Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Mar 03, 2015 Sports
The Guyana Sports Shooting Federation (GSSF) ushered in their 2015 season at the GDF Yarrowkabra Range on Saturday last with the staging of a Steel Challenge Tier 1 Match which was sponsored by Boodram’s
Bakery and Why Pay More Trading.
The competition consisted of two SCSA stages and saw competitors racing for prizes in the Wildcat and Limited Divisions under clear skies and a cool tropical breeze. Each stage required the shooter to engage five different steel targets set out at various angles and distances, one of which is designated as a “stop plate” which is shot last and when hit stops the time.
The total time taken is used for the score (Your time is your score.) There are penalties for misses which add 3 seconds for each. Competitors are scored using an electronic timing device which records the time at every gunshot. Ultimately the shooter with lowest time wins.
Hence speed and precision is required. Match Director, Capt. Roul Bhudu, in declaring the match open, welcomed spectators and members to the event and encouraged shooters to have fun while keeping safety paramount throughout the Match. The results are as follows:
Overall Per Division Stage – Pendulum Stage – Showdown
Limited Wildcat Limited Wildcat Limited Wildcat
First Ryan McKinnon Pravesh Harry Ryan McKinnon Pravesh Harry Ryan McKinnon Pravesh Harry
Second Joseph Chin Peter Hugh Joseph Chin Peter Hugh Ray Beharry Peter Hugh
Third Ray Beharry Roul Bhudu Ray Beharry Roul Bhudu Joseph Chin Roul Bhudu
The first stage shot was “Pendulum” which saw the four furthest targets set at 18 yards and the stop plate enticingly located at a close 10 yards from the shooting box. This caused some excitement as some seasoned shooters in their rush to get fast scores shot, missed this plate and had to fire make up shots to stop the running clock during their strings.
The second stage “Showdown” saw two rectangle targets located some 25 yards away and the smaller plates at a closer 10 yards while the stop plate was set at 12 yards.
However this stage was seen as tricky to tackle since there was a requirement to shoot at least 2 strings from an alternate shooting box. Two stings had to be shot from one shooting box and two from the other box situated 6 feet from the other which ultimately changed that angles of target presentation.
The competitors had to choose from either box to shoot their fifth and final string and many competitors deliberated over their ‘better side’ to avoid accidently hitting the tricky stop plate located in the centre. This however still caused confusion and was still hit by a seasoned shooter thus adding valuable penalty time onto his score.
Local Steel Challenge Ace, Mr. Ryan McKinnon was urged by all to be the first shooter for both stages, as other competitors took notes and honed their strategies to try to better the benchmark score that he set.
Needless to say, a lot of extra rounds were fired as several seasoned competitors relentlessly attempted to rise to the said challenge: some at times firing several shots in rapid succession dubbed ‘spray and pray’, others who were quite determined took their time to hit every plate on every shot, while others queried if the wind was shifting the solid steel plates as they were anchored to the ground by each target AFFILIATE #SCSA196 stands.
String after string, competitor after competitor, in the cool breeze and setting sun, the silence of
the afternoon was punctuated by the melodic ‘pings’ of lead impacting steel, images of smoking guns and periodic laughter.
As it all settled, the final timing data was entered by stats officer, Dr. Pravesh Harry into the official scoring software.
GSSF President, Ms. Vidushi Persaud, conveyed thanks to the Match Committee and members who assists in hosting matches. Special thanks were conveyed to Mr. Eric Doobay of Why Pay
More Trading located at 7 Houston Public Road, and to Mr. Raymond Islam of Boodram’s Bakery located at 18A Foulis, Enmore.
Ms. Persaud also thanked member, Mr. Mohamed Qualander of Queensway for the invaluable support rendered to make this particular match a success. The GSSF is also grateful for the kind gesture of future support offered to the federation by Mr. T. Jagmohan, who was on hand to witness what he dubbed an exciting sport.
Copies of”Front Sight” Magazine – The official journal of the United States Practical Shooting Association were presented to members who were participating in their first SCSA competition.
The GSSf also extended thanks the Chief of Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Mark Phillips, Commissioner of Police Mr. Selall Persaud and his ranks of TSU and ‘A’ Division.
GSSF is affiliated to the Steel Challenge Shooting Association which promotes the sport as one of the fastest shooting competitions in the world.
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