Geoffrey Ziadie and Aliana McMaster outshot the over 100-strong field consisting of the best shooters on the island at the Jackson Bay Sporting Clay Tournament, to capture the coveted titles of highest overall (HOA) and Ladies champion, respectively. It was the first sporting clay event on the Jamaica Skeet Club calendar last Sunday at the club’s base in Portland Cottage, Clarendon.
It was not easy for the duo, as they had to go into a three-way shoot-off to determine the overall winner after the regular 100-bird shoot.
Ziadie, McMaster and Peter Mahfood each shot 92 out of a possible 100 targets, and a further eight targets during the tense shoot-off.
Mahfood picked off four to cop the runner-up spot, then it was McMaster’s turn, who bagged three. The in-form Ziadie, who had a very good 2025 season having won the AA Class in the Jack Links Cup in the United States, stepped to the station and stamped his class by picking off six birds and the bragging rights as HOA.
“[I] felt really good today. Coming out of no shooting for some time since Bird Season last year, I shot one tournament in Christmas before the hamper. I did well. I think I was first place. I missed the other one after that, and starting the year fresh was a really good feeling. I’ve been doing some mental training and some visualisation with my coach Kaleel Azan, and it just worked out great.
“Not much practice but understanding what targets are doing and mentally focusing to shoot and today was my day. I came out on top, tied with three other people. Went into a shoot-off, and I end up being successful, shooting six out of eight. So I felt very comfortable about today, especially shooting with the youngsters. The shoot-off was between two guys, two people, a lady and a gentleman that were under 25 years old. And, at 57, I’m proud to say that I came out on top,” said Ziadie.
McMaster’s win was her third consecutive hold on the three titles that she won on the day, and she was very happy with her performance.
“I’m so grateful for all of the titles that I’ve been able to defend and maintain. I’m very grateful for just the opportunity to come out here and compete and then just being able to come out on top.
“Additionally, there were some challenges that I did face on the course. However, I’m not really frustrated with myself that they did end up affecting me in the end. I just understand that that was a process that happened and I gladly accept everything that has happened and I’m honestly like just happy to even just be here and participating and just being able to compete at the level where I could have been HOA. So I’m grateful for Juniors first, grateful for A-Class first, and I’m grateful for Ladies first.”
There were two other shoot-offs for class champions. Rory Wilson and Brian Kong both shot 87 in the main section, with the former bagging five out of eight birds to take B Class ahead of the latter’s four.
In the other shoot-off, Denzil Dixon won D Class over Rheis McMaster after they both shot 83 in the regular section.
In addition to Ziadie’s HOA and McMaster’s A Class, Ladies, and Junior, as well as Rory Wilson’s B Class and Dixon’s D Class titles, there were also wins for
Max Williams in the C Class, Stephen Silvera in the E Class, Perrin Gayle among Hunters or Beginners, and Reis McMaster in the sub juniors.
