Local marksmen aim for success as GNRA hosts Windies Fullbore Championships

Oct 09, 2012 Sports

The deafening barks of high powered guns will rent the air this morning when Guyanese rifle shooters join their Caribbean counterparts vying for shooting honours when the Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) hosts the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Championships starting at 09:00hrs this morning at the Timehri Rifle Ranges.
Patron of the GNRA, President Donald Ramotar, will fire the first shot to start the proceedings, while President of the GNRA, Commodore Gary Best, will also be in attendance for the symbolic

Vice Captain of the Guyana squad, Dylan Fields (extreme left), joins the other
Captains for a photo opportunity at the function last evening. Others in the team (from left) Christopher Joseph (Antigua and Barbuda), David Dumont (Bermuda), John Nelson (Jamaica), Norris Gomez (Trinidad & Tobago), and Richard Arthur (Barbados)

opening ceremony.
The last time these championships were held, Guyanese shooters had started out as the short range champions, over 300, 500 and 600 yards ranges, but when the smoke had cleared, Jamaica had relieved them of the accolade.  The local marksmen have signaled their intention of regaining the accolade and the competition over the next few days is expected to be scorching. Local marksmen will also be defending the long range title over 900 and 1000 yards. They will be required overwhelm six other regional teams from Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
National Fullbore captain Mahendra Persaud will lead the local squad with support from three overseas based shooters – Sigmund Douglas and John Fraser of the United States and former national captain Paul Archer now based in Canada.
The other members of the local squad are 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.
Meanwhile, shooters from the participating countries were hosted at a reception at the Banks DIH Thirst Park last night.
The cordial atmosphere certainly belied the keen competition anticipated over the next few days as the respective Captains oozed confidence.

Guyana’s rifle shooters during recent practice will hope for an outstanding performance on home turf.