A 22-member English Rifle Team arrived in Guyana on Monday evening as guests of the Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA), marking the start of a goodwill tour and competitive exchange between the two nations.
Speaking at the official welcome function, Team Captain Phil Chapman-Sheath noted that he and several teammates had previously toured Guyana in 2017 and were eager to return with a full squad. He emphasized that the current tour serves as vital preparation for the upcoming West Indies Fullbore Shooting Championship, scheduled for April 26 to May 2, 2026, in Antigua and Barbuda.
During the ceremony, a Demerara Cup was formally presented to Brigadier Omar Khan, President of the GNRA. The trophy will be contested between visiting English teams and Guyana in future engagements.
The championship officially opened on Wednesday at the Timehri Rifle Ranges, with Brig Khan delivering remarks and firing the ceremonial first shot from the 300-yard range. He expressed appreciation to the visiting team for selecting Guyana as a preparatory venue and highlighted the benefits of international competition in assessing local shooters’ readiness. He also noted that the challenging Timehri conditions provide valuable experience for all competitors.
Day One of competition featured shooting at the 300, 500, and 600-yard ranges under testing conditions, including rainfall and shifting winds.
At 300 yards, Edward Feast led the field with a score of 50.5, followed by Aleksandr Radkovskil (49.4) and Christopher Crabtree (49.3). Guyana’s top performers included Vice Captain Leo Romalho (49.4), Captain Dylan Fields (49.2), and Lennox Braithwaite (48.6).
At 500 yards, Matthew Blythe and Rupert Knight both scored 49.2, with Blythe securing first place on countback, followed by Knight and Jason Curd. Romalho (46.3) and Braithwaite (46.1) led the Guyanese effort.
At 600 yards, Feast continued his strong performance with a perfect 50.4 to claim top honours. Chapman-Sheath and Knight both recorded 47.5 to place second and third respectively, while Fields (47.4) and Braithwaite (45.2) were Guyana’s leading shooters.
At the end of Day One, Feast leads the aggregate standings with 147.14. He is followed by Christopher Radkovskil (143.11) and Aleksandre Radkovskil (143.9). Fields remains Guyana’s top contender with 142.7, while Braithwaite stands on 139.9. Notably, former Guyana captain Mahendra Persaud returned to competition after an absence due to illness.
The individual championship concludes today with the 900 and 1000-yard events, where challenging wind conditions are expected to play a decisive role.
Discover more from Guyana Times
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
