Guyana reclaim WIFSC trophy from Jamaica; are undisputed KINGS of the ranges again

May 11, 2014 Sports

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West Indies Fullbore Rifle Shooting C/ships – Short Range Match

By Franklin Wilson in Jamaica
Compliments of Queensway, Fazia’s Collection,
Crown Mining Supply and Fitness Express

On another testing day, as a matter of fact, the most testing of all the days here in Jamaica at the Twickenham Ranges, Guyana’s riflemen wrested the Short Range trophy sponsored by the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council (WIFBSC) from their hosts when the curtains came down on the 2014 edition of the WIFBSC Individual, Long and Short Range Championships.

Like they did in 2000, 2005 and 2008, the Guyanese ended with both the Long and Short Range championships and also won the Individual title in the X Class through Lennox Braithwaite, back to back winner.
Host, Jamaica, went into the day full of confidence as defending champions having defeated Guyana last year in Barbados, but even their home advantage did not work as the lads from Ring Bank country outshot their fierce rivals from Reggae Island by 14 points to take sweet revenge.
With the winds blowing from left to right and switching the other way; sometimes stopping abruptly, the Guyanese Coaching staff and shooters had to once again pull out all the stops to emerge victors.
Guyana’s combined score at the end of the three ranges, 300, 500 and 600 was 1119 points and 75 V Bulls, leaving Jamaica behind on 1105 points and 58 V Bulls. Trinidad and Tobago occupied the third place with 1068 points and 44 Vs, Antigua and Barbuda placed fourth 1050 points with Barbados bringing up the rear on 1022 points and 25Vs.
Like they did for the Long Range match, the Guyanese pulled together as a single unit as they supported each other in very humid but windy conditions. It was a smooth flow of shooters changing over and assisting each other when they finished in order to remain ahead of the 90 minutes for each range for the eight shooters.
There was no change to the winning Long Range combination and like they did on Friday, they delivered in style.
Caribbean Individual champion, Lennox Braithwaite led from the front with an overall total of 146 points and 9 Vs with Vice Captain Dylan Fields who was the last shooter to leave the 600 bank, totaling 144 points and 13 Vs, the same points as Leo Ramalho who pierced the target for 11 Vs.
Captain, Mahendra Persaud and Ransford Goodluck had identical scores of 140 points 9 Vs. All the shooters applied themselves and were attentive to the Coaches, Retired ACP Paul Slowe, Ins. Dane Blair, Persaud, Braithwaite, Fields and Goodluck who all led from the front.
Persaud again shared that the key to the team’s overall success was the high emphasis on team work and respect for each other on and off the ranges.
“We could not have achieved what we did were it not for us banding together as one. It was a lot of hard work that was put in over the past months. We invested in brining Mr. Ian Shaw from Scotland to assist us and that investment has paid off in a big way. The entire team would like to publicly acknowledge Mr. Shaw for his guidance in shaping the way we have performed.”

Persaud also thanked the many sponsors who have stuck with the GNRA over the years and the others who have come on board noting that their partnership would be recognized at the appropriate time.
“As a team we have been doing Guyana proud over the years and this time it is no different. The corporate community has been very supportive of us. We want to also recognize their efforts and role in helping us be victorious.”
“We would also like to take this opportunity to thank God and our respective families for their support which has been vital to our success. Let me also extend a happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mothers in Guyana and wish them God’s continued blessings.”

WIFBSC Short Range Trophy
Country    Total    Vs
Guyana     1119    75
Jamaica     1105    58
Trinidad    1068    44
Antigua     1050    35
Barbados    1022    25

Team Guyana Individual Chart
Name            300    Vs    500    Vs    600    Vs    Total    Vs
Lennox Braithwaite     49    4    48    2    49    3    146    9
Dylan Fields        49    5    48    4    47    4    144    13
Leo Ramalho        49    5    47    3    48    3    144    11
Mahendra Persaud    46    6    48    3    48    5    140    9
Ransford Goodluck    47    3    46    4    47    2    140    9
Sigmund Douglas    46    4    48    3    42    1    136    8
Sherwin Felicien    44    0    45    2    46    1    135    3
Ryan     Sampson     43    1    46    3    43    4    132    8
Total            373    28    376    24    370    23    1119    75

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