Latest update January 19th, 2025 7:10 AM
Aug 13, 2015 Sports
Cometh the hour, cometh the range, WI shooters take aim at biggest event in the world
By Franklin Wilson at Camp Perry, Ohio, USA
compliments of NAMILCO, Ringbang, Fazias Collection,
Crown Mining Supply and Queensway
Non-Shooting Team Captain of the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council (WIFBSC) Team competing at the World Championships has described the biggest match in the sports calendar, as its Olympics.
This match known as the Palma is set to be contested over the next two days at Camp Perry, Ohio, USA where it is making a return after almost 40 years.
The best teams in the world including Australia, Great Britain, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies and host USA will be battling at the 800, 900 and 1000 yards ranges today and tomorrow before the best nation in Fullbore Team Shooting in the world would be crowned champions.
These said countries would have been battling in various competitions for the past two weeks here at Camp Perry. The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) Individual and America (Team) Match as well as the International Confederation of Fullbore Rifle Association (ICFRA) World Individual Long Range Rifle Championship which ended on Tuesday with Australian Ben Emms winning, while the top West Indian was Guyana’s Mahendra Persaud who placed 121st of 407 entrants.
The top Female was USA’s Sherri Gallagher who was followed by countrywoman Trudie Fay and Great Britain’s Jane Messer. Winning Veteran was Tom Whitaker (USA), ahead of Bob Steketee (USA) and David Calvert (Great Britain).
It is now on to the team match and no doubt, the top individuals will now play integral roles in determining which of the teams will emerge as the best.
The West Indies team will be banking on the form of Persaud, Ransford Goodluck and Lennox Braithwaite and the other shooters who have competed in the NRA Individual and Team competitions along with the ICFRA Individual so far.
The Palma is the final competition on this tour and it’s most important. Yesterday saw the team hard at practice on the three ranges that will be the battling ground today and tomorrow. Three of the Caribbean’s young prospects have been added to the West Indies 16-man team, namely the Guyanese duo of Peter Persaud and Sherwin Felicien and Barbadian Jason Wood who have been doing well on tour so far.
Captain Nelson noted that this represents the biggest rifle match that the West Indies will be competing in, describing it as the Olympics of Rifle Shooting.
Practice yesterday he said went very well and they are looking forward to match shots with the best in the world from today.
“The mood in the team is very good; we are experiencing a high in morale and we are expecting to do very well. Clearly we don’t have the depth to select from such as the USA or Great Britain who have over 100 to select their sixteen-person team from, but we will go out there and give it our all and hopefully, we can upset a few of the more accomplished nations.”
Jan 19, 2025
SportsMax – West Indies fell predictably to Pakistan’s spinners, as they collapsed for 137 in less than a session on day two of the opening Test at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Saturday....Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News– Bharrat Jagdeo is fond every week of criticizing the PNC/R as not having persons... more
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]