The National Rifle Shooting Championships will fire off today at the Timehri rifle ranges in what is expected to be a fiercely contested tournament.
The riflemen will battle over the 300, 500 and 900 yards on the opening day with the Valladares Trophy at stake for the shooter who records the best aggregate at the 500 yards range.
When the competition gets underway from 10:00 hours, defending champion Mahendra Persaud is expected to face stiff opposition from former national champions Richard Fields and Ransford Goodluck.
Goodluck has won three successive competitions so far this season and seems to be the shooter to beat over the duration of the championships. Persaud, who was triumphant in the season opener before being edged out by Gooduck in last weekend’s Recorded Shoot, will be looking to bounce back into the winner’s row.
Richard Fields, who last weekend appeared in his first competition for the year, is a seasoned campaigner and could spring a few surprises once he hits form.
Also in contention for championship honours are Dane Blair, vice captain Dylan Fields, Claude Duguid, Ryan Sampson, Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Slowe and Lt. Col. Terry Stuart who are all among the senior shooters.
Meanwhile, competitors in the junior category will include Charles Deane, Peter Persaud, Everad Nelson and Rakesh Persaud.
Other trophies up for grabs during the championships are the Lushington 7-round Aggregate at 300 yards, Wood Davis 10-round aggregate, Short Range Aggregate, Junior Sports Bar, Denis Carryl Long Range Aggregate and the Sigmund Douglas Grand Aggregate.
The championships will continue on Saturday and conclude on Sunday.
Guyana is preparing to defend its title at the West Indies Fullbore championships, which will be held next month in Barbados.