Speed, power and accuracy: Three elements of the practical shooting were well-balanced last Saturday 24th January, 2015 at the GDF’s Timehri Ranges when the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation safely hosted the first competition for 2015 – a Practical Pistol Match sponsored by Woodpecker Products. The company generously donated to the G.S.S.F. several high quality Trophies for the competition, which was open to all experienced practical pistol competitors in Guyana.
Following the Latest Edition of Practical Shooting Handgun Rules, the shooters enjoyed an afternoon in the blazing sunshine while safely engaging targets in three dynamic stages in the Standard Division. These stages required the competitor to shoot as accurately as possible at multiple targets that were setup in various scenarios, while moving, and striving to do so in a shorter time than the other competitors. Points were deducted for any misses and any hits on specific penalty targets.
The sport is built around safety and simultaneously measures the ability of the competitor to shoot rapidly and accurately with a full power (9mm/higher calibre) handgun in a fun, fair, and competitive environment.
Scoring sees the competitor total points obtained divided by the recorded time taken to engage all targets of the stage this equates to a Hit Factor. The highest HF wins full stage points and the percentage difference in HFs is calculated and points are awarded to the other competitors against this. The shooter with the highest accumulated points from all stages in a match wins overall.
Above all, the safety element for this match was monitored by internationally certified Range Officers, Michael Blake (Range Master), David Dharry and Ryan McKinnon who kindly volunteered to officiate the match.
The first stage called “Adjacent” required the shooters to engage 4 paper targets and 1 falling plate, while avoiding 2 No-Shoot targets that were adjacent to the scoring targets. Any hits on NS targets would attract a penalty of -10 points per hit, this saw the shooters slowing down their shooting cadence to avoid picking up any penalties.
The second stage “Funnel” consisted of 6 paper targets with 2 NS targets saw some of these being hidden by walls. The start position required the shooter to place their hands on either wall starting in the middle of the stage. The shooters mobility to move backwards safely was tested, as they had to be cognizant of ‘the 180 rule’ then sprinting through a funnel shaped corridor downrange to engage the remaining targets positioned behind hardcover screens.
The third and final stage named “Push on” was adjudged the most challenging but fun stage. This stage saw shooters engaging 10 paper targets surrounded by several NS targets, shooting while on the move, giving consideration to ideal shooting positions, even where to reload because of the rounds required was a factor all while dealing with the pressure of the clock. Some shooters were observed to be very creative while moving to various shooting locations in the stage prior to engaging final targets and the lone plate situated behind hardcover screens.
Scoring was tallied by the official scoring software for the sport and done by Stats Officer Dr. Pravesh Harry who efficiently released the results as follows:
Stage 1 (Adjacent):
1st – 43 in 10.66 seconds = 45.00 Stage Points - Ryan McKinnon
2nd - 16 in 12.71 seconds = 14.04 Stage Points - Vidushi Persaud
3rd - 12 in 9.54 seconds = 14.03 Stage Points - Ray Beharry
Stage 2 (Funnel):
1st - 56 in 13.14s = 60.00 SP - Ryan McKinnon
2nd - 56 in 13.32s = 59.19 SP - David Dharry
3rd - 48 in 14.22s = 47.52 SP - Ray Beharry
Stage 3 (Push On):
1st - 91 in 16.57s = 105.00 SP - Ryan McKinnon
2nd - 91 in 22.20s = 78.37 SP - David Dharry
3rd - 81 in 23.58s = 65.68 SP - Vidushi Persaud
Overall match Results are as follows:
1st Place 210.00 Points - Ryan McKinnon
2nd Place 137.56 Points - David Dharry
3rd Place 124.84 Points – Ray Beharry
President of the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation, Ms. Vidushi Persaud delivered the Vote of Thanks at the end of the Match when she expressed thanks to Woodpecker Products and Mrs. Luana Fernandes for her unhesitating support and encouragement towards the G.S.S.F., which is dedicated towards encouraging and promoting sport shooting amongst all Guyanese.
Ryan McKinnon who was also serving as the Match Director declared the match closed and in his closing remarks commended the Stats Officer, Range Officers and shooters for ensuring the efficiency with which the match was run. He specifically noted the high safety factor valued by the G.S.S.F. and additionally thanked Woodpecker Products for the beautiful Trophies.
(In picture below: Top 3 Trophy Winners from left to right: Overall 1st Place Winner Ryan McKinnon, Overall 3rd
Place Winner Ray Beharry and Overall 2nd Place Winner, David Dharry)
Picture below. Photo Courtesy: Mr. Franklin Wilson
(In picture below: Winners surrounded by competitors. From left to right: Michael Blake, Ryan McKinnon,
Vidushi Persaud, Ray Beharry, David Dharry and Shawn Smith)
