GNRA to field two teams at 150th anniversary rifle shooting c/ships
As it prepares to host the 150th anniversary of the West Indies Full-bore Shooting Council Championships at the Timehri Rifle Ranges from October 8 to 15, the Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) said yesterday that it will field two teams to compete in the historic competition.
Expectations are high that the host team will be able to defend home turf and cart off top honours especially since Guyana has been the leading rifle shooting team in the Caribbean decade.
The local shooters should expect stiff challenges from countries such as Ireland, Scotland, and England along with Caribbean heavyweights Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.
At a press conference yesterday the GNRA stated that they will be fielding two teams drawn from a pool of eight players.
The players are Mahendra Persaud (captain), Dylan Fields, Lennox Braithwaite, Sherwin Felicien, Dane Blair, Leo Romalho, Lance for the last Sampson, Roberto Tiwari, John Fraser, Sigmund Douglas and Ransford Goodluck.
“I’ll always have confidence in the shooters. It goes down to the individual shooter and how they feel when they come out on the day,” said national captain Persaud yesterday.
Persaud informed the media yesterday that His Excellency David Granger is expected to attend the Opening Ceremony and will fire the first shot of the championships.
Day one events begin at 10 am while on the other days, competition will begin at 9am.
Persaud said in preparing to host the championships refurbishing was done to the range to bring it to international standard.
“The range was totally rebuilt. Starting from the bus stop to the 1000 yards. The targets were redone. Signs were put in place, the general compound, washroom facilities and the targets were also redone,” said Persaud.
Meanwhile there are a plans to induct three Guyanese into the West Indies Rifle shooting Hall of Fame.
This initiative is aimed at acknowledging the efforts and achievements of those who helped with the progression of the sport across the region. Shooters from Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago are among some of the persons to be inducted.
There are tours in place for the shooters and their family, friends and supporters to explore the country on the scheduled rest day. The members of the GNRA aims to help with boosting and promoting Guyana’s tourism by organizing trips around the country.
“The Guyana National Rifle Association can boast about sports tourism because we have managed to arrange three plane loads of shooters to go to the majestic Kaieteur Falls and Orinduik Falls. We are also trying to arrange for day tours for the supporters (wives and family members) so this way we will be contributing to the economy.”
Countries expected at the is event are Canada, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Falkland Islands, Ireland, Scotland, England, Jamaica.