Reigning local individual champion Ransford Goodluck teamed up with junior Sherwin Felicien to cart off the first-ever Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) Fullbore Pairs competition, which was held in observance of the nation’s Jubilee celebrations.
Held at the Timehri Rifle Range on Sunday last, most of the shooters, who are in preparation mode for next month’s West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council (WIFBSC) Short Range championships in Antigua, took to the task very well as the margins that separated the winners from the others was not at all large.
Top pair Ransford Goodluck and Sherwin Felicien (with trophies) are flanked by the runner-up Leo Romalho (right) and Terrance Stuart and Lennox Braithwaite (left) and Ryan Sampson, who took third
This inaugural format, which is normally shot at the Commonwealth Games, saw Guyana represented by the pair of national captain Mahendra Persaud and reigning Caribbean Individual champion Lennox Braithwaite placing sixth at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.
Shooting at the 300, 500 and 600 yard ranges, senior (A-Class) shooters were paired with their junior (X-Class) counterparts. At the end of the 300 yards range, the pair of Braithwaite and Ryan Sampson held a one point lead over Goodluck and Felicien.
But Goodluck, who shot the only possible on the day at the 500 yard range, and Felicien, who dropped just one point at the same range, erased the one point deficit to pull ahead of their competition and eventually win the historic shoot.
The challenge of the wind, which was mostly blowing right to left and changing fast, kept the coaches alert throughout the shoot. Coming in third were Leo Ramalho and Terrence Stuart, followed by Braithwaite and Sampson.
GNRA Vice-President Paul Slowe, who was on hand, performed duties of presenting the trophies and medals to the winning pair and other top performers. Slowe, in brief remarks, encouraged the shooters to keep the competitive spirit going as they continue to focus on next month’s Caribbean championships.
Team captain Mahendra Persaud informed that preparation over the next two weekends would be focused on team shoots, as they seek to retain the West Indies Short Range Trophy. Persaud also promised that more Pair Shoots would be held in the future. Meanwhile, the shooters continue their quest for sponsorship towards the Antigua trip.
