Guyana Hits the Bullseye: Archery Guyana Celebrates Successful Hosting of the 8Th Caribbean Development Championships

Friday, Oct 30

A landmark regional sporting event, a celebration of Caribbean unity, and 61 medal awards involving Guyanese archers

Archery Guyana Inc. is celebrating the successful hosting of the 8th Caribbean Development Championships (CDC) 2026, which brought the Caribbean and the wider Americas together at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, from October 22-25, 2026.

For Guyana, this was about far more than targets, arrows and medals. It was an opportunity to welcome the regional archery family, showcase our country’s hospitality, demonstrate our capacity to host international sport, and provide developing athletes with an invaluable platform to compete, learn and grow.

Hosted by the national Federation, Archery Guyana Inc. under the auspices of World Archery Americas, the Championships brought together athletes, coaches, officials and supporters representing the Caribbean and Central America. The participating delegations represented a vibrant cross-section of the region, united by a shared commitment to the growth of archery.

The Championships featured competition across recurve, compound and barebow disciplines, with categories designed to give developing archers opportunities to test their abilities against regional peers. For younger and emerging athletes in particular, the experience offered lessons that extend well beyond the shooting line: discipline, patience, resilience, sportsmanship and the courage to keep trying when a shot does not go as planned.

The Championships were officially opened on Thursday evening, October 22, 2026 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, in a ceremony that marked an important moment for the sport in Guyana.

The short ceremony was chaired by Mr. Franklin Wilson, Assistant Director of Sport, National Sports Commission. Speeches were delivered by Mr. Sergio Font, Secretary-General of World Archery Americas; and Mrs. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, President of Archery Guyana Inc. The feature address was delivered by the Honourable Charles Ramson Jr., Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport who then declared the event officially open. A highlight was the parade of the nations with flag-bearers carrying their National flags. In attendance were officials and representatives from 18 countries, alongside athletes, coaches, team officials and invited guests.

Minister Ramson welcomed the visiting delegations on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana and reaffirmed the importance of archery in the country’s sporting development. His message reflected the promise represented by the athletes gathered on the field and Guyana’s commitment to supporting their ambitions.

For Archery Guyana, the opening ceremony was a proud reminder that sport can bring nations together, create opportunities for young people and build friendships across borders. The sight of regional delegations gathering in Guyana was itself a powerful expression of what these Championships were designed to achieve.

In her opening remarks, Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, President of Archery Guyana, expressed gratitude to His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Honourable Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Mr. Charles Ramson Jr. and Honourable Minister within the Ministry of CY&S Minister Steven Jacobs, Mr. Andrew Tyndall, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the National Sports Commission, President Godfrey Munroe and the Executive Committee of the Guyana Olympic Association, World Archery Americas, participating federations, corporate sponsors and the Local Organising Committee for their invaluable support in bringing the championships to fruition. She highlighted the importance of the events in creating opportunities for developing athletes, showcasing regional talent and strengthening international sporting partnerships.

Emphasising that archery teaches discipline, resilience, patience and sportsmanship, Persaud-McKinnon encouraged athletes to compete with integrity, humility and determination, reminding them that “the target measures your accuracy; your conduct reveals your character.” She reaffirmed Archery Guyana’s commitment to good governance, fairness, inclusion and expanding opportunities for young people, women and girls, and athletes with disabilities. Adding a touch of national pride, she noted that Guyana’s Golden Arrowhead reflects the spirit of archery, declaring that the country has been “pointing arrows in the right direction since 1966.” She welcomed the visiting delegations and expressed the hope that the championships would foster lasting friendships, shared learning and stronger regional cooperation, as Caribbean nations work together to aim higher and build a brighter future for the sport.

Guyana delivers a strong performance

The home team made full use of the opportunity to compete before family, friends and supporters, recording 61 medal-winning event awards involving Guyanese archers: 24 gold, 23 silver and 14 bronze.

Of these, 49 medals were attributed to Guyana alone, while a further 12 were earned by combined-national-team entries involving Guyanese archers. Those combined-team medals are recognised under their official team attributions and are additional to Guyana’s country-only total.

The results reflect the breadth of Guyana’s participation across individual events, doubles and mixed-team competition. They also demonstrate the value of providing athletes at different stages of development with opportunities to compete internationally without always having to travel outside the region.

