Foreign guns take aim at 2nd ‘World Shoot’ tournament

MARKSMEN from various countries are expected to put their stamina and precision to the test for the second annual MH Tactical World Shoot tournament this Sunday.

The first World Shoot tournament was held last February and featured several obstacle courses with international themes at the MH Tactical Training Resort, Mt St Catherine, Chaguaramas.

Speaking with Newsday, on Wednesday, CEO of the MH Tactical Training Resort Anna-Marie Metivier-Hernandez said, unlike the first World Shoot, several international shooters will be participating in Sunday’s tournament.

The tournament titled MH2O: Travel Destinations will feature obstacle courses styled to resemble locations such as Cancun, Alaska, Sydney Harbour, Montego Bay and the Mediterranean.

“We’re looking at approximately 80 people competing and we’re expecting 23 participants from Barbados, Jamaica, St Lucia, Guyana and the United States.

“At the first World Shoot we had no foreign participants so for this tournament we’ll be having shooters from abroad so this is significant because we have not had international participants for many years.”

Metivier-Hernandez said the competition would include production, standard, carry-optics, open and Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC) divisions.

An added feature of the tournament is the “Last Country Standing” category which will utilise a combination of tactical and sport shooting as shooters form teams to compete for the top spot.

She said the nature of the tournament will require participants to utilise their sharpshooting skills and demonstrate their athleticism to complete the obstacle course within a certain time, noting the inclusion of a three-tier platform for shooters to manoeuvre.

“What we have done is we will be also testing physical endurance and we are utilising mobile stages because there will be movement, unlike anything we’ve ever seen in Trinidad before.”

She said the tournament will also feature another first-time addition to the local sport shooting community with the inclusion of large calibre rounds for ‘major’ power factor.

“Normally, in Trinidad, we use minor scoring but a lot of the international participants they are accustomed to shooting internationally they will use major ammunition that gives them more points so they are looking to come to Trinidad and be able to beat us.

“So precision is going to be critical on our side to be able to measure up. It’s the first time we’re using minor and major scoring in Trinidad and Tobago.”

Some of the prizes available for the tournament include a 65-inch flatscreen smart television as well as cash and ammunition prizes amounting to about $25,000.

Metivier-Hernandez said the company is committed to the continued development of sport shooting for spectators while sharpening the skills of local athletes for international competitions.