three stages is one which everyone wants to do well in but, as if that isn’t enough pressure, this year’s meeting is also the last event before selection for the Jersey 2010 Commonwealth Games team next year.
Jersey’s Richard Bouchard, in particular, will be hoping to do well having reached last year’s final of the Earl Roberts, but he will face stiff competition from the rest of the shooters, including his teammates, as well as having to contend with the unforgiving winds common at the Bisley ranges.
Over the weekend and into the early part of next week the Jersey shooters will compete in individual events and aggregates before a team of four then compete in the Astor Trophy for counties, followed by a team of ten in the Home Counties Match against England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
And at the end of the week the Jersey shooters will try and reach the final of the Lord Roberts Trophy in an attempt to become the British individual champion.
Jersey smallbore rifle squad: Brian de Gruchy, Mike Laurens, Steve Le Couilliard, Paul Vibert, Richard Fountaine, Marc Yates, Marcus Bisson, John Boydens, Mo Le Mottee, Nick Le Masurier, Gordon Proctor, Richard Le Boutillier, (not in photo) Kevin De Gruchy (captain), Hayden Lidster, John Renouf, Richard Bouchard, Oliver de Gruchy, Matt Wainwright and Ian de Gruchy.
