Waters wins by narrowest of margins

Waters dropped two points at 300 yards with a 33.04 to Jory’s 34.03, but with a 35.03 and a 35.04 at the 500 and 600 yard ranges Waters took the Leale Trophy with a total of 103.11 ex 105.21.

Jory can never be written off, but a 34.05 and a 35.02 gave him a runner-up total of 103.10.

The results of the Leale Trophy are normally used as the selection criteria for the Channel Islands Championship with the first eight qualifying to shoot against the Jersey Rifle Association but, like most inter-insular events, Covid-19 has probably put paid to that event for 2020.

Showing the sort of form that will get him elevated to A class next season, Adam Norman shot the perfect score at 300 yards – a magnificent 35.07 – that when added to a 33.04 and a 32.02 gave him a 100.13 and the honours in B class.

Freddie Stewart took second spot with a 100.08 and Jeremy Witham finally got the best of his new rifle with a 98.06 that included its first ‘possible’, a 35.04 at 600 yards.

To somebody not versed in the finer points of shooting it is worth pointing out that a new rifle is always a bit tricky to master, the barrel may require ‘bedding in’, a process that involves cleaning out after every shot for the first 10-or-so shots and then after perhaps every five shots for the next 20 or so.

The trigger may be totally different from the previous one and the sling position will need adjusting until good results emerge, a process that can take a significant time.

Witham has struggled gamely for several weeks, but appears to have finally got his Dolphin Guns stock and New Zealand-manufactured Barnard action sorted out and will be looking to make A class next season.

The season will be extended into the next few weeks as the Bisley Imperial Meeting has been moved into the end of the year and several Guernsey marksmen will be competing.