Hello folks, it's been a slow year for shooting with a lot of things going against us. But we are working hard to keep our sport alive and kicking. Yesterday we've finally had an internal match, after a long while. It sure feels good, I can tell you that. The old familiar sense of joy, pride and agony all mixed together in a very hot tropical day filled with gunsmoke and sunburnt skin equals a fun day of shooting.

Before I go on to the report, it has come to my attention that there seems to be some controversy regarding the language used on the website. I have to apologize for the language used here on this website, cause being the administrator I take full responsibility on what is written here. You can always send me an email to tell me how to improve the site BTW. Now that's out of the way, let's get on to the report.

Due to popular demand on safety issues, yesterday we've had a very informative First Aid course at the range. The First Aid course is organised by the SVS and was taught by police inspector and First Aid instructor, mr. Held. Because we are a gunclub, mr. Held, gave special attention to First Aid treatment related to gunshot wounds and the like. Topics discussed included, but were not limited to, providing basic first aid in case of:
- shot wounds, knife wounds
- suffocation
- bruises and fractures
- burns
- heart attacks
- snake bites
- allergic reactions

As some of you may already know, we've started a project at the beginning of the year to create a forum for shooters in the Caribbean region. The idea started from the overwhelming response we received from shooters from throughout the Caribbean region and the need that was apparent for a forum. To give you an indication, we've had more than 150.000 hits on this website since the launch in little over a year ago. That's a great pat on the back, thank you all for your support.

Anyway, the need was there but we didn't want to start the forum on this website because it's contents are more intended for friends and members of gunclub Suriname. With the forum we wanted something to cater to all shooters in the Caribbean region.

Keeping in touch with your fellow shooters from the Caribbean region and South America has never been easier now with the Caripsa Forum. Meet our shooters and shooters from the region online and have at them See you soon on the forum.

From left to right: Mark Jie, Rabien Chotkan, Nick Alexakos, Stephen Tsang, Serge Tjin, Eric Kharagjitsing and Jack? where's Jack?

Last weekend some of us had the privilege to attend a course given by none other than mr.Nick Alexakos, the current IPSC president. What can I say, I recommend this training to ALL shooters. Not just people who want to be a Range Officer. The fact is, knowing the rules WILL make you a better IPSC shooter. But before I go on ranting about what anyone should do, let me get to the report.

We've been promoting IPSC and claypigeon shooting ever since we started at the new range at Marina Durga. Of primary importance to us is to boost interest from the familymembers of our very own members. In particular, we are trying to gain the interest of their spouses, because there is an imbalance in the force, particularly in the gender department.

It's the age old problem of men: WE NEED MORE WOMEN!.. (to join us in shooting, that is)

Now, because dear hubby or daddy or uncle or whomever should already have a pistol, there's no additional costs needed to purchase one. Ladies, here's your chance to see what the fuzz is all about. To further encourage this, we will provide a one-time reduced yearly membership fee for members' spouses and their (adult) children. And no, it doesn't get cheaper for the second or third spouse.. Those who show talent and promise may be granted the possibility to purchase a clubpistol for sporting purposes.

If you are interested, please register your name with Mr. Ro Tjin. You will be given an application form and depending on the interest, we'd like to start a novice introductory/training program.

CLARIFICATION STATEMENT
ON RECENT TEAM SVS PARTICIPATION IN ST.LUCIA


Team SVS hereby states the following:
-Team SVS has never received an invitation, in any way, shape or form, from IPSC Suriname, or any of its representatives, to take part in or join a national team to be sent to St. Lucia. We challenge IPSC Suriname to prove otherwise.

-Team SVS has directly received a separate invitation to participate from the Regional Director of IPSC St. Lucia.

-IPSC Suriname has repeatedly included the names of Team SVS shooters Mark Jie and Rabien Chotkan, in its media coverage, both before and after the event, as being part of their team, and has named and thanked specific sponsors for their financial donations, to make participation of the team in St. Lucia possible.

