Calculated shooting whilst relying on all his experience was enough to ensure that the reigning ‘King’ of the full-bore ranges in the Caribbean, Guyanese Lennox Braithwaite (461.35) retained his crown and bragging rights for another year, as the 2023 edition of the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council (WIFBSC) Individual Championships ended on Thursday afternoon at the Crabbs Rifle and Pistol Range in Antigua and Barbuda.
After finding himself behind Trinidadian Dr.Varma Rambaran at the end of the first day of the three-day competition, Braithwaite re-calibrated and never looked back as he gradually fired back into the lead at the end of the second day and maintained that advantage throughout the final day.
Braithwaite and countryman Roberto Tiwari both achieved possible at the 500 yards range with scores of 35.3 and 35.1 respectively. Geoff Woodman (35.2) and Patel (35.3) were the other shooters achieving possible at the 500-yard range.
Shooting as a guest, Canadian Woodman ended at the top of the X-Class leaderboard with 467.41.
Rambaran’s ascendancy after the first day was not replicated over the next two days as he ended out of the top 10. Guyana did not only dominate the X-Class category, but the O-Class as well which was won by USA-based Guyanese, Sigmund Douglas.
Douglas, a veteran marksman, was on top of the leaderboard in his class from day one and never relinquished the lead as he ended with 430 points and 8 V-bulls.
The Tiro or Sharp Shooter Class for beginners was won by Antigua and Barbuda’s Zuber Patel with a score of 444.20; he finished fifth overall among the 45 shooters.
Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) Fullbore captain Dylan Fields (436.18) ended ninth overall; Roberto Tiwari (430.16) was 15th; Sherwin Felicien (418.15) 22nd; Ryan Sampson (410.17) 27th; Leo Romalho (408.17) 28th; Peter Persaud/O-Class (403.20) 29th; John Fraser/O-Class (378.6) 38th; and veteran Ransford Goodluck (333.12) in the 40th position.
The top female was Jamaica’s Karen Anderson, who ended 11th overall with a score of 432.21. Bajan female Jennifer Jordon was 14th (430.17) and compatriot Shellyann Hinds (422.18) was 19th.
Braithwaite shared his thoughts on retaining the championship as the best marksman in the Caribbean.
“First of all, I want to give God thanks for keeping me in good health and strength. Preparing for this tournament, I spent much time working with the team members trying to raise their game. Getting into the actual match, we discovered there were different types of ammunition, which affected the quality of our shooting. Nonetheless, success was because of my experience and of course team support. Again, thanks to all the sponsors who have contributed towards the team members being here, and as we promised, we would deliver, and we have done so far.”
Captain Fields complimented all the shooters for holding their own despite the challenges whilst stating that the focus will now turn towards the Short-Range Team Match set for Saturday.
“I am happy that Lennox and Sigmund have swept the X and O titles. We knew that they could do it. The performance of all the team members speaks for itself and I look forward to leading the team come Saturday.”
Guyana lost by a single point to host nation Jamaica last year and the shooters are now focused on regaining the team trophy.
The GuyanaNRA has extended sincere gratitude to the Government of Guyana, the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport, the National Sports Commission, the Guyana Olympic Association, Industrial Safety Supplies Inc., Secure Innovations and Concepts Inc., Queensway Security Service Inc., DHL, Citizens Bank, Sterling Products and Star Party Rentals for making the participation of local shooters possible.
