McKinnon, Phang take top honours

GSSF/DIG Inc. Practical Shooting Match…

Local practical shooters were, for the second year, given opportunity — on Saturday June 29, 2019 — to participate in a Sport Shooting Competition which was exclusively sponsored by Dental Imports Guyana Inc. (DIG Inc.) and hosted by the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF).

Some of the participants of the DIG sponsored Practical Shooting Match

Match Director David Dharry, in declaring the Match open, welcomed participants to what promised to be an exciting afternoon with five dynamic fun stages.
Everyone converged on the “Peekaboo” stage as one squad; and the match began with shooters standing in a relaxed position, heels touching rear fault lines of the stage. A magazine was inserted in the handgun, but the chamber remained empty.
Upon the signal to start, shooters had to engage the four paper targets as they became visible, and run a few feet forward to finally peek around a barricade to engage the 3 remaining poppers.
Having warmed up by completing the first stage, shooters proceeded to a starkly different stage, called “No Rush”, which comprised four paper targets surrounded by six no-shoot targets, which caused participants to take their time after turning to face downrange when the start signal was given.
Participants and spectators alike were heard gasping as seasoned shooters unfortunately registered a few hits on the much-dreaded no-shoot targets, thereby incurring a penalty of minus 10 points per hit.
Things turned a little lively after that particularly tense stage when everyone proceeded to the “Bolero” stage, which started with participants all standing in Zone A, facing uprange, with all their magazines placed on a barrel. When the start signal was given, shooters had to retrieve unloaded handguns placed on a table behind them, or choose to retrieve the magazines first then engage all targets, which were 7 paper targets and 2 plates.
This stage saw shooters engaging targets as if they were dramatically and technically dancing the Spanish bolero, with different techniques/moves being executed.
The fun did not end there, as shooters then proceeded to what was declared a fun stage: “Afternoon Jog”. This stage was just that, as shooters started out with a loaded and holstered handgun and, upon start signal, had to move/jog to various locations to engage 6 paper targets, 2 poppers and 2 plates.
The afternoon’s competition ended on the “Fiesta”, a very colourful stage, which saw shooters on start position standing with a sombrero on their heads, facing uprange, hands touching marks on the wall. Holstered handguns were loaded, but the chambers were empty. Upon start signal, shooters had to engage targets with the provided sombrero on shooter when engaging targets. This stage comprised 11 paper targets, 2 no-shoot ones and 2 poppers.
Dr Pravesh Harry, in the closing ceremony, reiterated his pleasure at being able to sponsor a Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation’s practical shooting match, and indicated DIG’s commitment to the GSSF and safe sport shooting activities.
DIG Inc., established by Dr Pravesh Harry and Dr Kevin Jodah, is a local efficient and reliable dental supplies company, the main focus of which is to supply dentists in and around Guyana with a wide range of dental materials at competitive prices.
The G.S.S.F. would like to extend its sincerest gratitude to Dr Harry and the Board of Directors of Dental Imports Guyana Inc. for the kind sponsorship and support of the Foundation’s activities and events.
The Board of Directors wishes to commend the Match Director, Range Master, Stats Officer, Range Officers and the shooters for ensuring an efficient event. Special thanks also go to the Guyana Defence Force; Chief of Staff, Brigadier Patrick West; Commissioner of Police, Leslie James; Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ms. Maxine Graham; OC Guy Nurse, the ranks of TSU and the Guyana Police Force, the media and GSSF members for their support in promoting practical shooting locally.
Thanks also go to Harold Hopkinson for the use of his personal props, steel plates, poppers and target stands for some of the stages.
More information on the GSSF is available on its website www.GuyanaSportShooting.com
Beautiful trophies were presented to the winners.
Limited Division:
1st place – Ryan McKinnon (345.3381 points)
2nd place – John Phang (331.0934 points)
3rd place – Pravesh Harry (287.3179 points)

Production Division:
1st place – Andrew Phang (347.6693 points)
2nd place – Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon (307.1555 points)
3rd place – Dallas Thomas (235.1131 points)