- Team SVS shooters Mark Jie and Rabien Chotkan have not received a single cent of sponsorship for their participation from aforementioned IPSC Suriname sponsors.

-We therefore find statements in IPSC Suriname media coverage that name Mark Jie and Rabien Chotkan as being part of the sponsored national team to be misleading.

-We re-emphasize our appreciation of IPSC Suriname’s Chef de Mission for his assistance to our team members, and thank the members of the national team for their camaraderie at the St. Lucia match.

-We congratulate the IPSC Suriname team on their fine performance, and underscore that cooperation between the two separate teams of Suriname has lead to winning the overall team championship for our country.

-Camaraderie and assistance do not in any way, shape or form, change the fundamental fact however, that Team SVS shooters Mark Jie and Rabien Chotkan have formed a separate entry into the recent St. Lucia shooting event, as they have not been invited, much less sponsored, for their participation, by IPSC Suriname.


April 19th 2008,

Serge Tjin Wong Joe,
SVS Teamcaptain.

Hi everyone. Mark & Rabien (pronounce as: raybian) ARE BACK from St.Lucia!! Yeahbaby.. For those of you who weren't there, yesterday night we rented a bus to pick them up from the airport with a large delegation in SVS shirts and stuff. The party continued afterwards in Restaurant Jawa (pics of everything should be put online as soon as possible). We had great fun listening to their stories and experiences in St.Lucia.

Although, there were some disturbing things you hear about the boys staying in the GAY garden hotel, winning a bottle of Mount GAY rum, etc. But we don't care, cause they've WON and most importantly, they've had great fun. So, as they say: what happened in St.Lucia, better STAY in St.Lucia .

Particularly the "limin' with the Badians" stories are always welcome to hear. Barbadians are tons of fun. Literally . Can't wait to see those guys back here again for the annual shooting. Too bad we couldn't be in St.Lucia with a larger delegation, I know a lot of us would've wanted to be there. Maybe next time.. BTW, anyone have a picture of "St.Mike"? hahaha

Finally we'd like to thank the SLSA for their hospitality and commend them on organising such a tournament. Shoot safe everyone.

It's official! Our one and only Mark Jie Tjoe Foek has won the 8th Annual Independence Tournament of the Saint Lucia Shooting Association. Again, as they say in Restaurant Jawa:

MARKY MARKY! HE'S OUR MAN, IF HE CAN'T DO IT NO-ONE CAN

YESSS!!!!! We are so proud of him! His momma too, of course This year's been especially tough for our gunclub. We've had a slow start, been boycotted, and an incident at the range. But fuggeddaboutit, cause these guys have made us and the entire nation proud! Thank you, Mark & Rabien!

We've been following the progress with great aniticipation with limited communication. After day two, we heard that Mark was just 1 point behind Desmond... Then rumours came in that he may have won the tournament after day three And finally, it was official!!! WE LOVE YOU, MARKY!!! In the least gayest sense of the word love, that is

We love you too, Rabien

The top 4:
1. Mark Jie (SURINAME)
2. Desmond Chang (Suriname SSF)
3. Some guy from Martinique
4. Rodney Clarke from Barbados

Congrats guys If we get more detailed results and scores we'll be sure to post it here, so keep watching.

For those of you that haven't heard, Mark Jie & Rabien Chotkan (our dynamic duo) are in St Lucia right now for the 8th Annual Independence Tournament of the Saint Lucia Shooting Association. They'll be defending god & country, their dignity and their gunclub's GO SVS!!
Or as they say in restaurant Jawa:

Mark & Rabien, they're the men, if they can't do it no-one can

We wish them all the luck in the world and hopefully they'll be bringing back some trophees as well. The latest news is that the boys from Suriname aren't doing all that bad. After day one, Desmond (SSF) is now first and Mark second. Rabien had a bit of bad luck and that put him out of the top 10 after day one. Hopefully he can recover in the next few days. Quite a few Surinamese shooters in the top ten though. That's great news. We will keep you posted on the updates. If you want to congratulate them, you can find them at the ahem... Gay Gardens Hotel in St Lucia .