Simpson, McMaster cop Rangers Sporting Clays titles

Craig Simpson and Aliana McMaster copped the coveted titles of HOA (highest overall) and Ladies champion respectively at last Sunday’s staging of the Rangers Gun Club Sporting Clays Classic on the expansive driving course at the Tru-Juice complex in Bog Walk, St Catherine.

Approximately 145 shooters competed for top honours in various categories under punishing heat and high humidity throughout the day.

Simpson missed his first target on Station 17 where he started his competition. He recovered and picked off the other five targets. He only missed two more until he got to Station 10, then came Station 11 or the ‘bonus station’ which proved very challenging for everyone but he got three. Overall he only missed 11 targets for a score 89 which was good enough to bag the HOA title. 

"I thought there was something there for everybody. There was the first section of the course, I started at 17. To Station 10, I thought it was a soft course and then we hit the reality at Station 11, going back to 16, which I thought was very challenging."

 He was happy with winning the event for the second time after winning it in 2023 with a score of 97. "Always good to win, that's why we're here. We all come here with the hope that we'll come out victorious, so I'm really happy."

It was not a sure win for Simpson though as three other shooters ended on 88. They had to be separated by way of shoot-offs to determine the runner-up and A Class positions. "89, I thought wasn't enough. In the end, it was enough to take me over the line."

Aliana McMaster bagged the Ladies trophy for the fourth time on the back of 85 out of 100. She started solidly on Station 12 by picking off all six targets, then dropping one on Station 13 but followed up with getting all six on Station 14. Her scorecard showed several stations where she picked off all the targets but she was not so lucky at the bonus station where she dropped all four as did most of the shooters on the day.

 She was also pleased with her performance. 

“I think 85 is a really good score for today. I'm very happy with it. I could appreciate some of the stations that we had gone through today and I thought it was just a very well-balanced course. There was something for everybody here. Something for somebody just starting and something for someone that's well advanced in the sport. So I think that was a good mixture that I could appreciate as a more seasoned shooter."

After the main event, the excitement extended to shoot-offs to determine the runner-up which went to Andrew Azan after three rounds. The other two shooters were Christian Sasso who topped A Class and Ian Banks who placed second.

 Toby Hugh conquered Station 11, the Bonus Station, to take home the special prize. His performance on that station was considered very commendable as he is in the Hunter’s Class. 

Six shooters moved up in classes after posting the highest score in their class during the event. They were Zachary Chong to B, Luke Chin to C, Scott Roman to D, Toby Hugh, as well as Douglas Henderson and Peter McConnell to E Class.

 Part proceeds from the shoot will go to Food For The Poor.

 The lead sponsor was Sterling Asset Management; with support from Worthy Park Estates, STL Solar, Wisynco, Legend Beer, Tru-Juice, Jamaica Skeet Club, KFC, and others.

Class winners

A Class – Christian Sasso (88)

B Class – Michael Banbury (80)

C Class – Zachary Chong (81)

D Class – Luke Chin (80)

E Class – Scott Roman (74)

Hunters or Beginners – Toby Hugh (79)

Ladies – Aliana McMaster (85)

Juniors – Aliana McMaster (85) 

Sub-Juniors – Liam Samuda (79)

Caption: The happy winners of the Rangers Gun Club Sporting Clays Classic - highest overall – Craig Simpson (right) and Ladies winner Aliana McMaster (centre) share the happy moment with Charles Ross of main sponsor Sterling Investments at the True-Juice property in St Catherine last Sunday.