AS THE relevant authorities signal their intention to build a Hall of Fame to include sporting celebrities locally, relatives of legendary deceased rifle-shooting champion Mohamed Ali takes this opportunity to reflect on his accomplishments during his rifle-shooting exploits while he was alive.

In a brief interview yesterday, Hamil Ali, the second son of the deceased rifle-shooter related that the family intends to donate a trophy in his memory to the winner in this category annually.

Ali, a talented shooter, passed on in 1970 when he was 45 years old. He was awarded the Sportsman-of-the-Year Award in 1961, taking the runner-up spot in 1962.

Ali, British Guiana’s crackman was re-elected shooting captain for 1964 at the British Guiana Rifle Association’s Annual General Meeting.

That aside, in 1962 he was among the Top 12 shortlisted to train at the Thomas Ranges in preparation for the Martinez Shield Shoot. He won at this level with an impressive 102 points from a possible 105.

His was the victory when he competed at the  Valadares & Wood Davis Memorial Cups Championships which he further accentuated by tabling an impressive 142 points out of a possible 150 at the British Guiana Duke’s Trophy, an overseas postal matters event, organised by the National Rifle Association in London. British Guiana scored 1 120 out of a possible 1 200.

In the era he edged out the talented Maurice Yong to be victorious in the Silver Shoot at the Thomas Ranges where he recorded a whopping 145 points out of 150.Yong was right behind him with 144.

Not long after with conditions far from good shooting Ali went on to win in another competition at the Thomas Ranges, scoring 99 points out of 100, three points better than his rival Archie Sutton.

At one point after a one year’s layoff from the ranges he bounced back to win the Donegal Badge at the Timehri Ranges, netting 101 out of a possible 105 points.

Again he was champion at the Thomas Ranges winning the June Spoon Competition, scoring 95 out of 100. At this leg he netted 48 out of 50 at the 300 yards and 47 out of 50 at the 500 yards limit.

This talented marksman was also among the 18 called to practice for the Martinez Shoot, a postal shoot controlled by the host Barbados. He was also chosen as captain when British Guiana selected the team to contest honours in the Swettenham Cup Shoot.

Again he landed a spot in the early 1960s when the British Guiana Rifle Team entered for the Anchor Cup Shoot in Trinidad.

He created a pandemonium during the 60s when, after recovering from a serious arm injury, won a record shoot, blazing a trail to secure a fantastic 98 points from the target 100. At this meet he scored maximum 50 points at the 300 yards, thereafter securing 48 out of 50 at the 600 yards.

Through his mystical talents British Guiana secured the Swettenham Trophy in the 1960s with 786 points from their target of 840. Ali of course carried the mantle with a stirring 104 out of the maximum 105 points margin.

In 1962 the National Rifle Association of Great Britain announced that Ali had won the British Hundred Roll Competition with 588 from the maximum 600 points. At this leg he was just one point less than when he won the same contest in 1961.

That aside this Guyanese icon had made a name for himself around the West Indies and in England.

He leaves behind his wife Sahora Ali aka Betty, his eldest son Ashmead, second son Abid and last son Hamil. He also fathered the lone daughter now, Sherina Ali-Leahl. They all join in celebrating his great accomplishments in the arena of rifle-shooting.

(By Alex Wayne)