SPORTS

Island Games shooters stay home in wake of Dennis

Thursday,  July 14, 2005

WHILE Cayman residents were bracing for Hurricane Dennis, Cayman shooters, who were supposed to leave on Wednesday for the 2005 Island Games in Shetland, had a very important question to answer – to compete or not to compete.

All four – Eddie McLean, Chris Jackson, Kevin Schirn and Robert Harris – initially chose to stay home. However, Harris managed to catch a flight on Friday to make it to the competition, even though it took him almost two solid days of traveling. The other three did not go, for a variety of reasons including job obligations and concerns about traveling with firearms in the light of increased security in the aftermath of the London bombings. Although the team had all the necessary permits, they were still uncertain as to whether they would be able to travel.

“This was one of the worst weekends of my life,” said team member Eddie McLean.

“I lost a lot of sleep over this. I really wanted to go. We postponed the flight because of the hurricane threat. On Thursday, when we heard the news about the bombing in London, we realised it was going to be a huge risk. We risked being detained and then being sent back to the Island even though we had all of the necessary paper work,” he explained.
Chris Jackson, the general manager of operations at the Cayman Turtle Farm, who was to compete at the Island Games in Olympic Trap and Automatic Ball Trap, said that since he is responsible for the care of the pumps and the general welfare of the farm, he could not make the trip.

“It was disappointing, but my job comes first and I was needed. I looked forward to competing at the Island Games.”

Jackson said he is looking forward to competing at the Commonwealth Games which are, fortunately for the team, not in the hurricane season.

“You can’t fight acts of God, you can only prepare,” he said.

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