– After conquering the Caribbean top rifle shooter Ransford Goodluck has turned his sights to Bisley and the Commonwealth Games in search of major hardware in an effort to crown an outstanding career
After winning a unprecedented six Caribbean rifle shooting individual titles; competed at four Commonwealth Games and being named Sportsman of the year there seems precious little remaining on the horizon for shooting sensation Ransford Goodluck.
But this athlete, who has had the distinction of placing among the top 60 in the Grand Aggregate at Bisley, the Mecca of world Rifle Shooting in the United Kingdom, believes that the best is yet to come.
And, with two more major international tournaments remaining in 2010, the evergreen Goodluck is positive that he can still achieve his greatest performance yet in the sport.
Goodluck is an extraordinary rifle-shooter who has ruled the roost for several years.
But his performance in 2010 could set the stage for a grand showing at the Commonwealth Games in India later this year.
Goodluck, despite health challenges, has won all but one local tournament including the national championships so far this year.
He then carried over his local feat to the regional stage where he excelled at the Antigua and Barbuda Goodwill series held just days before the West Indies fullbore championships.
He also spearheaded Guyana’s match winning performance in the team matches where the Guyanese won both the long and short range titles in Bridgetown.
He was named the Caribbean top marksman following his record-breaking sixth Individual title at the West Indies Fullbore championships in Barbados two months ago and is zooming his sights on the Commonwealth Games, this time with the aim of claiming a major title.
The former police officer, who started shooting back in 1979, disclosed that he has been shooting well this year but he has not been in top form mentally.
“The mind and shooting got to flow, it just that I am shooting well but I am working extremely hard to be mentally prepared and to continue my top form for the Commonwealth Games,” he said.
“While my performances over the years have been remarkable, the greatest is still to come,” the reigning national rifle shooting champion added.
Goodluck, who recently departed Guyana for Bisley to compete in the annual international shooting championships which attract many of the world’s top shooters, believes it is the perfect training ground for the Commonwealth Games.
He is no stranger to the Bisley ranges as he has competed there six times in 1985, 1988, 1997, 2000, 2002 and 2003.
But his placing 55th in the Grand Aggregate in 2002 after two weeks of shooting against 1200 of the world’s top shooters was his best achievement to date and during his exploits he also won outright the 500 yards aggregate.
Goodluck and national full-bore captain Mahendra Persaud, who has also been selected for the Commonwealth Games will be at Bisley for the next three weeks preparing for the games with support from the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA).
Goodluck, who was voted Sportsman of the Year in 2005 and runner up in 1995 said his rifle and other paraphernalia are in “perfect order for the task ahead and he is raring to go.”
Despite shooting for over three decades, Goodluck thinks that he still has a lot to offer rifle shooting locally but has expressed the need for young people to join the sport.
Will 2010 be the crowning year for a shooter whose name and achievements are unmatched regionally?
Only time will tell.
