THE 2024 West Indies Fullbore Shooting Championships commenced on Tuesday with eight countries battling for the top spot in the short-range and long-range competitions at the Timehri Rifling Ranges on the Linden Soesdyke Highway.
Captain of the side, Dylan Fields said that he was optimistic that team Guyana would defend their title. He noted that as defending champions in both distances and via Lennox Braithwaite as the regional individual champion, the side is under “slight pressure” to live up to expectations.
He, however, stated that competing at home and with a number of seasoned shooters, Guyana should prevail.

Braithwaite, Fields and Leo Romalho along with several other experienced competitors are representing Guyana at the event.
On the opening day, the shooters started with the 300 yards and the 500 yards. Today and tomorrow, they will continue with the individual events, while on Friday, they will start with the team matches and will then have shooting icon, Mahendra Persaud as one of their coaches.
At the opening ceremony, President of the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council, Major John Nelson lauded the late great Ransford Goodluck, who passed in August, for his contribution to the sport. A minute of silence was held in his honour, while it was announced that a special prize would be named in homage to his greatness.
Enhanced facility
To shoot off this year’s championships, the patron of the Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA), the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Dr Irfaan Ali announced that the range would be re-constructed to create modern facilities with waterways and lodges.
The President said that the facility could be a revenue earner for the sport and facilitate the training and relaxation of rifle shooters within the region.
Meanwhile, President of the GNRA, Chief-of-Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, lauded the dedication of the shooters and their commitment to the sport.
Along with Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica, Canada, the USA and Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada are also competing in the championships.
Guyana last hosted the event in 2017.