By Troy Peters
Veteran Rifle Shooting administrator Neville Denny was presented with the Distinguished Service Award by the Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) in tribute to his contribution to the sport in Guyana and the West Indies at an impressive ceremony last Saturday at Police Officers Mess, Eve Leary.
Denny, who turned 75, on August 5, has been an active member of the GNRA for close to 50 years and was instrumental in introducing most of the present members of the association to the sport.
Vice president of the GNRA, Assistant Commis-sioner of Police, Paul Slowe, in paying tribute to “Uncle Neville”as he is familiarly known, said Denny gave unselfish service to the association and was a father figure to most of the young shooters.
Richard “Dickie” Fields, another long-standing Vice President of the GNRA describe Denny as a stalwart with an unselfish nature who served beyond the call of duty to ensure that rifle shooting remain one of the top sport locally.
He called on the veteran administrator to continue to attend competition at the Timehri rifle ranges on occasions to give inspiration to the shooters.
Denny who served as Vice President for many years did not seek re-election at the last Annual General Meeting of the GNRA was inducted as a Life Member.
There were also tributes by Mahendra Persaud, Fullbore captain and Dale Hing, Smallbore captain who spoke highly of their mentor.
Denny became a member of the fore-runner to the GNRA back in 1959 three years after joining the local police force.
Denny who also served as a Vice President of the West Indies Fullbore Council in response to the many tributes disclosed that the GNRA needs new blood and one of his dreams is to see Guyana’s shooters represented at the Olympic Games.
He said that he believes in small bore (handgun) shooting and he sees potential in the development of smallbore shooting locally.
“I believe in smallbore, I believe smallbore helps fullbore as a sport and financially.”
According the Denny the GNRA benefited from the services of a lot of people over the years and he singled out Archie White, Archie Sutton, Mohamed Ali, Cecil Das and Maurice Yong as some of the stalwarts who helped to make the sport what it is today.
He said that Mohamed Ali was an excellent shooter but he was also instrumental in the establishment of the Timehri Rifle Ranges after shooting was stopped at the Thomas Lands Ranges to accommodate the Guyana Defence Force headquarters at Camp Ayanganna.
Denny’s vision is to see Guyana’s participation at the 2012 Olympic Games, he said that inspiration came about while he was attending the Commonwealth Games in Canada a few years ago and efforts are being made by the GNRA to realize that dream.
Denny was presented with at the appreciation ceremony Denny was presented with a plaque with the inscription “Appreciation of years of effective leadership, dedication and faithful service to the Guyana National Rifle Association, also for your contribution as a Senior Executive of the Association and especially for promoting the sport of shooting in Guyana and the West Indies.”
The former shooter first represented Guyana back in the late 1960s and later served as coach and manager over the years including managing teams to the Commonwealth Games .
He has been famous for reading the wind under tricky shooting conditions through- out the West Indies and as Bisley,the Mecca of the world’s rifle shooting in England. Denny was also a Vice President of the Amateur Athletic Association of Guyana and a member of the National Sports Commission (NSC).
