WIFBSC Championships Barbados 2025: Guyanese shooters pacing themselves as individual competition fires off
Despite challenging conditions and rain, Guyanese shooters are holding their own as rivalry in the individual segment of the 2025 West Indies Fullbore Shooting Championships fired off at the Paragon Range, Christ Church, Barbados.
Peter Persaud was the leading Guyanese shooter on day one which was affected by rain and fading light as only two of the events that were scheduled to be contested were possible. The final event of the day on Tuesday should have been the 600 yards contest, but rapidly-fading light did not allow any shots; that range was put forward to Wednesday.
Team Guyana at the 2025 West Indies Fullbore Shooting Championships
Out of a possible 85 available points from the two ranges contested, 300 and 500 yards, Persaud recorded 81 points with scores of 34.2 at the 300 yards, one point short and 47.5 at 500 yards.
Countryman Ryan Sampson was not far off as he accumulated a total score of 81.5 (33.2 at 300 yards and 48.3 at 500 yards). The Vice Captain was the next best Guyanese on the day with a total score of 81.4.
A look at the Guyanese team in action
The leading West Indians on the day were Laurne Benjamin of Antigua and Barbuda with a possible (35.3 at 300 yards and 48.2 at 500 yards for a total of 83.4. One point behind was Barbados’s Jason Wood with a total of 82.4.
Dominating the opening day were David Calvert of Ireland who shot possibles at both ranges, 35.5 at 300 yards and 50.6 at 500 yards for a total of 85.11, with Irishwoman Rebecca Laird within striking distance recording 34.2 at 300 yards and a possible of 50.5 at 500 yards for a total of 84.6. Four ranges were carded for competition on day 2, Wednesday.
Meanwhile, chairing the opening ceremony on Tuesday was West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council President, Major (Retired) Denis John Nelson of Jamaica who welcomed all the teams. The Championship was declared open by Chief of Defence Staff of Barbados, Brigadier Carlos Lovell, who expressed gratitude to the teams from Ireland, Canada, USA, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and the host nation.
A look at the Guyanese team in action
Brigadier Lovell encouraged all to have a great week of competition, but reminded all that at the end of the week, it should be fullbore rifle shooting that wins in the West Indies, as the competitiveness brought by the visitors will help lift the standard of the sport in the West Indies.
In firing the ceremonial opening shot at the 300-yard range, Brigadier Lovell was spot on as he nailed a V-Bull.
The Guyana National Rifle Association (NRA) expressed thanks to all its sponsors for making its sojourn to Barbados possible: President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali; Army Chief Brigadier Omar Khan; Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken; Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr; Guyana Olympic Association President Godfrey Munroe; Sterling Products Chief Executive Officer Ramsay Ali; Queensway Security Ltd; Continental Group of Companies; Crown Mining; Industrial Safety Supplies Inc; Guyana Police Force; Guyana Revenue Authority and Caribbean Airlines.
