Guyana crowned themselves number one among rifleshooting teams in the West Indies by winning two of the three major titles at stake in the regional Fullbore championships held last week in Jamaica.
The national team retained the Singer Cup staged over the long ranges while Ransford Goodluck found some of his best form to capture the individual title for the Wogart Cup, topping a strong field which included the formidable United Kingdom shooters, currently touring the region.
Commonwealth Games selectee Goodluck registered the highest score (148 points 17 V Bulls) in the individual category over the short ranges (300, 500 and 600 yards) after winning it for the first time in 1995 when Guyana were the hosts.
According to senior vice-president of the Guyana National Rifle Association, Neville Denny, the local marksmen scored 1111 points with 93 V's to retain the Singer Cup which is contested over the 900 and 1000-yard (long) ranges, but had to settle for third in the BWIA Cup short range competition.
The locals also captured two of the three Postal shoot competitions contested prior to the West Indies Championships. They won the Gaskin and Jackson Postal Shoot, as well as the West India Cup, and were beaten into second in the Canada Cup shoot.
Ryan Sampson won one gold and three bronze medals in the junior category.
Jamaica (1083 with 74 V's) were second in the Singer Cup, while Trinidad and Tobago (1066/81 V's), Barbados (1053/62 V's) and Bermuda (990/52 V's) ended third, fourth and fifth respectively.
The visiting British team was a part of the championships as guests and recorded a tournament high 1123 points with 102 V's.
In the Singer Cup, the Jamaicans were leading Guyana by 10 points going into the 1000-yard range, but the locals, mainly through the younger shooters, were able to pull it off.
Leo Romahlo scored 142 points with 12 V's, Derek Narine 141 with 12 V's, Claude Dugid 141 with 12 V's also and Dane Blair 140 points with 12 V's.
Jamaica won the short range (BWIA Cup) competition by recording 1142 points with 117 V's, while Trinidad and Tobago placed second with 1115 points with 76 V's. Guyana scored 1112 points with 89 V's for third while Barbados were fourth with 1080 points with 76 V's and Bermuda fifth with 1004 points/54 V's.
Mahendra Persaud, another Commonwealth Games selectee, scored 146 points with 16 V's in the individual short range competition for the Wogart Trophy. Dane Blair ended with 140 points with 13 V's and Lennox Braithwaithe 140 points with eight V's.
Romalho (47 points with seven V's) won the Guyana Defence Force trophy for scoring the most points at the 1000-yard range.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Denny said that the championships was a success, but it was a difficult one for the locals, since two rifles developed mechanical problems that caused a setback to the local riflemen.
He added that Persaud's performance at the championships justified his selection for the Commonwealth Games, slated for Manchester England in July.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Slowe, who was to have accompanied the team, but who was unable to travel because of work commitments, is still the manager designate for the Commonwealth Games.
Meanwhile, Guyana will host next year's regional tournament which is expected to be graced with the presence of an Australian team. That tournament is billed for next April.