Barbados’ shooting teams won two of the four team events and several individual gold medals at the Barbados Rifle Association Regional Shooting Standoff, held over the weekend.
This year’s International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) Level 3 competition ran from August 30 to September 1, marking the 10th anniversary of the Smoking Barrel series. It was held at the Barbados Rifle Association range, Paragon, Christ Church.
Regional Director, IPSC Barbados and Chief Range Officer, Dr. Kevin Grant said: “The 10th anniversary of the Smoking Barrel competition is a significant milestone for us. Our journey began in 2010, and over the years, we’ve seen the sport grow in Barbados and across the region.
“Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, we were determined to bring this event back in 2024, and the overwhelming support we’ve received from participants around the world has made it all worthwhile.”
The event featured 15 challenging stages and attracted top shooters from across the globe, including participants from Jamaica, Colombia, the UK, the United States, Trinidad, Guyana, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Suriname. Barbados was represented by a strong contingent of skilled competitors, who showcased their talents on home soil.
“Barbados has a proud tradition in shooting sports, and our team is fully committed to upholding our nation’s reputation. While some of our counterparts from other regions have had more opportunities to practise, we remain confident in our abilities … in the various divisions, both individually and as a team,” the Chief Range Officer noted, as he spoke with the Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS).
Dr. Grant also called for greater support from the Government and corporate sector, emphasising the potential of shooting sports as a form of sports tourism. He said: “Shooting is an Olympic discipline, and it’s time we invested in promoting Barbados as a prime destination for international shooting competitions by investing financially and marketing our brand effectively. We can elevate the sport and create opportunities for Barbadian athletes to compete on the Olympic stage.”
Barbados took first place in the Standard Division Teams Challenge. The members included Gerald Gill, Richard Durant, Dexter Williams and Ryan Hunte. Second place went to St. Lucia.
In the Production Optics Division Teams Challenge, Barbados came second. The team included Cliff Roett, Ryan Best and Nicholas Branker. Jamaica was the winning team.
In the Production Division Teams Challenge, first place went to Barbados. The team comprised Adrian Marshall, Dennis Bellamy, Gregory Wood and Kevin Sealy. Jamaica came second.
The Open Division Teams champions were the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, followed by Barbados, while third place went to Jamaica.