Sanford Otundo reclaims Kenya Open Bisley title

What you need to know:

  • Only 24 firers made the final round on Saturday.
  • Defending champion Serem was the major casualty after he failed to qualify for the final with his defective rifle adding to his woes.

General Service Unit (GSU) Sergeant Sanford Otundo is the new Kenya Open Bisley Shooting champion.

The 33-year-old recaptured the title he lost last year when he returned a final round of 136 points with eight vee-bulls (136/8) from long range for a total 281.24 to triumph on Saturday at the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Shooting Laikipia Range.

It was Otundo’s second Kenya Open victory, having fired to his maiden success in 2015 before losing the crown to John Serem from Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) last year.

Otundo brought 73.6 from 800m and 63.2 at 900m to edge out John Ihugo from Kenya Police-Railways to second place on 277.25 after he carded 131.9 made of 71.6 and 60.3.

Kenya Defence Forces Full-bore champion Grace Rantille (GSU) settled third with 273.20 after her final round 130.5 comprising 67.4 and 63.1 respectively.

Rantille becomes the third woman to finish in top three at the Kenya Open Bisley after KDF’s Nune Bonaya who finished second in 2015 where she lost to Otundo on vee-bulls and Farhiya Mohammed (KDF),who finished third in 2013.

At hand to decorate the winners was the chief guest, Brigadier Joakim Mwamburi, who is the Commander 4th Brigade.

“I had a problematic rifle last year and I managed to get a spare to fix it,” said Otundo, who is looking forward to United Kingdom Bisley in July.

“I knew I had to stay composed and claim maximum points at 800m then take it easy at 900m. I thank God for the victory again,” said Otundo.

Only 24 firers made the final round on Saturday where Otundo was placed fourth overall with his short range of 145.16 while Ihugo was third on 146.15. Rantille went into the final round in seventh place on 143.14.

Things proved difficult for the 2011 and 2014 Kenya Open champion Christopher Saina (GSU), who led into the final round with 146.15 after he failed to secure a top three finish.

Defending champion Serem was the major casualty after he failed to qualify for the final with his defective rifle adding to his woes.