RIFLE shooters will be looking for improved weather this weekend as they heighten their preparations for the 2011 West Indies Fullbore championships next month in Antigua/Barbuda.
The Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) has organised a Silver Cup/Spoon Shoot for tomorrow at the Timehri Rifle ranges.
The marksmen will battle over 300, 500 and 600 yards ranges with the ‘X’ Class shooters or seniors competing for the Cup while the ‘O’ Class shooters will have their sights set on the Spoon.
Last Sunday’s Recorded shoot came to a premature end following heavy rainfall at the ranges.
Current regional champion Ransford Goodluck was the winner  of  the first Recorded shoot two weeks ago.
Goodluck will, however, face stiff opposition from reigning National champion Mahendra Persaud, Ryan Sampson, Claude Duguid, Dane Blair, Dylan Fields, Richard Fields in ‘X’ Class while leading contenders in the ‘O’ Class will be Lt Col. Terry Stuart and Charles Deane.
Guyana are presently the defending champions for the Short Range Championships, formerly known as the Benson and Hedges and BWIA Cup.
In Antigua, Guyana will be seeking to make it an unprecedented five in a row, for the Short Range title having won it for the last four consecutive years – 2007 in Guyana, 2008 in Jamaica, 2009 in Trinidad and 2010 in Barbados.
The local shooters will be attempting to be the first team to win in Antigua, where the West Indian Championships will be hosted for the first time since joining the West Indies Full Bore Shooting Council.