Darin Richards and Yeonie Campbell claimed top honors at the Jamaica Rifle Association’s (JRA) Jamaica Cup IPSC Level 3 shoot, held at the JRA's head office and shooting range on Mountain View Avenue in Kingston. The event, a qualifier for the 2025 IPSC World Cup in South Africa, drew fierce competition as shooters battled under scorching conditions for coveted spots on the national team.

Richards took home the title in the Standard Division, a win he credited to his disciplined approach to mastering steel targets. “It was very awesome. The stages were very challenging," Richards said, describing the intensity of the competition. "I personally had some issues but was determined. I did my best, and I thank God I won my division.” His focused preparation paid off, earning him 741.42 points ahead of Paul Dixon, who scored 711.12, and Thomas Jones with 681.69.

In the Production Division, Campbell, also the JRA's pistol captain and match director, secured the win with an impressive 766.90 points. Balancing her roles as organizer and competitor, she described the experience as both rewarding and intense. “It was very pressuring. I had to organize the match itself...The team of us worked very hard to put on the production, and I am glad it came across very well,” Campbell shared, noting that winning her division made the effort all the more fulfilling. Campbell finished ahead of Sanjay Wilson (709.32) and Josimar Clarke (689.36).

Other notable performances included Ryan Bramwell’s victory in the Production Optics Division, scoring 1049.81 points. Bramwell, a seasoned competitor who made a switch to Production Optics for the event, comfortably outscored Chris Hart (946.20) and Adrian Randle (946.02). Alrice Palmer dominated the Open Division, scoring 1011.28 points, while Petrano Belafonte (971.93) and Alvin More (964.49) finished in second and third, respectively.

JRA President Rohan Wilson praised the event, noting its success since its inception in 2015. “I am very grateful that it was a safe day. I am very grateful that everyone came out and enjoyed it,” Wilson said. “The weather, the heat was grueling, but all in all, it was a successful day. The sport of practical pistol is still a very relevant sport.”

Island Car Rentals, the event’s main sponsor, supported this year’s Jamaica Cup IPSC Level 3 shoot, adding further prestige to an already impactful competition.

Jockey Dane Dawkins is brimming with confidence and ready to showcase his improved form at Caymanas Park on Saturday, following a successful stint in Canada that saw him rack up 25 wins.

The former champion rider, known for his tenacity and skill in the saddle, started slowly at the North American track, but he eventually found his rhythm and returned with more victories under his belt than in his previous overseas campaign in 2019.

Dawkins, who competed primarily at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, admitted that the transition was initially challenging. However, his determination to make a mark and improve on his past performances pushed him through the difficult period.

With every race, he adjusted to the nuances of the track and the competition, and by the end of the season there, Dawkins had established himself as a force to be reckoned with. His 25 wins were complemented by 24 second-place finishes and 28 third-place finishes from 169 mounts, amassing an impressive CAD$288,149 (about $33.5 million Jamaican) in earnings.

“It was a tough start because it took a while for me to get comfortable and get to know the horses, but once I got into my groove after my first two months, everything started to click. Winning 25 races this time around was a big deal for me because I only won seven the last time I was there. It shows I’m learning and improving and once I started winning races, the trainers saw my true potential and started giving me more rides,” Dawkins told SportsMax.Tv.

Dawkins’ performances in Canada weren’t just about accumulating wins, the experience also sharpened his skills. With the renewed confidence, he is eager to bring that momentum back to Jamaica, where he now hopes to continue his winning streak at Caymanas Park, as he has secured four rides on Saturday’s card and another six for Sunday.

“I’m excited to be back at Caymanas. Riding in Canada helped me fine-tune my techniques and decision-making, and I want to use that to get more wins here. The goal is to build on what I’ve achieved and show that I’m a better rider than before,” the soft-spoken rider noted.

But Dawkins isn’t just focused on immediate success. The talented jockey has his eyes set on a long-term goal—winning more Classic races to cement his legacy in the sport.

For Dawkins, these prestigious events, such as the Jamaica Derby, the Jamaica Oaks, the 1000 Guineas, 2000 Guineas, Jamaica Cup, Gold Cup and Mouttet Mile, are the pinnacle achievements for any Jamaican jockey, and he’s determined to consistently etch his name in the annals of the sport’s history.

