Fri | Nov 15, 2024

Barnes, McMaster bid to defend Driftwood Gun Club Sporting Clays titles

Published:Sunday | January 14, 2024 | 12:09 AM
File Aliana McMaster (left) and Shaun Barnes display the trophies they won at the Driftwood Gun Club Shoot at Murphy Hill, St Ann, on January 15, 2023.
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File Aliana McMaster (left) and Shaun Barnes display the trophies they won at the Driftwood Gun Club Shoot at Murphy Hill, St Ann, on January 15, 2023.

THREE-TIME champion Aliana McMaster and defending champion Shaun Barnes are ready to put their titles on the line today at the Driftwood Gun Club Shoot at the picturesque Murphy Hill Estate overlooking the town of Ocho Rios.

The event will have a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. with more than 150 shooters positioned on the seventeen-station course.

It kicks off the first sporting clays shoot of the year for the Jamaica Skeet Club, which has a robust calendar in 2024.

Barnes, the six-time national shotgun champion, will have to battle the likes of four-time national champion Christian Sasso and nine-time national shotgun champion and current Jamaica Skeet Club president Ian Banks, as well as two-time Driftwood Gun Club champion Craig Simpson, the red-hot Nick Benjamin with multiple wins under his belt in 2023, and the very consistent Ray McMaster, among other outstanding shooters. They will be challenged by several sharp-shooting juniors.

The ladies’ section will also be competitive with Aliana McMaster expected to be challenged by her mother, many-time national shotgun champion Wendy McMaster, former national shotgun champion Marguerite Harris and several very good shooters such as Renee Richhi, Loriann Harris and others.

The shooters will compete in various classes including A to E, Juniors, Sub-Juniors, Ladies and Hunters or Beginners.

Proceeds from the tournament will be used for the Driftwood Gun Club’s charities, dominated by educational support in the Treasure Beach area in the parish of St Elizabeth.

Club president, Christina East, is happy to have Proven on board for the fourth consecutive year as major sponsor. She credited David East, who passed away in 2020, with playing a pivotal role in securing the venue (Murphy Hill) as the home of the club’s annual competition.

East was considered to be a visionary club member who only wanted the best for sporting clays in Jamaica. The competition is held in his honour.

This year marks 20 years of existence for the Driftwood Gun Club.