Shooter Onyango wins Gold at Northern Nationals

Shooting expert Sammy Onyango. [File]

International Defence Pistol Association (IDPA) shooting Expert and National Gun Owners Association (NGAO) Vice-Chair Sammy Onyango won gold in the Expert category at the Northern Nationals shooting tournament in South Africa, over the weekend.

Onyango, who was also victorious at the Hungarian Magtech Shooting Championships and bagged an award in the Chairman’s Cup, won two gold medals; the Expert and International category.

His exemplary performance earned him promotion to Master from Expert in the SSP category.

South African IDPA champion Ian Van der Bank, who visited Kenya two months ago to tutor members of the gun owners association, won the overall prize.

Onyango will now compete with Van Der Bank on the same level. On his way to glory, Onyango defeated 17 Master shooters.

Senior Sergeant Daniel Kyalo Mutiso of Prisons, who travelled with Sammy Onyango for the shooting tournament, won gold in the Law and Enforcement category. Sergent Mutiso was 13th overall.

“I’m happy with this achievement. I have been shooting for many years and being promoted to a Master shooter feels amazing,” an elated Onyango said.

The Kenyan shooting team has grown in confidence since the beginning of the year, with NGAO hosting several events aimed at sharpening shooters’ skills.

The latest event was the Chairman’s Cup at the Kirigiti Shooting Range on June 27.

Onyango, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Triple Tap Range, has aided the development of the sport in the country by conducting clinics.

The Kenyan shooting team is preparing for the World Championship in Alabama, USA, in October.