At the age of just 15, Libby Hart became the youngest person and first woman to win the Senior Channel Islands Full Bore Rifle Championship. Two year later, the JCG sixth former is targeting the World Cup and aiming for the Air Rifle category in the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.
Jersey Sport last month announced that a total of £103,500 has been allocated to allow 23 local athletes – who compete 11 different sports – to access professional development workshops on the Performance Sport Programme.
One of the athletes set to benefit from the scheme is international medallist and former Sportsperson of the Year Libby Hart – who hopes to start a degree in Mechanical Engineering alongside her shooting ambitions.
Express sat down with the CCF Cadet Staff Sergeant to chat about her sporting ambitions, and how the new funding programme will help her to achieve them…
Can you tell us about your sporting journey so far?
I have been involved in a number of sports in Jersey from a young age that got me used to competitions and the self-discipline required when competing at a high level. Being involved in multiple sports up until last year has benefited my progress in so many ways.
I can remember counting down the days for me to turn 12 so that I could join my father shooting .22 indoors. I started shooting outdoor .22 rifle and learned to read the wind representing Jersey at Bisley, winning many junior and senior cups. It’s an event I still love going to annually. As part of the CCF at school, I started shooting full bore where I was able to attend the prestigious Imperial Meeting at Bisley.
From there, I ended up qualifying for the Channel Island Championships aged 15, held in Guernsey, where I became the youngest and first female champion, shooting shoulder to shoulder against male athletes.
I was so proud to be voted Sportsperson of the Year for the various accomplishments across three disciplines that year.
At 15, I was also asked by the Commonwealth Games athlete and ex-GB shooter Cameron Pirouet if I would try air rifle with the aim to get to the Island Games within six months.
Having to borrow his gun and use second hand kit, I made it to the Island Games winning a team silver and an individual gold. Receiving the award for Young Athlete of the Island Games was the icing on the cake to the whole experience.
Since then, after a rigorous selection process, I was invited onto the British Shooting Development Pathway and have since progressed onto the Talent Squad, training in Aldersley once a month. Travelling with firearms has its challenges!
I was thrilled to represent GB in the Junior Nordic Championships in Denmark which was a great learning experience. I have competed at the Junior International and Welsh International Open Air events making it to the finals and have even managed to podium.
I have represented Jersey in air rifle and was recently crowned Island Champion for the third year. Sadly, I will be unable to compete at the Junior World Cup in Germany this year as the event clashes with one of my A level exams.
Did you expect to get this far in your sport?
I love all the various disciplines involved in shooting and I was surprised that, with the right coaching and support, how far along in my journey I have come.
It was always an ambition to compete at as high a level as I could.
Never did I expect to be where I am today, but am really enjoying every minute and I want to challenge myself to reach for even higher goals.
What do you love about your sport?
I love the precision, control, process and concentration needed to hit the centre of a target the size of a printed decimal point.
On the range, it is just me, the rifle and numbers. I like the change in atmosphere that comes with shooting finals in air rifle.
The first 60 shots to qualify for the final are incredibly calm, in contrast to a final where shots need to be taken in a short amount of time with people cheering and making as much noise as possible.
The whole shooting community in Jersey and in the UK are just so supportive and encouraging too.
Another aspect I love is the ability to travel and compete allowing me to experience new places and meet like-minded people.
How do you feel about being chosen to benefit from the Performance Sport Programme?
I feel really honoured to have been recognised for my achievements and to be part of the Performance Sport Programme with so many other incredible athletes.
The support and guidance that I will be given in the many areas that go to elevating an athlete to the highest level of performance will make a really big difference to me.
I am looking forward to the nutrition and psychology workshops that will really impact my performance further.
How will the programme assist your sporting progress?
The generous funding that I have been awarded will really assist me with accessing high level coaching days and competitions both in the UK and Europe, as well as supporting me in the purchase of new kit and my own rifle as I have been borrowing ones up to now.
I will also be starting to shoot a new discipline for British Shooting which is 3P .22 rifle. This is shooting a .22 rifle from prone, kneeling and standing.
This is a discipline that is not widely shot in Jersey, so I am looking forwards to being able to access high level coaching and events in the UK.
Being able to access the various support services from nutrition, strength and conditioning, psychology and media support will allow me to reach my full potential and reach the goals I have set.
What is your sporting dream?
My ultimate dream is to continue to represent British Shooting by firstly competing in a World Cup with the ultimate vision of competing at the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane in Air rifle.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I would like to thank Jersey Sport for all the support that they are offering.
I would also like to thank Western Miniature Rifle Club, St Lawrence Rifle Club, Jersey Outdoor Small Bore Rifle Club and the wider Jersey shooting community that have all supported me with my training and development.
I would also like to thank the numerous coaches and volunteers that that have given me so many opportunities and experiences in all sports I have competed in.
Their guidance and enthusiasm has developed my resilience, perseverance and love of all that sport brings. They have all, in one way or another, contributed in shaping me into the athlete I am today.
I would like to especially thank my parents who have supported me, to no end, on my journey in so many ways.