Guyana’s shining star Lennox Braithwaite led the local side to a convincing victory in the Milex Long range team shoot on the penultimate day of the West Indies Rifle Shooting championships yesterday at the Timehri ranges.
The team defied unfavourable weather which almost forced the cancellation of the day’s competition but once the rain eased, Braithwaite took over with a record two possibles at 900 and 1000 yards to lead the Guyanese to victory with 754 points.
Braithwaite, who was crowned individual champion earlier in the week, shot a perfect score of 100 with 11 V-bulls out of the maximum score of 100 and 20 V-bulls for the Guyana Team and will receive a special trophy for his feat which was the highest score by an individual in the team match.
Shooters Mahendra Persaud, Ransford Goodluck, Lennox Braithwaite and Paul Slowe also doubled as wind coaches.
Trinidad and Tobago placed second with 715 points followed by Jamaica third with 701 points, Antigua/Barbuda fourth with 695 and Barbados fifth with 681.
The Guyanese shot 364 points at 900 yards and 390 at 1000 yards with the Trinidadians recording 338 at 900 and 377 at 1000 yards.
Jamaica shot 342 and 359 for their score of 701 while the Antiguans recorded 341 and 354 at the two ranges.
Guyana’ captain Persaud dropped one point each at both ranges while vice captain Dylan Fields shot a possible at 1000 yards but dropped two shots at the 900 yards ranges.
Goodluck also shot a possible at 1000 yards but dropped four points at 900 yards.
M. Akrill and Carl Awong were the leading shooters for the twin island republic.
The Guyanese will be looking for a clean sweep when the team short range match takes place today.
Jamaica are the defending champions but the last time the competition was held here the Guyanese were edged out by the Trinidadians and will be looking to stop both opponents.
It has been a perfect week so far for the local shooters following their success at the individual competition which Braithwaite won with Persaud securing the second position, Fields third and Goodluck fourth.
The presentation of prizes will take place this evening at GDF officers mess at Camp Ayanganna.
