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Campion, Miller create history at ATL Inter Schools Challenge

Published:Wednesday | December 4, 2019 | 12:30 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Members of the Campion College team pose with their trophy after taking top honours at the ATL Automotive Inter Schools Sporting Clay Challenge at the Jamaica Skeet Club in St Catherine on Sunday. Presenting the trophy is David Henriquez (sixth left), head of business, Porsche, ATL.
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Members of the Campion College team pose with their trophy after taking top honours at the ATL Automotive Inter Schools Sporting Clay Challenge at the Jamaica Skeet Club in St Catherine on Sunday. Presenting the trophy is David Henriquez (sixth left), head of business, Porsche, ATL.

It was a history-making weekend at the ATL Automotive Inter Schools Sporting Clay Challenge at the Jamaica Skeet Club on Sunday after Campion College dethroned Hillel Academy, the only team to have won the title in over 10 years of competition.

Top female shooter Savannah Miller of St Andrew High also became the first female shooter to qualify for the Super Six, where she placed fourth with a score of 61.

Hillel’s JJ Ralson emerged the highest overall scorer after he defeated Campion’s Zaniel Knight 10-8 in a shoot-off.

NEW CHAMPIONS

However, the day belonged to Campion College, who joined dethroned champions Hillel as the only teams to lift the ATL Automotive Inter Schools Sporting Clay Challenge trophy.

Campion, with a score of 140, topped the table ahead of Hillel (139) by one shot. Jamaica College were third with a total of 121.

Campion captain AJ Nakash said he knew his team would produce something special from the onset.

“It feels really good, and I am incredibly proud of the whole team. We didn’t know we were going to have as many members as we did because exams were on Monday,” said Nakash.

“But from I turn up this morning (Sunday), we knew we could do something special. I told the team it didn’t matter if we win or lose, only that we do our best, and our best was good enough. This will motivate us to try win it again in the future,” he said.

Despite placing fourth, Miller was very proud of her historic achievement and the experience she gained competing at that level.

“I am really proud of myself to achieve this. I wanted to be in Super six but coming into it, I was nervous. But after doing it, I am proud of myself, and it was a very good experience. In both the Super Six and regular tournament, I had good shoots, and I am surprised I shot as much as I did,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ralston, who advanced to the Super Six along with Knight, Rajhir DaCosta (Hillel), Miller, Jordan Vaz (Campion) and Bradley Wright (Campion), entered a shoot-off with Knight to decide the highest overall scorer after both were tied on 63 at the end of the Super Six, shoot-off. Ralston shot a perfect 10 to outscore Knight 10-8 to win the decider by two shots (73-71).

“I am very proud of myself. I thought I did really good. The competition was tough in the Super Six, but I liked the birds. Me and Zaniel shooting off was very tough, but my mental game was very strong, and I am very proud as my performance was really good, even though the birds were tough,” Ralston said.

Other winners on the day were Hillel’s Rachel Azan (45) in the girls’ B category, while Jonathan Ralston of Hillel took the Junior A section with 48. The Junior B title went to Campion’s Jordan Vaz (48), while teammate Storm Williams (45) won the Junior B section, with Nicholas Debellis (43) of Hillel taking the Sub Junior A crown. His schoolmate Alexander Clarke (42) won the Sub junior B category.