Guyana’s rifle shooters, the reigning Caribbean full-bore champions are strapped for cash ahead of their defence of the regional championships billed for next week in Antigua/Barbuda.
Team captain Mahendra Persaud disclosed that the squad is still short of raising the required amount of money to take part in the prestigious championships to be staged for the first time in Antigua from May 2-8.
According to Persaud, the team is short of close to $800,000 but officials of the Guyana National Rifle Association are making a final push to raise the funds.
“We had received some pledges from businesses and individuals and we are in contact with them for their assistance,” he added.
Persaud said should there be a shortfall in funds the GNRA may be forced to leave out one or two shooters with the expectation that the US-based Guyanese shooters fill in to make up the eight-man team to shoot the regional team competition.
Guyana will be going for an unprecedented fifth successive regional team title at the tournament which is expected to attract teams from Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and hosts Antigua/Barbuda.
Persaud said persons interested in offering financial support can contact any member of the GNRA for further details.
Meanwhile, the current Caribbean individual champion Ransford Goodluck continued his impressive form in winning the final Recorded shoot for the local shooters last Sunday at the Timehri rifle ranges.
Goodluck dropped just one point in recording 119 points with 13 V-bulls in competition at the 300, 500 and 600 yards ranges in another convincing showing on the local scene.
He shot 49 points with 6 V-bulls at the 300 yards and two possibles (the maximum 35 points) at 500 and 600 yards with 5 V-bulls at 500 and 2 at 600 yards.
Former national champion Lennox Braithwaite was also in good nick claiming the second position with 114 points with 7 v-Bulls edging out Mahendra Persaud who also had 114 points with 5 V-bulls.
Vice Captain Dylan Fields was fourth with 109:4 while Claude Duguid placed fifth with 107:4.
In ‘O’ Class, Peter Persaud with 109 points and four V-bulls edged out Lt. Col. Terry Stuart who recorded 107:6.
The results
Place Name 300 500 600 TOTAL
1ST Ransford Goodluck 49:6 35:5 35:2 119:13
2ND Lennox Braithwaite 48:2 33.3 33.2 114:07
3RD Mahendra Persaud 48:2 33:1 33:2 114:05
4TH Dylan Fields 46:3 31:0 32:1 109:04
5TH Claude Duguid 46:2 33:3 28:1 107:06
6TH Dane Blair 42:3 30:1 32:1 104:05
“O” CLASS
1ST Peter Persaud 44:1 31:1 34:2 109:04
2ND Terry Stuart 49:3 31:1 27:2 107:06
