THE Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) named a strong 12-man team including three foreign-based shooters to defend the West Indies Fullbore Short Range title at the regional championships that will fire off on Tuesday in Antigua/Barbuda. The foreign-based shooters are Sigmund Douglas and John Fraser from the United States and Paul Archer who is based in Canada.
The team, to be captained by Mahendra Persaud, will also include vice-captain Dylan Fields, reigning West Indies individual champion Ransford Goodluck, former national champion Lennox Braithwaite, Dane Blair, Richard Fields, Ryan Sampson, Lt Col. Terry Stuart and Peter Persaud.
Stuart and Persaud will compete in the Junior Division of the individual  competition.
Paul Slowe, former Assistant Commissioner of Police is the manager/coach.
The local contingent will depart Guyana today for the prestigious championships being held for the first time in Antigua/Barbuda.
Persaud that the Association was able to raise the required funding needed to make the trip possible.
He said all the shooters are  in top form and the team will be going all out to retain the regional title.
The Guyana team will be looking to maintain their five-year unbeaten run at the regional event against fierce competition from Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, Bermuda and the host nation.
Four members of the Guyana team took part in a Goodwill series in Antigua and are familiar with the conditions there.
Tomorrow is set aside for team practice sessions while the individual competition will fire off on Tuesday.
The Team match will take place on Friday.
The competitors will compete at 300, 500 and 600 yards ranges since Antigua has no long ranges to accommodate shooting at 900 and 1 000 yards.