Magnificent shooting from Guyanese shooters ensured the country fired its way to victory in the Short Range Match at the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council 2023 Championship, which ended at the Crabbs Rifle and Pistol Range in Antigua on Saturday.
Guyana was led by marksman Peter Persaud, who dropped only three points from a possible 150, including the only possible of the day at 500 yards (50.4), coupled with excellent coaching by Mahendra Persaud, and great leadership by captain Dylan Fields and reigning Caribbean individual champion Lennox Braithwaite.
Peter Persaud’s performance earned him the Wogart Trophy, which is for the shooter recording the highest score for the day.
It was a vintage performance by the Guyanese who had lost to host nation Jamaica last year by a single point. However, this year, the team was determined not to let anyone come remotely close and from the first range, the dye was virtually cast.
Captain Fields and Roberto Tiwari each dropped five points out of the possible 150 and reigning Individual champion Braithwaite dropped six to ensure that from the start, 300-yard range, a solid foundation was set which the team built on at the 500 yards and 600 yards ranges.
At 300 yards, no Guyanese shooter went below 44 points, and when the final shot rang out and the scores tallied, Guyana was well ahead with 375 points and 25 V-Bulls, with the closest nation being the host with 365 points and 19 V-Bulls.
At 500 yards, the Guyanese took it up a few notches, led by Peter Persaud’s possible, 50.4, tallied 378 points along with 21 Vs, the home team again being the closest six points back. The Antiguans fought bravely, but the deficit was way too much to overcome, as the Guyanese were very focused and determined to reclaim the trophy.
The 600 yards range produced another fabulous shoot from the Guyanese as they fired their way to 366 points and 15 Vs, another unbeatable score that propelled them to victory at this 2023 edition of the competition, organised by the Antigua and Barbuda Rifle Association on behalf of the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council.
Guyana tallied 1,119 points along with 61 Vs, the most points and Vs by any nation at this year’s competition. Next was Antigua and Barbuda with 1,099.53 followed by Canada (1,091.59) and Jamaica (1,028.41), who eclipsed Barbados on Vs (34), as both ended with the same points.
Guyana’s Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle on hearing the news that Guyana won, immediately called Captain Fields to express the nation’s delight on behalf of Minister of Sport, Charles Ramson Jr.
Ninvalle told Fields and the team members that Guyana is very proud of their achievement in showing the rest of the Caribbean that the country is indeed the best in this sport at the individual and team levels.
He promised that the Ministry and the National Sports Commission will work closely with the GuyanaNRA to further advance the sport.
Guyana is slated to host the 2024 edition of the WIFBSC Championship, which will also include the Long-Range Competition.
Meanwhile, the President of the WIFBSC, Major Nelson, offered congratulations to the Guyana team from the Council and Jamaica.
Captain Fields spoke on behalf of his charges: “The result was proof that the programme that was decided upon after Jamaica was the correct one. I was confident that this team was well prepared and as such, the result was inevitable. I am happy for Guyana and the people, the government, and the companies that have stood behind us. This win is for them. I also want to say congrats to Peter Persaud on winning the Wogart trophy.”
The GuyanaNRA is extending 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 the making the trip to Antigua possible.
