National full-bore captain Mahendra Persaud has expressed disappointment in Guyana not retaining the prestigious Anchor Cup, symbol of short-range team shooting in the region at West Indies Fullbore Shooting championships held last week in Antigua.
The Guyanese were attempting to win the event for a sixth successive time but fell by two points to Jamaica in a closely fought contest which left Trinidad and Tobago, host Antigua/ Barbuda and Barbados haplessly fighting for the other places.
The Jamaicans who missed last year’s tournament in Barbados shot a total aggregate of 1127 with 67 V-bulls while Guyana came in with 1125 with 74 Vs in the match held over the 300, 500 and 600 yards ranges.
Trinidad and Tobago finished a distant third with 1109.64 followed by host Antigua/Barbuda in fourth with 1101.64 and Barbados fifth on 1074.38.
Guyana had one consolation when former national champion Lennox Braithwaite who shot 147 points with 14 Vs won the Wogart Trophy for shooting the highest individual score in the team match.
It was a welcomed return for Braithwaite who had taken a few years break from the sport and only returned to competition earlier this year.
The Guyana shooters and scores in the team match were Captain Mahendra Persaud (146.10), Lennox Braithwaite (147.14), Ransford Goodluck (140.12), John Fraser (140.8), Dylan Fields (140.7), Sigmund Douglas (139.9), Inspector Dane Blair (137.5) and Ryan Sampson (136.9).
Persaud offered congratulations to the Antigua National Rifle Association for staging a well run inaugural tournament at the regional level.
He said the wind was a little tricky which created problems for the shooters at intervals.
The team returned home on Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, Ryan Sampson, Assistant Commis-sioner of Police (retired) Paul Slowe and Persaud were returned unopposed to the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council following elections held during the one-week programme.
Sampson retained the Honorary Secretary position while Slowe was returned as one of five vice presidents representing each territory. Persaud was also retained as a committee member.
The 2012 regional championships will be hosted by Guyana at the Timehri rifle ranges, however, the date is still to be finalized.
