Jamaican marksmen take first day honours, Guyanese within striking range

West Indies Full Bore Shooting C’ships 2012 – Timehri Ranges 

Jamaica’s marksmen, John Nelson and David Rickman turned in commendable performances to amass 116 points with 10 V Bulls and 116 points with 9 V Bulls respectively, to lead the points table when action on the first day of the West Indies Full Bore Shooting Championships concluded at the Timehri Rifle Ranges yesterday afternoon.

Competitors in full flow yesterday at the Timehri Rifle Ranges on day-one of the 2012 West Indies Full Bore Shooting Championships.

Local shooters, Lennox Braithwaite, National Full Bore Captain, Mahendra Persaud and Vice-Captain, Dylan Fields sealed off the top 5 positions with Persaud registering 115 points with 11 V Bulls; Braithwaite 115 points with 10 V Bulls and Fields amassing 115 points with 7 V Bulls.
The competitors battled for honours at three ranges; 300, 500 and 600 yards and despite their remarkable overall performance, the Jamaicans were unable to take full control of the proceedings.
Guyanese, Claude Duguid shot his way to honours in the first event, over 300 yards, with a remarkable showing of 35 points and 2 V Bulls while Barbadian, Robert Griffith and Jamaican, John Nelson amassed 34 points with 2 V Bulls apiece.
The Jamaican was awarded the second place slot after he was adjudged superior on the count back.
Another Jamaican, John Nelson, dominated the second event with 50 points and 6 V Bulls in the 500 yards shoot while Guyanese Peter Persaud sealed off the second place with 50 points and 4 V Bulls. Guyana’s Vice Captain Dylan Fields finished on 50 points and 3 V Bulls to close off the top positions.
National captain Mahendra Persaud once again stole the honours, dominating the 600 yards shoot when he registered 35 points with 4 V Bulls while Jamaican, David Rickman and Antiguan, Desroy Maile both ended this round with 34 points and 3 V Bulls. Maile was awarded the second place on the count back.
Meanwhile, Patron of the Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA), President Donald Ramotar delivered brief remarks shortly before performing the symbolic shoot off to declare the championships open.
The Head of State urged the marksmen to diligently represent their respective countries but to do so within the confines of the rules of the sport. “May the best team win,” pronounced President Ramotar.
Activities resumes at 10:00hrs today in the 300, 500 and 600 yards with competition continuing up until Thursday. The marksmen will rest on Friday and return on Saturday and Sunday for the team competition.
Guyanese shooters were the long range champions, over 300, 500 and 600 yards ranges when the championships were last staged but when the smoke had cleared; Jamaica had relieved them of that accolade.
The local riflemen have confidently declared that they will regain the title. Six other regional teams; Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago are also vying for similar honours.
The Guyanese contingent consists of National Full Bore captain Mahendra Persaud, Sigmund Douglas and John Fraser of the United States and former national captain Paul Archer now based in Canada, Dylan Fields (vice-captain), Ransford Goodluck, Lennox Braithwaite, Richard Fields, Claude Duguid; ACP retired Paul Slowe, Ryan Sampson, Lt. Col. Terrence Stuart, Peter Persaud and Charles Deane.

Day 1 Aggregate
Country    Squadding #    Competitor Name    Total    V’s
Jamaice     31        Nelson, John        116    10
Jamaica    40        Rickman, David        116    9
Guyana    35        Persaud, Mahendra    115    11
Guyana    6        Braithwaite, Lennox    115    10
Guyana     15        Fields, Dylan        115    7
Antigua    34        Perry, Anderson        115    6
Guyana     11        Douglas, Sigmound    115    5
Guyana    20        Goodluck, Ransford    114    8
Jamaica     17        Yee-Sang, Aubrey    113    9
Jamaica     8        Coley, Canute        113    9
Barbados    22        Hinds, Shelly        113    8
Jamaica     32        Newman, Valrie        112    12
Antigua     29        Maile, Desroy        112    7
Guyana     18        Fraser, John        112    6
Barbados     21        Griffith, Robert        112    6
Jamaica     33        Nunez, Jose        112    6
Trinidad     47        Waldron, Oscar        112    5
Barbados     26        King, Marlon        112    4
Trinidad    19        Gomez, Norris        112    4
Trinidad     7        Chung, Stephen        111    6
Trinidad     45        Tang Choon, Clarion    110    5
Antigua     9        Daniel, Olson        110    3
Trinidad     4        Awong, Carl        110    3
Trinidad     44        Soanes, John        109    10