The Championships celebrated performances across age groups and divisions, from the youngest archers taking their first steps in regional competition to more experienced competitors demonstrating the skills developed through consistent training.

Yet the significance of the CDC cannot be measured by medals alone. Every athlete who took to the shooting line gained experience, faced new challenges and contributed to the development of archery in the Caribbean.

Overall medal summary

Caribbean Development Championship (CDC)

Medal awards involving Guyanese archers

Gold - 24

Silver -23

Bronze - 14

Total medal awards involving Guyanese archers - 61

49 attributed to GUY Guyana alone; 12 additional medals won by combined-NOC teams involving Guyanese archers.

Individual medals — Guyana

Total: 32 medals — 11 gold, 12 silver and 9 bronze.

The event name “CDC Recurve Special Under 11 Wome” is truncated in theofficial Results Book; it is reproduced as printed.

Team/doubles medals —Guyana-only teams

Total: 11 medals — 6 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze.

Team/doubles medals —combined-NOC teams involving Guyana

Total: 5 medals — 1 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze. These medals must remainunder their combined-team attribution.

Mixed-team medals —Guyana-only teams

Total: 6 medals — 4 gold and 2 silver.

Mixed-team medals —combined-NOC teams involving Guyana

Total: 7 medals — 2 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze.

CDC summary

A collective achievement for Guyana

Archery Guyana extends its sincere gratitude to the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, for its support and commitment to sport development and to creating opportunities for Guyanese athletes to compete and excel.

Special thanks are extended to the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) for their support and contribution to the sporting environment that made this event possible.

We also recognise the invaluable assistance of the Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan M.S.M., Guyana Defence Force, whose support formed part of the wider national effort to deliver the Championships; the Traffic Chief Superintendent Mahendra Singh and the Guyana Police Force, for their assistance and cooperation with movement of delegations; Dr. Ariane Mangar, Ms. Vanessa Wickham and the Guyana Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Services, for supporting athlete welfare and the physical demands of competition.

Our heartfelt appreciation goes to Chair of the National Commisison on Disability, Mr. Ganesh Singh and the Commission Members and Mr. Lee Davis of the National Commission on Disability (NCD) for its assistance and commitment to accessibility and inclusion. International sport must be a space in which persons with disabilities can participate with dignity, and support for accessibility helps make that principle a reality.

To every ministry, agency, official, volunteer, technical personnel, service provider and individual who gave time, expertise or practical assistance are thanked for their assistance. Successful international events depend on the work that happens both in public view and behind the scenes. The contribution of each person and organisation helped create a welcoming and functional environment for our visiting delegations.

Archery Guyana profusely thanks World Archery Americas for its confidence in Guyana as host, and the participating national federations, team managers, coaches, judges, technical officials, athletes and accompanying supporters for their cooperation and sportsmanship throughout the Championships.

The LOC expressed thanks to Guyana Tourism Authority and the Tourism Hospitality Association. We are grateful to our sponsors and private-sector partners, whose contributions helped turn planning into reality. We equally acknowledge the families, friends and supporters who encouraged the athletes and helped create an atmosphere of enthusiasm around the competition.

Thanks are expressed to Guyana Beverages Inc., Oasis Water, Queensway Security, Cirkel Distributors, Elle & Vire, Massy Distribution, Frozen Delights, MVP Sports, Toucan Distributors, Seven Seas, International Business Services, Soldanza, Nature Heart, Service Guyana Inc. Orchard, Arka Supplies, Guyana China Friendship Society, the Chinese Association of Guyana.

Beyond the shooting line: showcasing Guyana

The Championships provided an opportunity to place Guyana before a regional and international audience—not only as a sporting destination, but as a country proud of its people, culture, hospitality and natural beauty.

The visiting delegations experienced the warmth of Guyanese welcome and the spirit of a nation eager to share its achievements and ambitions. The event also demonstrated the value of sport tourism and the possibilities that arise when sporting organisations, government agencies, volunteers and businesses work together towards a common goal.

For Archery Guyana, hosting the CDC was both an honour and a responsibility. It was an opportunity to show that a developing sport can bring people together, inspire the next generation and contribute meaningfully to Guyana’s wider sporting landscape.

As the 8th Caribbean Development Championships conclude, Archery Guyana looks forward to building on the experience gained, strengthening regional relationships and continuing to create pathways for athletes to progress.