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Chung wins NCB Sporting Clays

Published:Sunday | March 12, 2017 | 12:00 AMShayne Fairman
Stephen Gooden (right), chief executive officer, National Commercial Bank (NCB) Capital Markets, presents the Champion trophy to Bobby Chung, who shot 92 to win the A class in the NCB Capital Markets Clay Shooting competition at Knolford Polo Ranch in St. Catherine, yesterday.

Billed as one of the most coveted titles on the local clay shooting calendar, yesterday's NCB Capital Markets Sporting Clays delivered big on marksmanship among a record number of participants at Knolford Polo Ranch in Bog Walk, St Catherine.

One hundred and seventy shooters turned out for the 16-course clay shooting tournament, with the day's top gun, high overall champion being Bobby Chung, who hit a score of 92 out of 100 birds.

Yesterday's course was set with pin-point accuracy for a score of 90 by 19-time World Champion shooter Ben Husthwaite.

It saw a number of seasoned shooters surpassing that mark, however.

National champion, Shaun Barnes finished in the A Class with a score of 91, while former champion Christian Sasso was runner-up with 91.

Richard Azan Jr followed with 90, while last year's winner, Craig Simpson, fought to defend his title but ended with 89 for A Class third.

 

PATIENCE

 

An elated Chung, reflecting on one of his biggest wins, told The Gleaner that the course took patience and composure.

"Feels great! It was a course of patience. it was a longer-than-usual course. You had to concentrate a lot and hang in there," he said.

"We had 170 participants, and a lot of people bunched up at the top. I guess I was a bit lucky to shoot more than them," the champion said.

He was joined by Ladies Class winner Marguerite Harris, who defended her title from last year with a score of 67.

Harris said that it was a nice course, "with some challenging birds," saying that she was nervous but came through in the end.

The B Class went to Nikolas Hudson (88), while Robert Subaran (83) and Evan Thwaites (82) finished second and third, respectively.

C Class top spot went to Ryan Chung, scoring 86 via the Long Run method. Danzell Knight was runner up (86) long run and Alex Cunningham third with 84.

Jamaica Sleet Club president Khaleel Azan called yesterday's shoot a great indication of the growth of the sport, noting that there were record-breaking numbers in most of the categories.

There were 20 participants from Montego Bay, while a few shooters flew in to compete.

"This is my last event as Jamaica Skeet club president, and I am very pleased to be going out on a high," Azan said in an interview.