Addicted to " I
ByMARC YATES President, Jersey Shooting Federation
the pursuit of perfection
just don't get it!" In all the years that I have been shooting, that is a common
response of non shooters to competitive target shooting. These people have all sorts of theories why shooters of all ages (and both sexes!) do it; most of which revolve around allegations that shooters are not athletic enough to do any other sport or have an unhealthy interest in firearms.
Contact Details: W:
www.jsf.org.je E:
marc.yates@jerseymail.co.uk T: 504220 or 864232
Apart from the fact that neither of these are true, the answer is that they are addicted - to the pursuit of perfection. Let me explain - target shooting, whether it be at static targets (rifle and pistol) or moving targets (clay), is a sport with an absolute and precise means of measuring achievement. It is more precise than any other sport which involves the time taken to compete, the distance an object is thrown or the goals which are scored. There is no subjective element where judges give a mark for style.
The fact is that you can achieve a perfect shot. That shot is a 10.9 (10 for the smallest ring on the target and 0.9 for a shot which is
Page 68 Jersey's Olympic Legacy
perfectly in the centre of that ring) or for clays, it is a hit or miss. A 10.2 just is not perfection to a shooting addict, and a miss in clays is simply a disaster! Now if that is not clear, let me compare it to golf, which is widely known for producing addicts. Any golfer will testify that they ‘can’ play a perfect shot; the problem is that the perfect shots are normally incapable of repetition shot after shot. In contrast, repeated perfection is possible in shooting, although not without practice! Coupled with modern ‘space age’ guns of extreme accuracy, and electronic targets which provide scores immediately on a computer screen, that is what is addictive about shooting!
Having probably said enough about shooting psychology for the moment (I will return to that later), Jersey has a rich history of target shooting success, with its origins in training and competitions to promote good marksmanship in the Jersey Militia. Many of the 30 or so shooting clubs can boast ages of a similar period back into the last century and a half. Jersey, with its tiny population, has been able to compete on a worldwide
stage and come home with the only Jersey gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, World and UK national champions and teams that can beat the best of the Commonwealth teams on a good day.
2012 was another notable year. Jersey hosted the Commonwealth Shooting Federation, European Division Championships in September. With nine countries competing, Jersey won medals in rifle, pistol and clays and was widely complimented on its shooting facilities and organisation which are second to none. Notable successes were amongst the ladies (note the earlier comments that target shooting, contrary to common belief, is not dominated by the males!) who managed a clutch of medals between them. Sarah Pallot won gold in the 50m prone rifle and Mary Norman and Nikki Holmes won two gold medals in the air pistol and 25m pistol pairs events, with Mary taking individual silver in the former event and Mary and Nikki taking
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