Rifle shooting squad to up game for regional tournament

National fullbore captain Mahendra Persaud said he was happy with the state of preparation of the National rifle shooting squad ahead of next month’s West Indies Fullbore Championships billed for Antigua/Barbuda.

In the first team practice last Sunday, Persaud said the shooters have upped  their game as Guyana will be going after an unprecedented fifth successive regional team title when the tournament in staged for the first time in Antigua.

Persaud said the squad had good practice Sunday last at the Timehri rifle ranges and he is upbeat about the way the training was progressing.

“The Fields’ – Richard and Dylan were unavailable last Sunday due to a prior commitment but the other shooters who attended shot well. We also took the opportunity to try out a new communication system,” he added.

Mahendra Persaud and the rifle shooting square in action.

Persaud said former national champion Lennox Braithwaite who returned to competition recently was showing tremendous form, while reigning regional individual champion Ransford Goodluck and Dylan fields have all been in winner’s row this season.

The squad also includes Dane Blair, Ryan Sampson, ACP retired Paul Slowe, Claude Duguid, Lt. Col. Terry Stuart and Charles Dean.

At least four local shooters have had the opportunity to shoot at the ranges in Antigua following a Goodwill Series last year.

Several overseas-based shooters are likely to make the trip to Antigua to bolster the local lineup.

The local shooters are due to depart Guyana on May 1 for St. John’s, where they will first compete in the individual competition before the prestigious Short Range Team Match.
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The other competing nations are Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and the host Antigua/Barbuda.