The event was hosted in St Ann at the picturesque Murphy Hill

Ian Banks; the president and nine-time champion of Jamaica Skeet Club Ian Banks, recently won the Proven David East Memorial Sporting Clays shoot. Lori-Anne Harris, a 16-year-old junior shooter, also won the championship in her age group.

The event began in 2020 and this is the first time that both shooters won the event. The event was hosted in St Ann at the picturesque Murphy Hill.

This is the first shoot that Banks has won in a long time. He shot 93 after missing only seven targets.

“This is very special. It’s been a while since I’ve clinched a championship. I have had to wait for several years. It feels nice to be declared champion in the first sporting clays shoot of 2025.”

The athletes were forced to compete under changing weather conditions. However, this didn’t stop them from delivering on the 17-station course. The weather kept changing from hot, sunny, cloudy and windy.

“I don’t want to blow my own horn. Today, it was just my day to win. It’s a good feeling to see young athletes coming up. I can’t be described as a youngster and that’s why I’m excited that the future of the sport is in safe hands. Most of these young people are talented,” Banks said.

Chad Ziadie finished second after going head-to-head with B Class shooter Todd Lazarus. Ziadie is the defending national shotgun champion. The two men could on only be separated through a shoot-off.

Ziadie punched all eight targets and it wasn’t surprising that he was perfect on the station. They had both shot 92 in the main event. This is the first time that someone different has won the ladies’ category. This category has always been dominated by McMaster.

“I am happy with myself,” Harris beamed. “I never expected to make it but I’m glad I delivered a good performance. The birds gave me a challenge but I think it was a really good course. It was a good experience.”

Aliana McMaster together with her mother Wendy both shot 84. Aliana won the shoot on four previous occasions while Wendy won it in 2020.

Club Treasurer Kirk Miller said that they were thankful for the support that they had received from sponsors like Fidelity Motors, Monymusk, Grand Excelsior Hotel and Proven Wealth. They believe that these sponsors have played a major role in the success of the shoot.