Guyana’s Rifle shooters won an unprecedented fourth West Indies fullbore title at the regional championship in Barbados but it was the fifth place finish in the pairs competition at this year’s Commonwealth Games in India that threw the spotlight on the sport locally.
The reigning Caribbean individual champion Ransford Goodluck and current National champion and fullbore captain Mahendra Persaud produced a stellar performance at the X1X Commonwealth Games against some of the world’s finest riflemen.
The two shooters were the backbone of Guyana’s successful title defence in the regional competition in Bridgetown, Barbados after they disposed of nemesis Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Antigua/Barbuda and Bermuda.
The star-studded line up included four overseas-based shooters Derrick Narine, John Fraser, Sigmund Douglas and Paul Archer as well as Claude Duguid, Richard Fields, Dylan Fields, Dane Blair, Ryan Sampson, Lt. Col Terry Stuart, Charles Deane and ACP retired Paul Slowe.
Prior to travelling to Barbados, a four-man team travelled to Antigua/Barbuda to contest a Goodwill series organized by the newly formed Antigua/Barbuda Rifle Association.
Persaud and Goodluck also travelled to Bisley, United Kingdom in July with support from the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) where they performed creditably in what was a dress rehearsal for the Commonwealth Games.
On return from India, the National Rifle Shooting championships were held in November to identify Guyana’s “Top Gun” for 2010 and Persaud edged out Goodluck to capture the crown.
Plans by the Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) to acquire a plot of land to build a Clubhouse did not materialize while the Handgun Section of the Association was restricted to local competitions with Dale Hing, Ryan McKinnon and Dr. Johann DaSilva displaying excellent marksmanship.
Commodore Gary Best, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force retained his position at the helm of the organization at the Annual General Meeting.
