Qualander rules GNRA yearend Championships

Dec 02, 2008 Sports

Junior shooters impressive

Overall handgun champion Mohamed Qualander (centre) is flanked by 3rd placed David Dharry (left) and the 2nd positioned Johan DaSilva as they display their hardware following the completion of the event at Timehri Ranges.

The Guyana National Rifle Association staged its 2008 year-end championship for hand gunners last Sunday at the Timehri Ranges.

The competition for handgun supremacy was blessed with excellent weather and in the blazing Timehri sunshine Mohamed Qualander, using a stock GLOCK 19 pistol, turned in an excellent performance to emerge the overall winner from a field which included veteran handgun campaigners Murtland Smith, James Singh, Harold Hopkinson, Dale Hing and Lawrence Layne among others.

Sterling performances were also recorded by junior shooters Johan DaSilva, competing with a CZ pistol and David Dharry, using a GLOCK 34 pistol, in outgunning the competition for second and third place overall respectively in the yearend championship shoot.

The competition was run in three stages and included a .22LR and 9mm precision shoot and a 9mm International Practical Pistol Confederation (IPSC) stage.

In the first stage competitors had to engage targets at the 10 and 15 metre ranges with 10 shots for each range for a possible 200 points and 20 v-bulls.

This stage saw James Singh emerging as the winner with a score of 199 with 2 v-bulls followed by Aundrea Cambridge (198 with 6 v-bulls) and Mohamed Qualander in 3rd place with a score of 198 with 5 v-bulls.

The 9mm precision shoot was a little more challenging in that competitors had to load two magazines at five rounds each and complete 10 shots on targets at the 10 and 15 metre ranges with a mandatory magazine change, while shooting under the clock.

Aundrea Cambridge was again in good form scoring a total of 155 points with 4 v-bulls followed by Johan DaSilva with 152 points and Mohamed Qualander in third place with 144 points and 2 v-bulls.

The final stage for the day was the IPSC practical pistol event and again competitors were shooting “under the clock”. This stage was one which tested accuracy and speed in practical situations and competitors had to complete the shoot in the fastest time possible while making high scoring shots to get the highest hit factor possible.

Ryan McKinnon proved to be the fastest and most accurate on show placing first with a hit factor score of 109.99 points followed by the consistent Qualander in second place with a score of 109.10 points and Captain Dale Hing third with a 107.38 hit factor.

At the end of the days proceedings with all of the scores tallied and checked for the three stages, Qualander with his accurate and consistent performance throughout the stages emerged as the best overall marksman to capture of the GNRA 2008 year-end championship.

Handgun Captain Dale Hing (right) hands over the overall winners

He garnered a total of 451.10 points and he was followed by Johan DaSilva in second place overall with a total of 425.95 points and David Dharry who placed third overall with a total of 423.96 points. Murtland Smith and Ryan McKinnon also both put in creditable performances earning them fourth and fifth place overall with scores of 412.71 and 409.99 respectively.

A small presentation was held immediately following the competition and all winners were presented with their medals and trophies. Special thanks were extended to the sponsors of the trophies and medals, Industrial Safety Supplies Limited and Queensway for their kind donation of tents and chairs for the day’s event.

This event capped the activities of the hand gunners for 2008 and the GNRA hand gunners will eagerly be looking forward to the New Year with a number of overseas tours expected including Barbados and St Lucia among others.

The members and executives of the GNRA is expressing thanks to all their sponsors for their kind and valuable support over the year and wish to extend best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous and Productive New Year to all.

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