WHEN a team of Channel Islands rifle shots won the European Long-Range Championships at Bisley in October, there were suggestions of a flash in the pan. Fast-forward, though, to the full-bore international matches at Bisley just a few weeks ago and what do we have now?

The Overseas Match was won by a Jersey team, Guernsey a close second and, this is important, a team from Canada containing two former Queen’s Prize winners was way behind in third place.

The following day, the ever-strong Great Britain team won the international Kolapore match, as expected. But Guernsey were second, again ahead of Canada – Jersey would have beaten the Canadians, too, but for a shot on a wrong target.

Over the next few days, Jersey and Guernsey marksmen will be setting off for the World Long Range Palma Championships in Ottawa with those results firmly in the back of their minds. If one were needed, they’ve been a morale boost.

For years, the islands approached rifle-shooting strictly on the basis of an inter-insular battle.

There was the odd coming together to form a Channel Island team but, in truth, it never really worked that well – even inside the team it was Jersey v. Guernsey.

Both islands had been doing their own thing for too long.

One sunny afternoon in July 1860, Queen Victoria fired a shot in Wimbledon to mark the first meeting of the National Rifle Association in Great Britain.

Exactly a year later, Jersey had formed its own association and held the first prize meeting at Gorey Common in September 1861.

Losing its first official match against Guernsey spurred the Jersey States into awarding the JRA an annual grant, such was the inter-insular rivalry.

The Guernsey Rifle Club, like the JRA, grew from the militia and The Guernsey Magazine gives an account of the first annual prize meeting at L’Ancresse in 1872 with a criticism of the gambling associated with pool targets and sweeps.

The club had been going for only 17 years when, in 1898, Guernsey punched well above their weight to win the Kolapore at Bisley, with Australia second and Great Britain (known then as the Mother Country) third.

The following year, the island rubbed salt into the wounds of its UK and Empire rivals when Private W. A. Priaulx of the Royal Guernsey Militia won the Queen’s Prize. Another Guernseyman, Charles Trotter, won it in 1975.

In the Kolapore, Jersey has bettered Guernsey by winning it twice (1984, 1995).

Jersey families such as the Malletts and the Le Cheminants are legends at Bisley for their shooting prowess – the Amys, Payns, Le Gresleys, Crills, Wagstaffes and Benests are also part of that history.

The Mallett family is in a class of its own.

The grandfather of present CI squad member Cliff Mallett won Jersey’s Grand Aggregate in 1929 – Cliff himself has won the Grand more times than anybody else.

Cliff and son Colin have paired up to achieve notable Commonwealth Games success: Colin has tied for the Queen’s Prize.

Five years ago, the two islands decided that an official pooling of these great skills was in the interests of everyone.

It led to the formal establishment of the Channel Islands Rifle Association.

It is under that banner that the CI rifle shots go to Canada to shoot in both the individual and team matches over the coming weeks.

The team is a mixture of the talents, up-and-coming youngsters and massively experienced marksmen.

Guernsey’s Mike Martel is captain of the CIRA team – he’s been in the Kolapore team 46 times. Palma commandant is Cliff Mallett whose first overseas tour was to the West Indies when he was just 14.

At the other end of the age scale are Jersey’s Daniel Richardson and Chris Cotillard and Guernsey’s Nick Branch and Rob Waters, both still Elizabeth College cadets.

The two Lt-Governors of the islands have sent a joint good wishes message to the CIRA.

‘The CI have had a long tradition in target rifle shooting, which has enabled the islanders to compete at international level for many years. It is a sport which encourages self-discipline and team work which we hope will continue for the foreseeable future.’

Nobody’s taking anything for granted, least of all assuming that the CI will beat the world at these championships.

The CIRA team will also be missing some of its star shots such as Jersey’s Richard Benest and Colin Mallett and Guernsey’s Adam Jory and Andy Burton who are not available to travel to Canada.

Nevertheless, what we can expect is some stunning individual performances. And I have no doubt that the little Channel Islands will yet again make the big boys sit up and take notice.