It’s battle for the finest at IDPA Chairman’s Cup

Chairman's Cup match director Anthony Wahome in past action. [Peter Chitayi, Standard]

IDPA Chairman’s Cup promises to be a thrilling year-end contest for shooting enthusiasts as they wrestle it out for top honours on Saturday 27 at the Kirigiti shooting range.

The participants who will be firing it hot with their loaded CZs and Glocks will contend with 10 full stages, including a warm-up stage to get everyone started on a level field.

Match director for this year’s International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) Chairman’s Cup Anthony Wahome, who is excitedly looking forward to the event says it has been a long wait.

“As we all know; 2019/ 2020 was a hard year for all sports worldwide after the cancellation of sporting activities because of Covid-19. With that gap in shooting, it’s been a long wait to hold Chairman’s Cup. I am excited that it’s finally happening,” he said.

The return of Master Eng. Robert Nyamongo, who was the first black man to be awarded Master status in Africa, after a season’s break promises a thriller of an event.

Master Eng. Robert Nyamongo, centre, flanked by Ian Van der Bank (left) and Jaco Van der Bank displays medals he won in a past event. [Caroline Obuya, Standard]

Nyamongo will be battling it out alongside seasoned heavyweights like Master Eng. Sammy Onyango, Master Eric Wachira and Master Samuel Chacha of GSU, all in the Enhanced Service Pistol (ESP) division.

Another heavyweight Master Ibrahim Ndung’u who has had a very good season this year both locally and abroad will face it off with Master Mohammed Omar, Master Thomas Kiilu and Master Daniel Kyalo of Kenya Prisons Service, all in Stock Service Pistol (SSP) division.

Approximately105 shooters will take part in this year’s Chairman’s Cup, which will include all the 8 divisions - Stock Service Pistol (SSP), Enhanced Service Pistol (ESP), Compact Carry Pistol (CCP), Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC) Custom Defensive Pistol (CDP), Carry Optics (CO), Revolver (REV) and Back-Up Gun (BUG).

The former NGAO-K chairman, Wahome says the stages are not only technical in approach but fun to shoot regardless of the division in which one is shooting.

“For each class, we hope to have options that reward for both speed and accuracy,” he says.

Chairman’s Cup has been taking place annually since 2016. The contest was first held at Kedong Ranch- Range in Naivasha, even before NGAO-Kenya had obtained its own range at Kirigiti, Kiambu.