With the season at Caymanas Park nearing its end, Dawkins return at this point in time will only allow him to challenge for the Gold Cup in October, the Jamaica Cup in November, and the lucrative Mouttet Mile in December.

“I want to consistently win those big races, the Classic races. That’s what every jockey targets in their career. Yes, I’ve won a few already, but you can’t get complacent at any time. You always have to keep pushing and putting in the work to continue getting those rides in the big races to make your mark in the sport,” he shared.

However, success on the track is only part of Dawkins’ motivation. A dedicated family man, he revealed that his greatest ambition is to ensure that his loved ones are well taken care of.

For him, the sacrifices he makes and the risks he takes are all in service of providing a better future for his family.

“At the end of the day, I ride to win and make a name for myself, but my family comes first. Every win, every achievement is for them. I just want to make my family proud and happy, and that’s what drives me to keep pushing myself and that’s what it’s all about,” Dawkins ended.

Renowned Gulfstream Park race announcer Peter Aiello has lauded Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL) Executive Chairman Solomon Sharpe and his team for the direction in which they are taking Jamaica’s horseracing product.

In fact, Aiello, who will be making his debut at Caymanas Park on Saturday during the third running of the Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL)-sponsored Jamaica Cup, believes the potential for growth is very much on the cards, provided the promoters remains committed to their objectives.

SVREL took over promotion of racing in 2017 and has invested significantly as a means of driving the product forward. The broadcasting of their signal to overseas markets, the implementation of a solar power system, a partnership with New York-based Bridge99Fm, as well as the Australian-based BetMakers Technology group to offer Fix Odds betting, are among SVREL’s milestone achievements to date.

 “I am a huge fan of it. Since I have been here, I’ve kind of been picking everybody’s brain operationally speaking because that’s how my mind works, and everything just seems to be up. There are some really forward-thinking ideas, and one thing I like about it, it seems like it is more of a methodical approach where they are playing the long game,” Aiello assessed.

“It is not a scenario where somebody tries something, and it doesn’t work right away, and they give up on it. I think that is really important and I think it is something that the US racetracks are guilty of, they give up too soon. So, I really like the long-term projection, they are starting to see some positive results and I am happy to do what I can to make sure they continue on that positive, upward trend,” he told SportsMax.TV.

Aiello, a familiar voice in the world of horse racing, is associated with some of the most prestigious horse racing events in the 

United States. He expressed delight about bringing his expertise to one of Jamaica’s most highly anticipated race days.

The Jamaica Cup is the last significant event before the lucrative Mouttet Mile Invitational scheduled for December 2. In addition to the main event, the undercard will have eight high-stakes races contested by top horses, jockeys, and trainers.

“I have been a fan of Jamaican horse racing for probably two or three years now. Once Supreme Ventures made it available in the US, I caught on to it and really fell in love with it, so it is nice to actually be here,” Aiello said.

“I was looking back at the race card earlier and there are some really good races tomorrow. The Jamaica Cup is going to be exciting and “Spuddy” [Brian Rickman] and I have a nice surprise for everybody so make sure you tune in. But there is another race on the card that seems super exciting and that’s Desert of Malibu up against American Tap and Rani Bangala, that is a heck of a race, that is a championship quality race. So, the seventh and eighth races are what I am really excited about,” he added.

Regarding the Mouttet Mile, which will be streamed live in the United States on Fox 5, Aiello said it speaks volumes of the significant strides Jamaica’s racing has made.

“I think it is great, and I am hopeful that we can get some of the American influence behind it. I know Solomon Sharpe and the team are working to get as much influence as they can, but I think it’s a great thing and I am certainly willing to help as much as I can. The race will be shown on Fox 5 in the US this year which is great because that is the exposure that Jamaican racing needs,” Aiello noted.

“The purse is allegedly going up next year, so if the purse goes up, I think it is just going to be a situation where the horsemen and jockeys are going to have to take note of the state of the calendar and hopefully, we can get a worldwide experience, which would mean everybody wins,” he reasoned.

And with this being his first time in Jamaica, Aiello is relishing the experience.

“They are doing a great job of getting me to enjoy all these great Jamaican foods and I have to say I am going to be a bit disappointed that I won't be able to get a callaloo patty and some bammy when I get home," Aiello ended.

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