Ned Gerard with ponytail, below left , aiming at a target downrange during the Men’s Individual 50m Rifle Prone event. Karen Gerard, above left, during the Women’s Individual 10m air pistol event
VERACRUZ, MEXICO — Ned and Karen Gerard are eyeing targets in shooting for Team V.I. during the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz, Mexico.
Karen, who is shooting in the 25m sports pistol and 10m air pistol categories, has been representing the Virgin Islands for more than 10 years including these 2014 CAC Games.
“Sports pistol is fun,” said Karen, who prefers the sports pistol of the two events. “You just get out there and shoot.”
But Gerard knows air pistol is a good foundation for all competitive shooting.
“Air pistol makes everything else I shoot perfect,” Gerard said. “It’s so precise and so disciplined and has so much focus that it’s actually the basis for everything else that you shoot.”
Gerard started competing after accompanying her husband Ned to an event in Barbados.
“He borrowed guns and threw me into the match,” Karen said. “I did really well, so then I kind of got sucked into it.”
Karen is in so deep now she also shoots for recreation and coaches shooters with higher caliber firearms like 9mm, .40 and .45 caliber guns.
International Representation of USVI
Among the many other events, Gerard has competed for the V.I. in three CAC Games, two Pan American Games, 14 international medals, four Caribbean Championships. All of this leads to international recognition and Karen is one of very few women from the Caribbean with a world ranking – she is ranked 79th in the world.
Ned Gerard is working with a rifle in Veracruz as he competed in the Men’s 50m prone small-bore event; the same event that he participated in in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Like his wife Karen, Ned is a seasoned athlete who has racked up 19 medals while carrying the V.I. flag in many competitions including four Pan American Games, Three CAC Games and the aforementioned 2008 Olympic Games.
As always, the Gerards know it’s never easy in these international competition, as many of their opponents are professional, full-time athletes.
“A lot of these guys are professionals,” Ned said.
“I shoot whenever I can,” he said of his preparation for competition.
Ned makes no excuses in shooting against professional shooters.
“I’m not worried about them. My goal is to put 100 percent into each shot,” Ned said. “It’s all about concentration. I started shooting at 47 and at age 52 I was in the Olympics.”
The Gerards are key figures in competitive shooting in the V.I. as Ned and Karen are both members of the V.I. Shooting Federation.
For getting into competitive shooting, equipment is a concern as an entry-level pistol ranges between $300 to $600, according to the Gerards. They are currently in contact with manufactures and are seeking a sponsor grow the program in the V.I.
Karen said starting junior shooters in the 10m air pistol discipline would be very doable as practice areas are not as demanding.
“We would love to get some juniors into the event.”
Anyone interested in joining the shooting federation can contact the Gerards at nedgerard@hotmail.com.
For schedules and scores of the 2-14 CAC Games in Veracruz, Mexico, visit veracruz2014.mx.
