The Qualifier Outdoor Archery on Saturday 17thSeptember, 2016, on the second day of the Indigenous Heritage Games 2016 at the Everest Sports Ground, Eve Leary, Georgetown saw 86 (eighty-six) competitors participating from all parts of Guyana.
Mr. Nicholas Hing, Chairman of the Archery Committee, Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF) gave an Overview as to the Rules under which the Competition was conducted, in accordance with World Archery Foundation, to which the GSSF is affiliated.
Archers shot in groups of five and because of the time frame and the high number of competitors, the Qualifiers comprised an end of six arrows. There was a time limit of four minutes for each athlete to shoot six arrows.
Mr. Hing went on to highlight that safety is the paramount consideration of the Foundation and that only athletes who were shooting are allowed on the shooting lime. The other competitors must stay at the waiting Line. The distance was 20 metres and the signals for shooting were explained to the eagerly awaiting crowd.
There are 3 different whistle commands: 2 whistle blasts – Archers walk to the shooting line. 1 whistle blast – Archers commence shooting, and 3 whistle blasts – Archers stop shooting and walk to targets to check scores and collect arrows.
The Honourable Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs led the Archers off in their quest to qualify and secure a spot in the Finals scheduled to take place on Sunday 18th September, 2016. Trophies will be up for grabs for Overall 1-3 in Men’s Senior, Women’s Senior and Juniors Categories.
At the end of an exciting afternoon, the Foundation released the Results of the Qualifiers as follows:
Men’s Senior
| NAME | POINTS | County |
| Sean Duncan | 38 | Region 4 – Pattensen |
| Randy Arjune | 28 | Region 4 – Prospect |
| Nicholas Hing | 25 | Region 4 – South Ruimveldt Park |
| Eric Hing | 19 | Region 4 – South Ruimveldt Park |
| Ryan McKinnon | 17 | Region 4 – Courida Park |
| Mike Abrams | 12 | Region 4 – La Penitence |
| Joel Jonas | 12 | Region 10 – Muritaro |
| Shamie Bernard | 12 | Region 4 – St. Cuthbert’s Mission |
| Anand Mangra | 12 | Region 4 – Eccles |
| Lawrence Gomes | 8 | Region 8 – Paramakatoi |
| Carl Perreira | 8 | Region 8 – Mahdia |
| Esee Lewis | 7 | Region 9 – Shulinab |
| Roy Shuman | 6 | Region 4 – St. Cuthbert’s Mission |
| John Andrews | 4 | Region 4 – St. Cuthbert’s Mission |
| Ramaldo Wilson | 4 | Region 2 – Bethany |
| Graham Atkinson | 3 | Region 1 – Moruca |
| Marco Mohamed | 3 | Region 5 – Moraikobai |
| Winston Baird | 2 | Region 8 – Campbelltown |
| Aaron DeFreitas | 1 | Region 1 – Laluni Village |
| Oswald Hussein | 1 | Region 4 – St. Cuthbert’s Mission |
Women’s Senior
| NAME | POINTS | County |
| Samira Duncan | 27 | Region 4 – Pattensen |
| Narda Mohamed | 18 | Region 4 – Robb Street |
| Pamela Williams | 8 | Region 4 – St. Cuthbert’s Mission |
| Liza Thomas | 6 | Region 8 – Paramakatoi |
| Shearlyn Duncan | 2 | Region 4 – Pattensen |
Juniors
| NAME | POINTS | County |
| Aliyah Gordon | 11 | Region 4 – Georgetown |
| Shamara Duncan | 7 | Region 4 – Pattensen |
| Garville Daniels | 3 | Region 9 – Annai |
| Michael Hing | 2 | Region 4 – South Ruimveldt Park |
In photos below:
Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe takes aim at the Indigenous Heritage Archery Competition 2016:
Members of GSSF/Archery Guyana at the Qualifiers of Indigenous Heritage Games 2016: Mr. Nicholas Hing (Chair of Archery Committee) is second from right.
