Guyana’s Mahendra Persaud is in excellent position to win the Commonwealth Shooting Federation (CSF) rifle shooting championships held at the Belmont Shooting Centre, Brisbane going into today’s final day. The Guyanese is one of three shooters who have the same amount of points 254, but occupies third position with a lesser number of V bulls 16, in what is a dress rehearsal for the Commonwealth Games 2018 event.
Australian Jim Bailey is in first place with 254 points and 31 V bulls with South Africa’s Petra Haasbroek second on 254 points and 24 V bulls.
The top Full-bore shooters from all the Commonwealth countries are competing in the event with only Northern Ireland’s David Calvert who was in Guyana for our 150th Anniversary Championships, missing.
According to reports, in “tricky and fishtailing wind conditions,” Persaud, the national full-bore captain, recorded scores of 50.4 at 300 yards, 50.2 at 500 yards and 50.4 at 600 yards for a grand total of 150.10Vs, finishing in second place for the day.
Persaud’s teammate Lennox Braithwaite who was leading after Stage One, having shot flawlessly with a total of 105:14 on the first day continued his fine form with two possibles at the 300 and 500 yard-ranges but shot only 47 at 600 yards.
Only two shooters registered scores of 150 for this the second day.
Shooting two sighters and 10 rounds to count referred to as a Queens two over 300, 500 and 600 yards, the two Guyanese recorded five possibles between them.
The leader board with the grand aggregate to date shows:
1st Australian Jim Bailey 254:31
2nd South African Petra’s Haasbroek 254:24
3rd Mahendra Persaud 254:16
4th England David Luckman 253:33
5th England Parag Patel 253:23
6th Lennox Braithwaite 252:29
7th Guernsey Peter Jory 252:26
8th Canada Jim Paton 251:29
9th Australia Peter Thurtell 251:25
10th Wales Chris Watson 251:24
There was a scheduled practice at the ranges over the long distances yesterday for the shooters to get a feel of the conditions which have tested their skills since the CSF started.
All eyes will be on the shooters from 10:00 am this morning as they shoot the final stage three (Queens 3) with 15 rounds to count at 900 yards and 15 rounds also at 1000 yards.
Meanwhile the Guyana NRA applauded the Guyana Olympic Association and Secure Concepts and Innovations Inc. for their continued support of its international sports ambassadors who have once again made Guyana recognized on the world stage as a country which produces top marksmen, the release stated.
