GNRA names strong 14-man squad for defence of Caribbean Fullbore titles

May 19, 2010 Sports

Former Guyana Captain Paul Archer to make grand return

By Franklin Wilson

The Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) has named a strong 14-man team to compete at the 2010 Caribbean Fullbore Rifle Shooting Championships set for Barbados from May 23 – 30, 2010.

Headlining the team which will be captained by Mahendra Persaud is veteran and former Regional Champion Ransford Goodluck who has been in top form in the past few months.

The full team is Mahendra Persaud (captain), Ransford Goodluck, Dylan Fields, Richard Fields, Dane Blair, Paul Slowe, Ryan Sampson, Claude Duguid, (Terry Stuart, Charles Deane – O Class). USA based John Fraser, Derick Naraine and Sigmund Douglas along with Canada based and former Guyana Captain and Caribbean Top Shot – Paul Archer who will be making a return to the sport after meeting and spending time with fellow Guyanese shooters in Canada at the Last Palma World Long Range Championships – 2007.

The Wind Coaches are Paul Slowe, Mahendra Persaud, Ransford Goodluck, Dane Blair and Dylan Fields.

Speaking with Kaieteur Sport, Captain Persaud said preparations went well barring a few interruptions by heavy downpours, especially on the final Sunday Practice at 900 and 1000 yards ranges.

“The Team is well prepared after a few months of intense training, and members should give a good account of themselves. We have developed into not only a united team but a bunch of very close friends who look out for each other. As long as we stick to basics and the shooters shoot to their potential nothing but positive results are expected.”

Commenting on potential challenges from other countries, Persaud noted that Trinidad, with shooters the caliber of veteran Norris Gomez, Justin Lall and Mike Perez, have always been a strong team as is Jamaica with David Rickman, Jose Nunez and John Nelson.

He said host nation Barbados cannot be underrated but boasted that the Guyana team has to beat itself, “Meaning we are unbeatable as long as we turn up in the right frame of mind on the day.”

At Long Range, Guyana, the defending champions are definitely favorites Persaud noted but cautioned that carelessness creeps in sometimes referring to 2007 when the Guyanese lost to Trinidad and Tobago by the slimmest of margins (1 point). “That loss still haunts us even up to this day, but this time around though, I think we are better prepared than before, mind you the other teams are also upping their game.”

Sharing his thoughts on the likely outcome at the Short Range, Persaud stated that it is basically decided at 300 yards.

“We have been shooting more at this range to get the confidence of the shooters up. Goodluck is definitely in the best form of his life, I should know, I coach him. I am close to getting in the right zone myself and the Fields – Richard and Dylan have come on with excellent scores of late. Duguid is doing well and Blair, Sampson and Slowe have shown great improvement also. Stuart is Guyana’s best “O” Class shooter and should give a good account of himself. Deane is improving and will do better this time around.”

Four of the Guyanese marksmen (Persaud, Goodluck, Sampson and Stuart) will leave tomorrow for Antigua & Barbuda where they will compete in that Country’s Goodwill Fullbore Shooting Championships which will also be used to gauge Antigua’s readiness to host the Caribbean Championships, next year.

The other members of Team Guyana will arrive in Barbados on Sunday ahead of the opening ceremony later that day. The Antigua quartet will also fly into Barbados on Sunday.

A number of Corporate entities and well wishers have contributed towards the team being able to travel to Barbados, among them are Office of the President, Banks DIH Ltd., Industrial Safety Supplies, Scotia Bank, Demerara Life Group of Companies, Citizens Bank, Japarts, Noble House Seafoods and Crown Mining.

Programme for the Caribbean Fullbore Rifle Shooting championships.

May 23, 2010

Opening Ceremony

May 24, 2010

Practice Day

May 25, 2010

Individual Day 1 (300, 500, 600 Yards)

May 26, 2010

Individual Day 2 (500, 600, 900 Yards)

May 27, 2010

Individual Day 3 (300, 900, 1000 Yards)

May 28, 2010

Rest day

May 29, 2010

Team Shoot Long Distance

May 30, 2010

Team Shoot Short Distance

May 30, 2010

Award Presentation and Closing Ceremony

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