Winter 2002 - National Rifle Association

After shooting, the hosts demonstrated their joie de vivreat the back of the range; enjoying a bottle of rum to theextent that one participant fell off his chair - the Guyaneseequivalent of a Commonwealth tea?Sunday 28 AprilThe second and final day’s competition in Guyana tookplace in the same hot and tricky wind conditions as thefirst. John Carmichael (despite the oversight of arrivingat 300 yards with no rifle), along with Paul Charlton,Kelvin Ramsey, David Dyson and Andrew Tompsonproduced scores of 50 at 300 yards, Paul and John adding49s at 500 yards. At 1000 yards the draw played a keyrole as a sudden and heavy downpour drowned thesecond detail, refreshing over-heated shooters but nothelping their scores. The Sunday Aggregate was wonby John with 147.13, Paul coming second with 146.17,and Richard Fields of Guyana, third with 144.17.GB shooters were successful in the Grand Aggregate,which was won by Paul with 292.31, followed by Johnwith 290.23. Richard Fields was the leading Guyanese,in third place with 289.32 having shown everybody theway at 1,000 yards with a 48.5.Monday 29 AprilThe team arose to grey skies and showers. Seldom arethese familiar conditions welcomed by shooters, but aftertwo days in the heat, they came as a welcome relief.The match against Guyana was shot at 300, 600 and 900yards by teams of ten, with the top eight scores in eachteam counting toward the result. A comfortable leadwas established at 300 yards, GB scoring 394.45 againstthe hosts 380.38. In continuing grey skies, light windsand occasional downpours, this lead was extended, GBscoring 396.47 to the Guyanese team’s 381.40. In oneall-Irish exchange, the shooter told the coach: “that onemay be out left”, to which the coach replied: “no, it’s atnine o’clock”. At 900 yards, GB scored 397.55 to completean excellent score of 1187.182. Finishing with a steady1150.118, the host country had achieved one of their bestever scores in international competition.Notable individual performances included a 150.19 byJohn Carmichael, coached by the Captain, reportedlyJohn’s first possible in a three range international match.Scores of 149 were attained by Andy Tompson, KelvinRamsey and David Dyson for GB, and by MahindraPersaud, providing a “Captain’s innings” for Guyana.To round off the first leg of the tour, the GNRA hostedthe Presentation Ceremony at the Bank of Guyana RoofGarden. Commencing with a reception to the strains ofthe Police Steel Band, the ceremony was attended by suchluminaries as Mrs Gail Teixeira, Minister of Culture,Youth and Sports, the Minister for Tourism and theBritish High Commissioner, His Excellency EdwardGlover.Punctuated by elegant and engaging speeches, thepresentation was notable for the superb quality of thegold, silver and bronze medals sponsored by El Dorado,Guyana’s famous rum producer. A real Guyanese goldmedal is a prize to be treasured, and Dr Ramsey departed26this meeting with no less than five of them. For the restof the team, the visit to Guyana had been a great success,not least because of the immaculate organisation of allaspects of the shooting by the members of the GNRA.Wednesday 1 May - TrinidadThis was a memorable day hosted by Norris and GabbyGomez, father Darrel and decorative daughtersKristianne and Donnia. From the Trinidad and TobagoYacht Club the team cruised west towards the islandsaboard the “Columbus”. We were soon anchored inheaven in a sound between tropical islands, just a shortswim from an empty sandy beach. Aboard “Columbus”the unique Gomez hospitality flowed and the heat ofthe sun was offset by a cool breeze.Thursday 2 MayFor another night various team members struggled tokick their Imodium habit, alarm clocks rousing the teamearly to head for Tucker Valley Range. This range isone of the world’s most scenic, fringed with bamboo treesand surrounded by wooded hills; lizards rustle in theshade of the bamboo and vultures circle above the slowshooters. At 300 yards a light wind from seemingly allpoints of the compass seemed manageable. At 600 yardshowever, the plethora of mystery magpies had even ourdistinguished Captain and Coach struggling to find ananswer. In the evening the team were entertained at thehome of the immensely generous Gomez family.Friday 3 MayCompetition commenced at 300 yards, the most notablescore being 35.7 by Peter Barry. Moving back to 500yards most expected a fifteen round endurance test inthe heat. Our fears soon proved to be unfounded as theclouds gathered and, in the sticky windlessness, scoresof 75 were achieved by Hugh Kilpatrick, Kelvin Ramsey,Clarion Tang Choon and Paul Charlton. As the last detailfinished, the rain started to fall; an extended lunch breakwas enjoyed under the awning erected by the hosts toprovide much needed shade. In the afternoon, once therain abated, the third competition of the day was shot at600 yards, Sarah Rennie and John Carmichael leadingthe field with scores of 50.7. On the day’s aggregate Johnand Paul continued their form from Guyana, with scoresof 159.16 and 158.18 respectively.Saturday 4 MayAssembling early for the bus to the range, rain was fallingand the day turned out to be punctuated by regularshowers. At 300 yards scores of 50 were posted by MickPlace and the T(h)ompson “twins” Peter and Andrew.At 500 Andrew continued to prosper, adding a 50.3;Sarah Rennie, aided by her squeaky clean barrel, scored50.5. After lunch, the final individual shoot gotunderway at 600 yards. In dull light, and with a lightfishtail unreadable by some of those present, Andrewproduced an outstanding 75.12 to win the day’saggregate without a point dropped, scoring 175.23. JohnCarmichael, shooting with the consistency he began inGuyana, finished second with 172.17 and David Dysoncame third with 171.23. Andrew also won the Grand