This archive report was first published on 7 September 2021.
On September 7, 2021, the inaugural International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) Africa championships 2021 took place at the Kirigiti shooting range in Kiambu, Kenya.
The event was a success, with shooters adhering to strict safety measures. According to NGAO-Kenya chairman Martin Chengo, the bays were up to international standards, and the safety officers did an excellent job.
However, there were some notable aspects of the event. The 14 Courses of Fire (COFS) were a major challenge for many shooters, with top sharpshooter and Safety Officer Belinda Akoth noting that a good number of participants underestimated the technicality of the COFS.
Despite the challenges, Kenyan shooters impressed international participants. Elizabeth Cherono Onyango, a sharpshooter, earned the Lady High trophy in competition, while Irene Ndunda and Irene Wanjiku secured second and third slots respectively.
Disqualifications were also a topic of discussion, with seven DQs issued due to finger calls, two-finger calls, or failure to adhere to the 180 rule. The affected participants included three sharpshooters, two marksmen, and two novices.
Head of stats Master Mahir Omar praised the planning and execution of the event, noting that the results were posted on time on Practiscore. However, there were some disputes in the results, which were resolved.
International participants also praised the event, with Ukraine's Boris Zelinsky ESP sharpshooter expressing his delight with the championships, despite facing challenges with the type of pistol he used.
