– 2009 was a dream year for rifle shooter Mahendra Persaud as he snatched the national championships from Ransford Goodluck and was the Caribbean’s best shooter at Bisley
If rifle shooter Mahendra Persaud had his way he would have wished that the year 2009 did not have to come to an end.
For last year marked the coming of age of this champion rifle shooter who had what can only be considered a dream year.
It was not only that Persaud led Guyana to a hat-trick of title wins at the regional rifle shooting championships, or that he usurped Ransford Goodluck’s place as the number one rifle shooter in Guyana.
No!
Those two achievements, pleasurable though they might be, pale into insignificance with Persaud’s showing at last year’s rifle shooting competition at Bisley, regarded as the “Mecca” of rifle shooting in the world.
There Persaud achieved the unique and much sought after distinction of winning the Queen’s Badge.
Persaud’s love affair with the sport began in 1993 when he became a member of the Guyana National Rifle Association.
Back then Persaud had no idea of the heights he would reach in the sport that fascinated him. His only interest then was in the small bore competitions which he would compete in.
The following year, Persaud graduated to full-bore competitions.
Rifle shooting in Guyana is not an easy sport. Most competitions are held at the Timehri Rifle Ranges which means travelling the 25-odd miles before settling down to shoot.
Wind conditions usually play a factor and the rifle shooters need to be able to correctly interpret the wind.
Failing to do so can result in a missed shot.
Over the year’s Persaud has been fairly successful but what sets him apart from the rest is his dedication, commitment and great love for the sport.
A businessman by profession, Persaud knows that in order to be successful, one must place a lot of emphasis on one’s equipment.
Last year, Persaud was captain of the 12-member rifle shooting team to the West Indian Full Bore championships in the twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
“In Trinidad you had what was called an ammunition fiasco,” he told Stabroek Sport.
“There was only enough to do the short range shooting,” Persaud recalled.
With the Target Quality ammunition provided, Guyana swept to triumph in the BWIA Cup Short Range championships.
Persaud was to the fore of Guyana’s effort shooting 145.13 out of 150.
He, however, along with Ransford Goodluck, opted out on the individual competition.
Usurping Goodluck
Among rifle shooters locally Goodluck has been the standard bearer, the shining light, the man to beat at national and other championships.
This year’s national rifle shooting championships was no different.
Held on April 5, 11 and 12 at the Timehri Rifle Ranges, Persaud, behind the eight ball after the first day, came roaring back on the second and third days with superb displays of marksmanship to capture the coveted crown of national champion.
The battle was close between Persaud and the man who for years had dominated the sport.
“I ended up beating Ransford by V Bulls. It is always a tight race with me and him,” Persaud explained.
Persaud, who made his debut for Guyana in 1994, has been a regular member of the national rifle shooting team ever since.
Along with the title of national champion, Persaud won the 10 round aggregate, second day aggregate, and the Sigmund Douglas Trophy for the grand aggregate awards to crown a thoroughly successful championships.
Caribbean’s best at Bisley
Approximately 1200 shooters from all parts of the world converged at Bisley, England for the Imperial Meeting.
Bisley is the premier shooting ground in the United Kingdom. It is the world’s best known shooting centre and played host to all of the shooting disciplines at the Manchester Commonwealth Games.
Persaud in his opening shoot recorded a top score of 147 out of 150 for the International All Stars in the British Commonwealth Match.
He was also able to make the prize list on a few occasions including a Bronze bar in the Wimbledon TR match with a score of 50.5 out of a possible 50:10 and had third place finishes in the Falklands and Kenya competitions for overseas shooters.
Persaud’s biggest achievement at Bisley, however was that he finished the Imperial Meeting as the top West Indian Shooter, finishing over 100 places ahead of the next Caribbean rifle shooter in the competition.
In the gruelling Queen’s Prize Competition which entails qualifying from stage one to two, shooters are required to dispatch seven shots at the 300, 500 and 600 yard ranges for a possible score of 105.
Persaud shot 101 from a field of over 1000 persons.
The effort enabled him to make the cut for the second stage of only 300 shooters.
Queen’s Badge
One of the most sought after accomplishments for any rifle shooter who competes at Bisley is the honour of wearing the Queen’s Badge.
Some rifle shooters spend their entire life in search of this signal honour.
In order to qualify for the Queen’s 100 Badges, shooters are required to fire 10 shots at the 300, 500 and 600 yards for a possible score of 150 points.
Guyana’s Persaud shot 147.12 to become only the second Guyanese ever to qualify for the Queen’s Final and earning his first Queen’s Badge.
In the third and final stage, the shooters were required to fire 15 rounds at the 900 and 1,000 yard ranges.
That total was then added to their second stage score for a possible total of 300 points.
Persaud held his own at the 900-yard range shooting 72 out of 75 but was badly affected by the wind at the 1000-yard range and finished a creditable 91 with a score of 283.21.
Persaud’s performances at Bisley helped put Guyana and the Caribbean on the map with respect to rifle shooting.
A quiet, unassuming individual, Persaud is cognizant but not boastful of the goals he has achieved and the impact he has had on rifle shooting in Guyana.
He is already looking ahead to this year’s season and has indicated that he wants the Guyana team to make it four title triumphs in a row.
“One more to complete in Barbados next year to make it a full circle,” he told Stabroek Sport.
No mention of personal goals, Mahendra Persaud, rifle shooting extraordinaire and the Caribbean’s best, like a true team man, seems always willing to put this country’s achievements ahead of his own.
