History
Founded in 1907...
Built on a Century
We shoot .22 rifles from the prone position at 15 and 25 yards at fixed electronic targets. The range is indoor and is behind St Peter's Parish Hall opposite the Youth and Community Centre, Jersey, Channel Islands.
Founding Members
J.E.Martin, Ron Hawkins, E.R.Egre, F.Rabasse, W.Le.l.Egre,
F.Michel. J.P.Syvret Senr, J.Rive, G.Le.Couteur, J, M.Le.Feuvre,
G.A.Romeril. W.Simon. P.Egre. J.P.Syvret.jnr, J.H.Kent,
A.F.Le.Brocq, G.E.Huelin. G.F.Michel, J.B.Michel.
Finding a New Home
Throughout the 19th Century all able bodied men under the age of 35 were required annually to serve for a period of time in the Jersey Militia, this under the command of Officers and regular soldiers that were stationed mostly at Fort Regent. Shooting and drill were two of the disciplines for which competitions were held. This obviously created a degree of competion between the men of the various parishes, which resulted in the formation of Smallbore Rifle Clubs at the beginning of the 20th Century, Western Miniature Rifle Club being one of the first founded on the 9th September 1907.
With the first Western Shooting Range being opened in November by the then Bailiff, Sir William.V.Vernon; at the Large Showroom below St.Peters Parish hall. Later the range was moved across the road to La Fosse.
Many competitions were held between other Island clubs, including The Wills Shield, which was won outright by Longueville Rifle Club in 1928. In the 1930s the clubs shooting was held at Oak Walk, St Peter.
After the German occupation the club started up again but had to look for new premises. In 1949, after much discussion with the authorities, together with St.Lawrence rifle club, permission to rent the former german underground hospital, from the States Public Works Committee of Jersey was approved.
This was the club’s official home for many years until 1961/62, when ownership was transferred to new owner’s Daisy Hill Real Estates.Ltd . Faced with being without a range, alternatives were looked into; including a former B.E.A hut on the edge of the airport, but were found too costly. However, Daisy Hill did give verbal assurance that the club along with St.Lawrence MRC could continue using the tunnels for an indefinite period of time. But eventually Daisy Hill wanted to develop the tunnels into one of the Island’s leading tourist attractions so this arrangement ceased.
In 1966/67, with the assistance of Major R.E.B. Voisin, the club was able to use the St.Brelade’s Club for the interim. 1968, a milestone in the clubs’ history; “at last a permanent home of its own”.
In March 1981, IDC permission was given for a gabled dormer roof. Many fundraising events were once again held including a variety show& and a summer fete. Despite water flooding the club room when the roof was being fitted, the club finally opened in 1983 and is still one of very few clubs with such good facilities.
Western Membership
At the opening of the first range in 1907, words of the then Balliff Sir William Vernon said, “The sport not only fitted young men to become good shots, but promoted social intercourse”.
These days the club is still fortunate to have a good membership, despite the on-going press coverage on gun ownership and terrorism. Western, like many other clubs, is very family orientated, with some newer members whose fathers grandfathers, uncles and aunts also shot at the club.
Over time some members of Western have not only been involved in the clubs administration, but have moved on to other sporting and shooting organisations within the Island.
Western competitors have not only represented the Island in inter insulars but also Nationally and Internationally. In 1974, Cliff Mallett and Maurice Le Mottee both competed in the Commonwealth Games, in Christchurch, New Zealand. In 1978 Cliff competed in the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton. In 1982, in Brisbane, Australia, Barry Le Cheminant and Cliff Mallett were Jersey’s representatives, with Barry finishing a very credible 4th, not bad for a 17 year old. In 1990 in Auckland, New Zealand was the pierce de resistance, Cliff Mallett and his son Colin were firing in the Fullbore pairs event, to win Jersey’s first medal in shooting winning the bronze medal. After all the euphoria of this achievement, three days later was the individual event and Colin Mallett won Jersey’s first ever-gold medal at the Commonwealth games.
Club Success
From winning the Wills Shield in 1923 to, undoubtedly the peak of Western, was the 1980’s when the club was fielding 6 teams in the J.S.S.A. League A,B,C,D, E and F, plus a junior team breaking many records.
In January 1983 we were the first team to win a new trophy donated in memory of the late R.E.B. Voisin. Also in that year, Western started a postal shoot with the Guernsey Rifle Club, the final being held at the Inter Insular. At the end of the season, the Club winning the Albatross Trophy for division two, the Martin Trophy for division three. The Briard Trophy for division four, the Harris Trophy for the junior league and the Prescold, I.K.O & Northy Trophy for the top shot in the league.
It is worth noting that Western A in 1957 (using the old targets) scored a high of 1588 including 3 double possible, beating St Lawrence by a margin of 6 points.