Minister Henry briefed on GuyanaNRA’s preparations for 150th Anniversary in October

May 01, 2017 Sports

Executive members of the Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) on Friday last paid a courtesy call on Honourable Nicolette Henry, Minister within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, at her office where the updated her on the progress of plans for the 150th Anniversary Championships in October.

GuyanaNRA Executive members with Minister Henry, centre. From right, Ryan Sampson, Hemant Narine, Terrence Stuart and Lennox Braithwaite.

Attending the meeting were, Honorary Secretary Ryan Sampson, Treasurer Lt. Col (Ret’d) Terrence Stuart, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Hemant Narine and Committee Member, Lennox Braithwaite.
At the conclusion of the meeting the Minister stated that her Ministry will be very willing to assist not only in monetary ways but in providing transportation and connections to the relevant authorities in tourism and even planning, as these are also important for hosting.
Confirmation of participation for the October championships to be held at the Timehri Rifle Ranges which is currently being refurbished have been received from Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Antigua & Barbuda, Jamaica, Bermuda, Canada, USA, Ireland, England and the Falkland Islands.
The shooting programme to be used will be similar to what is used at Bisley, England for the Imperial Championships: three days of individual shooting from which the top seventy-two will go forward on the fourth day and shoot at the 300, 500 and 600yds ranges.
The top 48 from those three ranges will then move forward to the finals to shoot at the 900 and 1000 yards ranges. The Friday is a rest/tour day where some shooters and their family members have planned to tour the Kaieteur Falls, as the GuyanaNRA continues to push Sports Tourism as part of the package to the participants and to let them see more of Guyana.
The Saturday will see the Milex Long Range Championship being contested followed on Sunday with the West Indies Full Bore Shooting Council Short Range Championship. Guyana will be defending both the Long and Short Range Titles having been the dominant nation in the shooting sport over the past nine (9) years.
There will be a Presentation and Dinner on the Sunday night where the association’s Patron, His Excellency Brigadier David Granger and Honourable Minister Nicolette Henry are expected to be in attendance.
The budget for the championships is nearly G$20M with the ammunition costs taking about half of this amount, apart from major rehabilitation works which are continuing on the ranges. Last week, the Guyana Defence Force hierarchy led by Brigadier Patrick West made an inspection of the works and was very impressed and pleased with the development at the ranges led by the GuyanaNRA.
West reiterated his support and assistance for the completion of the ranges to international standards. The association will soon be sending letters to the business community seeking assistance to offset some of the associated expenses for the ongoing works and plans for hosting of the Championship.