Preparations are in top gear for the upcoming National Gun Owners Association (NGAO-K) pistol shooting competition which will take place at the Bamburi Rifle Club in Mombasa County on 31st August, 2019.
The match which is sponsored by Crown Paints Kenya PLC will be the first ever sanctioned International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) match in Kenya and will be run like all other international sanctioned matches worldwide.
This event is a milestone in terms of IDPA shooting in Kenya because none of the matches they have held before has ever gone through the sanctioned process.
A huge number of participants are expected at the tournament which has so far attracted approximately 80 entrants, of whom 30 are from the disciplined forces.
Speaking to the Standard, NGAO-K chairman Anthony Wahome said , “ We are in the process of preparing for the world championships and we thought it wise to adopt to IDPA standards fully by sticking to the international rules and regulations. ”
There are approximately six courses of fire which the IDPA secretariat has ascertained that they adhere to the IDPA set standards.
The NGAO-K chairman stressed the need for regular training saying that some of their members have been taking part in selected international tournaments in preparation for the African and the world championships.
Speaking to Standard from Richmond United Kingdom, Geoffrey Pesa who is preparing for the Pistol Carbine Calibre (PCC) category for the world championships in October expressed his joy after winning gold in Marksman category in Alvarado Texas USA last weekend, with a score of 158.13 defeating approximately 50 competitors.
Pesa will again be competing in a London IDPA match on 22nd before jetting back to the country for the Mombasa Nationals.
Wahome cited Sammy Onyango who recently took part in the Northern Nationals in South-Africa where he performed exceptionally well, won gold and was promoted to master category.
Onyango who managed a score of 216.93 at the (NNs) becomes the third master in the country after Eng. Robert Nyamongo and Mohammed Omar
Earlier in the year at the Southern Nationals Sammy Onyango scored 203.56 winning gold in Expert SSP division while Robert Nyamongo scored 188.78 winning silver in ESP master category. Master Mohammed Omar did not take part due to an injury.
Reigning IDPA Africa Champion Ian Van der Bank emerged top in both the Southern and Northern Nationals encounters with a score of 159.77 & 164.55 respectively.
Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletter
Kenyan Daniel Kyalo from the disciplined forces won gold in the law enforcement category with a score of 269.27.
Back home the Mombasa shooting team is upbeat saying they have trained well and are ready to take on the Nairobi team come 31st.
“Registration is still open and all IDPA members worldwide have been urged to take advantage of this opportunity as part of sports tourism, to come and explore what we have in Kenya.” Said NGAO-K chairman.
The Kenyan team is preparing for the African Championships taking place in South Africa next month and the world championships in Alabama in October.
NGAO-K ‘s aim is to enhance shooting sports locally and spread it across East Africa in order to attain a regional outlook.