On September 20th, the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation hosted their Inaugural Steel Challenge Tier 1 Match at the GDF Timehri Range. The GSSF as an affiliate of the Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA), is seeking to promote this completely new type of sport shooting to local competitive pistol shooters by organising such matches on a regular basis.
In her opening remarks GSSF President Ms. Vidushi Persaud paid tribute to the members who came out to take part in the event and praised the outstanding effort that was put in by the match committee to ensure that everything was organised for this Inaugural Match. She noted that the success of the events of any sporting organizations depends primarily on commitment and the co-operation of all: there is no substitute for good relations and teamwork.
Designated Match officials were introduced so that the Match was able to move smoothly, efficiently and safely:
Match Director – Michael Blake
Range Master – Ryan McKinnon
Match Director, Mr. Michael Blake remarked that strict safety rules and adherence to world standards will be observed this morning and wished all the shooters best of luck and to remember safety while having fun.
In delivering the Vote of Thanks, Ms. Vidushi Persaud conveyed thanks to Managing Director of Doc.com, Mr. Pravesh Harry, Messrs. Ken and Kevin Jaikaran of Ken’s Mufflers, the Chief of Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Mark Phillips for making access to the Range possible, the National Sports Commission and Mr. Neil Kumar, Director of sport for the buntins adding to the decorative ambience of the Range and the Ministry of Sport for the usual support.
She went on to convey thanks to the Match Officials for today’s hard work in ensuring we had a save, smooth and efficient Match and to the Range officers without whom a safe match would not have been possible. She also thanked the competitors for their participation without whom this Match would not have been possible.
She also acknowledged the Committee responsible for this SCSA match – thanks to Roul Bhudu, Pravesh Harry, Michael Blake and lastly but by no means least, the hard-working and tireless Ryan McKinnon who on a personal note, she noted was my pillar of strength and one of the main reasons she was standing there today as they were all about to embark on an exciting journey with GSSF to take sport shooting in Guyana to a whole new level. Thanks to the media for the support and coverage
Competitors and spectators at the end of the Match all declared it was a lot of fin and that the instant audio feedback of a miss or hit from a round connecting with the steel plate was certainly what appealed to them. Needless to say, a lot of extra rounds were needed and as competitors relentlessly strove to secure the ‘ping’.
Steel Challenge is considered to be the fastest practical shooting competition in the world. Locally, Ryan McKinnon holds the record of Smoke and Hope in 3.5 seconds. Competitors are resolved to beat this time at the next Match so lots of excitement planned for the future.
This inaugural competition consisted of two (2) different stages where competitors shot at five (5) different steel targets, one (1) of which is designated as a “stop plate” (the target that is supposed to be shot last). Participants are scored using a timing system hence the shooter with the lowest time wins.
Shooting was done from a stationary position for the two (2) different stages (course of fire) at five (5) steel plates (targets) per stage. The shooter would assume his/her position in the shooting box, upon the beep of the timer, draw their firearm and shoot at the first four targets, timer stops when the shooter hits what is designated to be the fifth and final target i.e. the stop plate. The shooter's fastest four (4) times out of five (5) strings of fire on each stage will then be added together for collective score. The lowest total score for both stages wins.
Stage 1 Accelerator:
1st: Ryan McKinnon, 2nd – David Dharry, 3rd – Ray Beharry
Stage 2 – Smoke and Hope
1st –Ryan McKinnon 2nd – David Dharry 3rd – Sadiq Rahat
Overall Winners
1st – Ryan McKinnon
2nd – David Dharry
3rd – Ray Beharry
