Larnaca`s shooting enthusiasts will soon have the opportunity to head out onto an impressive new range, which is hoped to open later this year.
Procopis Gavrielides is the Larnaca Vice President of the Cyprus Shooting Sporting Club, a club he has been involved with for 35 years.
The Larnaca club, which opened in 1980, was closed at the end of 2002. Located close to the Salt Lake, when flamingoes were found dead, it was thought that the deaths were caused due to lead shot dropping near to the lake. Gavrielides says: “We were sure it was not from that, but we didn`t say anything as we wanted to leave from that area. Our government then decided to build a new club – a very good one. I think it will be the best one in Cyprus.”
The new Larnaca Shooting Club premises are situated on the outskirts of Tersephanou, next to the proposed golf course. Gavrielides feels that the new club will appeal to locals and tourists alike.
“The area is very good, it`s ten minutes from the airport, ten minutes from the sea, twelve minutes from Larnaca, twenty from Nicosia and twenty five from Paralimni. It`s more or less in the middle of Cyprus. All of the foreign shooters who come to Cyprus for their training will love it.”
Gavrielides is hopeful that the new club will be handed over in June. Everything is now completed and in place except the machines for trap and skeet. The semi-governmental Cyprus Sports Organisation, which is building and financing the club, is in the process of organising a new tender for the supply of the machines.
Gavrielides says: “We hope that the machines will be delivered to us for and of October or November. Everything has to be ready for next year`s Grand Prix, which will take place in February. Possibly in May, we will have another important competition.”
Gavrielides welcomes the new club premises as it has been a difficult time for the club`s 250 members, many of whom stopped training, while others joined clubs in different towns. Gavrielides feels that the club`s younger members were hardest hit, those who relied on family and friends for transport. “It was a very bad period for us, but we hope that now everything will be okay.”
Surrounded by paperwork and brochures concerning the club and machinery, Gavrielides continues: “It is not only to have a good modern club, new machines and the latest technology, we have to work this club properly in order to have profits and for our prices to be competitive and as low as possible, so that people who decide to come from abroad will come to Cyprus for their training.
“We are already proceeding with special agreements with other countries. We have a modern club that will be loved by everybody, we have the possibility to offer something special not only to Cypriots but also to people from abroad.”
As head of his Larnaca based family business supplying Olympia cartridges, Gavrielides says: “ We are in contact with many countries, this will help a lot as we will persuade people to come and make their training here.”
Asked which countries use the shooting facilities available in Cyprus, Gavrielides explains that tourists come from Northern Europe, the Gulf and Middle East, pointing out that Northern Europe has very low temperatures, while countries south of Cyprus have very high temperatures, making Cyprus the ideal place.
The new club will offer both trap and skeet clay pigeon shooting. “It`s a very modern club-the only one in Cyprus that has combined trap and skeet. It`s very easy to turn from one discipline to another”, he said. Shotguns will be available for hire and while membership is available, non members will be welcome.
Gavrielides is hopeful that the club will increase tourism to Larnaca: “Many tourists are coming for shooting. During the big events it`s possible to have 800 or even 1,000. Sometimes we have eighty countries participating. Cyprus is one of the most loved places and shooters come from all parts of the world.
“Larnaca has the opportunity to go up, it`s in the best area-the middle of Cyprus.”
Fore more information about Larnaca Shooting Club, contact Yiannis Gavrielides on 24530309.
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