English marksman on target

ENGLISHMAN Paul Charlton has shot into the lead after the first day of individual competition at the West Indies Full Bore Shooting Championships at Tucker Valley in Chaguaramas. After three rounds of competition, over 200, 500 and 600 yards Charlton has 158.22 points out of a possible 160 with an average of 4.938. He leads his compatriot Donald Anderson (158.18) by .05 points with Mahendra Persaud of Guyana third with 157.21 points.  Trinidad and Tobago’s Norris Gomez is fourth overall shooting 157.20 with another Guyanese Ransford Goodluck (157.18) fifth. Four Guyanese are in the top ten after the first day of competition and have clearly staked their claim to lead the Caribbean charge for individual honours.

Conditions yesterday were hot and humid and underfoot was very muddy causing at least two Englishmen to retire with exhaustion. And according to Mike Perez, a competitor and Trinidad Rifle Association official, the rehabilitation of the Tucker Valley Range is reaping rich dividends for the home shooters as the visitors are yet to come to terms with the challenging conditions. Apart from Gomez, the next best TT shooter is Justin Lall who is tied for 12 overall with Richard Fields of Guyana, shooting 153.15. His compatriot Stephen Chung ( (153.14) is 14th, while another TT marksman Michael Gill (151.13) is 20th. Top female shooter after round one is Barbados’ Jennifer Jordan, with the best score for her country  whose 152.14 is good for 17th. Competition continues today.

FIRST DAY SCORES:
1 Paul Charlton (UK) 158.33; 2 Donald Anderson (UK) 158.18; 3 Mahendra Persad (Guy) 157.21; 4 Norris Gomez (TT) 157.20; 5 Ransford Goodluck (Guy) 157.18; 6 David Rickman (Jam) 157.13; 7 Lennox Brathwaite (Guy)155.19; 8 Dane Blair (Guy) 155.18; 9 Chris Fitzpatrick (UK) 154.21; 10. Garnet Gaulkner (UK) 154.19; 11 John White (UK) 154.12; 12 Justin Lall (TT) 153.15; 12. Richard Fields (Guy) 153.15; 14 Stephen Chung (TT) 153.14; 15 John Fraser (Guy) 153.13; 16 Jennifer Jordan (Bar) 152.14; 16 Dylan Fields (Guy) 152.14; 18 Dereck Naraine (Guy) 152.12; 19 Jose Nunez (Jam) 151.17; 20 Michael Gill (TT) 151.13; 21Claude Duguid (Guy) 151.11; 22 Louis King (Bar) 150.13; 23 Carl Awong (TT) 150.10; 24 Michael Perez (TT) 149.16; 25 Ian Brown (UK) 149.10.