Jory is back with a bang
PETER JORY has returned to the range in style.
Following months of rehabilitation required after his serious accident on the Guernsey Rally, the Commonwealth Games shooter finally managed to rejoin the marksmen of the Guernsey Rifle Club and despite obviously looking uncomfortable on the firing point he emerged victorious.
With a 148.17 ex 150.30 he took the Renouf Trophy by a single point from Matt Le Vasseur on 147.17.
At 300 yards Jory top-scored with a 50.07 ex 50.10, the only ‘possible’ on the range, and he was closely followed by a veritable plethora of 49s led by a 49.07 from Phil Ogier, who was enjoying his first shoot of the season.
B-class shots Adam Norman and Freddie Stewart both returned 49.04 to shade out some of the more experienced A-class marksmen, but the best performance by a B-class shot was the 49.05 from Rollo Tiffin.
Jory dropped a couple of points at 500 yards for a two-range total of 98.13, but maintained his narrow lead over Norman on 98.10.
Le Vasseur, Jon Branch and Charlie Brewin all added 49.05s to remain in contention but B-shooter Cherry Le Poidevin surprised everybody with her best shoot of the season, a 49.06.
Up on the hill at 600 yards, Le Vasseur top-scored with a 50.07 for a 147.17 total, but Jory, fighting through the pain barrier from his back injury, held on to his lead with a 50.04 and a grand total of 148.17 to claim the spoils.
Jory admitted that the aftermath was particularly painful and he will likely sit out this weekend’s competition, but he is clearly headed in the right direction.
‘I was very pleased with the score and the performance and equally pleased to see with the long hiatus, I was still able to get that,’ said Jory.
‘It did not affect the concentration, but you have to expect some discomfort.
‘You’ve got to focus on what you’ve got to do.
‘It gave me a boost mentally to come back from such a long break and to still shoot well.’
Norman added a third 49 to his previous two scores and with a grand total of 147.16, his finest performance ever, took the B-class Randall Trophy after a match long battle with Stewart that saw the young College marksman score his first ever 50, a 50.02, for an impressive final score of 147.12 and fourth spot overall.
Ed Lawrence finally emerged from hibernation and must have been pleased with his 144.10 comprising 48s at each range.
Next weekend will see a handicap competition for the OE Randall Trophy, the final competition before the committee meet to revise the classifications.
Norman and Stewart must be in the running to jump from ‘B’ to ‘A’ class having both shot superbly in recent weeks.
