Lions edge Jaguars as practice winds down; Final practice set for Saturday
WIFBSC Short Range C/ships 2016 – Antigua
Team Lion turned the tables on Team Jaguar in the penultimate practice match for the Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) members ahead of next week’s West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council Short Range Championships in Antigua, May 16-22, 2016.
It was another closely fought contest at the 300, 500 and 600 yards ranges as the shooters got in much needed practice ahead of what is anticipated to be a keenly contested Caribbean championships as the rest of the Caribbean will be gunning for the defending champions, Guyana.
Team Jaguar had defeated Team Lion in the first match on May 1st by three points 399.26 to 396.21 but on Sunday the Lion roared past the Jaguar by a single point on an exciting day of shooting which saw a number of marksmen being rewarded for exceptional shooting.
The only possibles on the day were recorded by reigning Caribbean and local Individual Champions Lennox Braithwaite and Ransford Goodluck of Team Jaguar and Lion at the 500 yards range.
Caribbean Short Range Shooting Champions, Guyana during practice on Sunday May 8 at the Timehri Ranges, Yarrowkabra Linden-Soesdyke Highway
Goodluck missed the cut at 300 yards by a single point while Leo Romalho (500 and 600), Ryan Sampson (500), Fullbore Captain Mahendra Persaud and Vice Captain Dylan Fields both at 500 also missed possible by a single point each.
Captain Persaud noted his pleasure at the building form of the shooters going into the final team practice on Saturday and next week’s Caribbean championships where the likes of Jamaica which has always provided keen battles for Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and host nation Antigua and Barbuda will all be aiming to dethrone the Guyanese.
“I am very pleased with the way our guys have been getting into form. We are the champions and we intend to return with the trophy in this the year of our 50th Independence Anniversary. We are not relenting in terms of proper preparation so we will be up at the ranges again on Saturday for our final session at the same ranges.”
Persaud noted there is the usual high level of camaraderie among the members of the team and he is also expecting that in the Individual Championships, Guyana will again lead in that regard.
“I know that our regional rivals will be coming heavy at us as usual but this is something we are accustomed to and are prepared to take on the challenges that we will face come next week.”
The Wind Coaches who have been guiding the shooters during at the various ranges employing the same format that will be used next week as well as the allotted time are Paul Slowe (Head), Braithwaite, Goodluck and Persaud.
Captain Persaud also informed that corporate support has been rolling in but they are off the budget by about $500,000 which they are hoping to raise ahead of departure for Antigua next Monday.
