Kenyan father and son return home from South Africa with medals

Kenyan shooters Anthony Dodds and son George are training their eyes 150th anniversary of Bisley UK later this year after impressing at Open National Championship in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

The father and son act saw the Dodds bring home one gold, one silver and three bronze medals over the weekend.

“It was tough competition in challenging range in Bloemfontein,” the elder Dodds said.

“There were shooters from the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Trinidad, eager to try their skills against local experts. We are happy we put up a good show against some of the world’s best shooters,” he said, adding that they were now focusing on Bisley UK alongside the rest of the Kenyan squad.

The weeklong South African championship comprised shooting in both individual and team contests. Contestants aim there specially designed 7.62mm calibre target rifles at paper targets from distances of 300 to 900 meters, using only open unmagnified sights and freeholding their rifles.

In Target Shooting, the target is made up of 5 concentric circles arranged with the smallest in the middle being the bullseye scoring the marksman 5 points.

The bullseye at 300 meters is 14 cm in diameter, about the size of a saucer and 51 cm at 900 m, like a large dinner plate.

Over 100 shooters take part annually in the Kenya Open held in June, hosted by the Kenya Defence Forces on the Laikipia Rifle Range in Nanyuki.