Latest update March 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Aug 03, 2015 Sports
Captain John Nelson backing his shooters to do well
By Franklin Wilson in Ohio, USA compliments of
NAMILCO, Ringbang, Crown Mining Supply,
Fazias Collection, Queensway
The best long range shooters from six countries in the West Indies will be vying individually and as a team to bring glory to the West Indies when they compete at the World Long Range championships which will take place at Camp Perry, Ohio, USA.
Of the 18-man team inclusive of two reserves, Guyana has nine (9) members and one of the two reserves. The Guyanese contingent arrived at Camp Perry on Saturday night from New York City at about 8pm after more than 530 miles of driving.
Non shooting Captain of the team, John Nelson of Jamaica speaking with Kaieteur Sport at the team base, Camp Perry said that they are a confident bunch despite the likes of the Great Britain and the USA being the favorites.
Practice will continue today after commencing last evening at 6pm in blazing sunshine ahead of competition on August 8 with the Long Range championships which would be followed by the Americas Cup match (team competition) and the Palma which is another team competition featuring the best shooters from the world shooting countries.
In the Americas Cup match, Nelson disclosed that the Caribbean is hoping to enter three teams consisting of eight (8) members each.
The 16-member team for the World Cup of shooting will be entered as two, while Nelson noted that those shooters who have not made the WI team would be entered as the third team with a view of them gaining experience at this the highest level in the World.
The WI team would have been picked in Jamaica last year following the conclusion of the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council (WIFBSC) Championships in Jamaica. Three persons were replaced since they could not have made the trip which has resulted in three others being added.
The Captain noted that he additions were picked based on how they performed at last year’s WI competition in Jamaica.
Nelson underscored the importance of the Caribbean competing as a unit at these championships.
“It says a lot for us that we, six territories of the Caribbean, are able to be here because these championships are held every four years; in fact, they are the Olympics of long range target rifle shooting. It says a lot that the decision and the effort were made to be here to compete.”
“Whilst the Great Britain team, the Americans and the Australians are favorites, we look at it as something of tremendous importance for us to be competing with our fellow shooters even at that level.”
Zooming in on team sponsorship, Nelson said that this did not go well for them from a WIFBSC perspective noting that he cannot speak for the territories individually.
“I know that Guyana’s sponsorship has improved tremendously over the past couple of years and that has been significant because of their performance at the Caribbean level. I think Barbados has achieved some level of sponsorship also to have their team here.”
“We sort of leave each territory and the members of the respective teams to make their own effort in assisting themselves to come here.”
Captain Nelson informed that many businesses and even governments don’t understand the magnitude of respect and high esteem the sport of fullbore shooting is regarded with around the world and at the Olympic level.
“It is the first medal that is rewarded at every Olympic Games and my understanding is that next to athletics, it has the largest amount of competitors in the discipline of target shooting. Because it is not a spectator sport in the real sense of the word, it doesn’t gather the type of advertising support that the glamour do but it is an equally impressive sport once you get involved in it and it is unfortunate that more and more countries, especially in the region do not see it necessary to support their individual teams.”
The World Long Range Championships which includes the World Long Range Individual and Team Championships are being held under the auspices of the International Confederation of Fullbore Rifle Association.
The 18-member WI team: Mahendra Persaud, Lennox Braithwaite Ransford Goodluck, Leo Ramalho, Ryan Sampson, Dylan Fields, Sigmund Douglas, John Fraser, Norris Gomez (T&T), Michael Perez (T&T), Ezekiel Joseph (T&T), Marlon King (Barbados), Shelly Ann Hinds (Barbados), Anderson Perry (Antigua & Barbuda), Tommy Greenaway (Antigua & Barbuda), Peter Persaud (Guyana), Sherwin Felicen (Guyana), Richard Arthur (Barbados).
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