As expected, rifle shooting ace David Calvert of Great Britain was adjudged the most outstanding shooter Thursday night at the awards ceremony at the Georgetown Club.
Calvert led the visiting Great Britain team to a sweep of the individual and team events in the Goodwill series between the two countries which ended on Thursday with the team event.
In the two-day individual competition Calvert scored 249 points with 34-V bulls to defeat Thomas Rylands, 248 and 28V-bulls and Guyana’s Lennox Braithwaite 245 points and 24 V-bulls.
Rylands, however, turned the tables on Calvert in the team competition won by Great Britain’s `A’ team which won the team competition with 742 points and 74 V bulls by scoring 150 points and 14 V bulls while Jonathan Tapster and Calvert were second and third respectively with scores of 149 and 20 V-bulls and 149 and 16 V-bulls respectively.
At the simple presentation ceremony which included a few distinguished guests including President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) K Juman Yassin, Rylands (GB), Calvert (GB), Braithwaite (GY) and Ransford Goodluck (GY) were named best shooters.
Calvert won the individual award for his grand aggregate of 249 points and 34 V-bulls while Goodluck won the award for Guyana for his team score Thursday of 147 and 24V’s.
The team competition was won by the Great Britain ‘El Dorado; Red Team which finished with 742 and 74 V’s, with Great Britain’s Royal Blue team which ended with 731 and 72 V’s in second place.
Third place went to Guyana ‘Gold’ team which finished with 727 and 57 V’s, while Guyana ‘ All Stars’ team 658 and 28 V’s finished fourth.
Winners received a commemorative map of Guyana made from real gold.
Vice President of GNRA and Former Assistant Commoner of Police Paul Slowe said he was happy with the three days of shooting adding that he enjoyed the markings and the varied weather conditions that brought out the best in the shooters local and overseas.
“These few days of shooting were preparations for the upcoming leg of the competition to be held in Jamaica next week,” Slowe added.
Great Britain’s Captain Charles Brooks, in an invited statement said:”The competition was great,” adding that himself and team enjoyed their stay.
Brooks praised the local media coverage which he described as “exceptional” adding that he wished that they would receive that much media attention back home.
“The food along with drinks and hospitality was remarkable; the range markings were good I hoped we brought out the best in the local shooters.
“The competition was good and it helped us to get familiar with regards to shooting in the West Indies,” he added.
Guyana’s skipper Mahendra Persaud speaking at the presentation said: “I thank the guys from Britain for coming out and I hope they take home good memories of this outing.”
Persaud extended an invitation to the team for the 150th anniversary tournament to be hosted by Guyana in 2017 and wished the team good luck adding that he looked forward to seeing them in Barbados.
The British team will now head to Trinidad and Tobago before bringing the curtain down on their visit to the region by participating in the Caribbean Rifle Shooting Championships to be held in Barbados later this month.
