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• Chad Ziadie, Aliana McMaster crowned Jamaica's national sporting clays champions

  Chad Ziadie and Aliana McMaster were crowned Jamaica’s national sporting clays champions on following an exhilarating day of shooting action at the Tru-Juice Estate in Bog Walk, St Catherine.

  More than 100 of Jamaica’s best shooters had assembled to vie for the title of national champion. In the end, the pinpoint accuracy of Ziadie and the teen Phenom, McMaster, put them above the rest.

  Ziadie advanced to the Super Six round after scoring 174 and was followed by Nicholas Chen (170), Christian Sasso (167), Craig Simpson (167) JJ Ralston (167) and Shaun Barnes (163).

  The round consists of a 25-bird target over three rounds of intense shooting to determine the overall winner.

  After the three rounds, Ziadie and Chen were tied on 185 forcing another round of eight targets. Both were still tied on 191, which meant that a fifth round shoot-off became necessary.

  Ziadie shot first and picked off seven of the eight targets, forcing Chen to hit all eight targets for the win. He hit six thus handing Ziadie his very first national title.

  "It feel great. I have been runner-up twice, last year and two years ago, so it feels good to be finally on top,” said the newly minted champion, who revealed how nerve-racking it was during the shoot off.

  “You have to keep your mental going until the very end and also just zone out everybody else and just focus on yourself,” he said.

  “He (Chen) pushed me to the end and I am glad I came out on top."

  Junior shooter JJ Ralston was declared the A Class champion after scoring 167 along with Craig Simpson -167 and Christian Sasso - 167.

  All three shooters competed in the Super Six shoot-off. Their placements are a direct result of their scores at the end of the shoot-off which were 183, 182 and 180 respectively.

  McMaster had a relatively easier time of it, scoring 149. Her mother Wendy McMaster shot a score of 140 while Jolie Chin (115) was third.

  Aliana, who was also second in the B Class behind Ramon Pitter (167), was thought she could have shot better during the tournament.

  "I am not entirely satisfied with my performance over the weekend however I am still grateful that I was still able to come out on top," she said.

  The top three shooters in the various classes were:

  A Class: JJ Ralston - 167, Craig Simpson - 167 and Christian Sasso - 167.

  B Class: Ramon Pitter - 161, Aliana McMaster - 149 and Najeeb Haber - 137.

  C Class: Gordon Bucknor - 145, Dominic Simpson - 143 and Wendy McMaster 140 (L/R).

  D Class: Craig Hendrickson - 156, Justin Samuda - 149 and Anthony Desnoes 141.

  E Class: Max Williams - 127, Seymour Essor - 124 and Chris Clarke - 121.

  Ladies Class: Aliana McMaster - 149, Wendy McMaster -140 and Joelie Chin - 115.

  The Juniors: JJ Ralston - 167, Roman Tavares-Finson - 161, Mark Desnoes – 159.

   

   

  Hunters or Beginners: Andrew Clarke - 132, Kevin Chin Shue - 126 and Nick Dawson - 125.

   

   

• Teen sensation Aliana McMaster shines at World English Sporting Clay Championships

   Jamaica's promising teen shooter Aliana McMaster was a standout for her country at the recent World English Sporting Clays Championship in England where she was the only shooter on the team to take home silverware.

  The championship was held at the E J Churchill Shooting Ground in England from Wednesday July 5 to Saturday, July 8.

  The 16-year-old McMasters, who won third place in the main event after scoring 144 out of a possible 200 in the Lady Sub Junior sporting clays also took second and third-place finishes in the Five-Stand or Sport Trap competition.

  It marked the first time that any Jamaican and the first female to win a medal in any category on the European circuit. Buoyed by her performance she now looks forward to this weekend's National Shotgun Championship at the Tru-Juice property in St. Catherine.

  Jamaica had its best results in 2022 after the female team ended in third position and the male team came fourth. It marked the first time that a local team was getting a podium finish.

  The Jamaican team was comprised of Craig Simpson (captain), Ryan Chen (vice-captain), Ray McMaster, Robert Yap-Foo, Gordon Bucknor and Lennin Thompson. Simpson said that the team gained valuable experience at the championship and commended young McMaster for her outstanding performance.

  Eleven countries including the USA, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Mexico, Italy, Sweden and Jamaica participated in the championships. The Jamaican team was supported by Proven, Hawkeye, Coldwell Bankers, National Bakery, Ammar's and BarePelt.

• Jamaica's shooters gear up for action at World English Sporting Clay Championship

  The last member of Jamaica’s nine-member team departed the island on Monday for the World English Sporting Clay Championship set to commence at the E.J. Churchill Shooting Ground in England on Wednesday, July 5 and end on Saturday, July 8.

  Jamaica had its best results in 2022 when the women’s team finished third and the men’s came fourth, marking the first time that a team from the island took a spot on the podium.

  The women’s team is comprised of national shotgun champion Wendy McMaster, Aliana McMaster and Abigail McMaster, who are hoping to at least equal their third-place finish.

  Craig Simpson (captain), Ryan Chen (vice-captain), Ray McMaster, Robert Yap-Foo, Gordon Bucknor and Lennin Thompson, make up the men’s team.

  The team is a mixture of experience and new members with Simpson, who has been competing in the championship since the early 2000s, being the most experienced.

  “We are enthusiastic to be attending this prestigious event. My job as captain is to motivate my teammates while keeping them composed,” Simpson said.

  “This trip is about gaining international exposure and knowledge of where the sport is at on the European continent and how we can get Jamaica to a higher level of competitiveness. The fraternity is excited to have us in attendance and our participation alone is a win for Jamaica."

  Sponsors Proven, Hawkeye, Coldwell Bankers, National Bakery, Ammar's and BarePelt are backing the Jamaicans, who will be going up against teams from the USA, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Mexico, Italy and Sweden.