Negombo Rifle Club dominate with Gold in 3 categories
SLAF Women crack shots shut out opponents
Mohan Gilbert, the overall champ
Negombo Rifle Club (NRC) dominated the National Shooting Sports Federation (NSSF) National Trap Open Championship 2017 winning Gold in 3 categories. NRC’s top shooter Mohan Gilbert won Gold in the Overall Individual category, as his teammates Sean Silva and Jeremy Fernando won Silver and Bronze respectively. The meet was held at the National Shotgun Range in Payagala, Kalutara.
NRC’s Jan Samaranayake gave the Club its 2nd Gold in the Individual Master’s category, while teammate Dallas Martenstyn claimed Bronze. The Silver went to Madukande Diulwewa of the Sri Lanka Police, who went on to clinch Bronze in the Overall Team category. The Police ‘A’ team which won Bronze, comprised of Susil Seneviratna, Upul Rathnayake and Rathnayaka Wimalarathna.
A field of 70 Shooters competed in the Individual category, with 5 rounds for each to prove their capabilities. With only 6 qualifying for the final match, only 16 were able to exceed 75 points, of whom, overall winner Gilbert and Kaushan Samaranayake topped the list with 94 points each. The NRC’s dominance was evident with the inclusion of 9 Shooters topping the list while the 10th was from Colombo’s Clay Target Shooting Club.
In the final match it was a home-and-home battle between 6, as Gilbert took top honours by ‘hitting’ 30 out of 50 shots, to claim Gold. Sean Silva won Silver, ‘hitting’ 27 out of 50 shots. Jeremy Fernando ‘hit’ 20 out of 40 shots for Bronze. Johann Fernando finished 4th with 19 out of 35 shots, while Jan Samaranayake finished 5th with 14 out of 30 shots. Kaushan Samaranayake, who impressed in the 1st 5 rounds, failed to live up to expectations and finished 6th with 11 out of 25 shots. Sandakelum Ranasinghe of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), who won the National Skeet Championship, a fortnight ago, failed to impress and was shown the exit after the 2nd round, and finished 42nd.
Two teams representing the NRC clinched Gold and Silver in the Overall Team category. The NRC ‘B’ team comprising Shiyam Dias, Kaushan Samaranayake and Jan Samaranayake won Gold, while the NRC XXX comprising Sean Silva, Dallas Martenstyn and Mohan Gilbert won Silver.
The SLAF swept all 3 medals on offer in the Individual Female category with Tharushi Mekala claiming Gold, Deepani Mudunkoth winning Silver and Shiroma Priyadarshani taking Bronze. All winners at the National Skeet Open & Trap Open Championships 2017, organised and conducted by the NSSF, will receive their medals, trophies and certificates at the NSSF’s annual awards ceremony to be held in December.