Guyanese shooters continue to excel at the Commonwealth Games (CG) Test Event, known as the Commonwealth Shooting Federation Championships, being held at the Belmont Shooting Centre in Brisbane, Australia.
Mahendra Persaud
This is the same venue where CG 2018 will be held. The top Fullbore shooters from all the Commonwealth countries have gathered to test themselves and the conditions as a warm-up for the games. The only world class shooter missing is Northern Ireland’s David Calvert, who was in Guyana for the Guyana Rifle Association’s 150th Anniversary Championships.
Shooting two sighters and 10 rounds to count, referred to as a Queen’s 2 over 300, 500 and 600 yards, the two Guyanese recorded 5 possibles between them. In tricky and fishtailing wind conditions, National Fullbore Captain Mahendra Persaud recorded scores of 50.4 at 300yds , 50.2 at 500yds and 50.4 at 600yds for a grand total of 150.10Vs, finishing in second place for the day. Only two shooters registered scores of 150 for this second day. Lennox Braithwaite, who was leading after day one, having shot flawlessly with a total of 105:14 on the first day, continued his fine form with 2 possibles at the 300 and 500, but could only get 47 at 600 yards.
Now three shooters are tied on 254 with Vs separating them, having only dropped one point after two days of intense competition. The leader board with the grand aggregate to date shows:
1st Australian Jim Bailey 254:31
2nd South African Petra’s Haasbroek 254:24
3rd Guyanese Mahendra Persaud 254:16
4th England David Luckman 253:33
5th England Parag Patel 253:23
6th Guyana Lennox Braithwaite 252:29
7th Guernsey Peter Jory 252:26
8th Canada Jim Paton 251:29
9th Australia Peter Thurtell 251:25
10th Wales Chris Watson 251:24
There was a scheduled practice at the ranges over the long distances on Sunday, for the shooters to get a feel of the conditions which have tested their skills since the CSF started.
All eyes will be on the shooters from 10:00hrs today as they shoot the final Stage 3 (Queen’s 3) with 15 rounds to count at 900yds and 15rd also at 1,000 yards. It could be anybody’s game as it is all won and lost at 1,000 yards.
The continued support coming from the Guyana Olympic Association and Secure Concepts & Innovations Inc. for our international sports ambassadors is applauded by the Guyana National Rifle Assn (GNRA), as it is proving wise to have sent shooters to attend this Championship and having Guyana recognized on the world stage as having top marksmen.
