Craig Simpson exhibited top form to emerge top gun at the NCB Capital Market (NCBCM) Sporting Clays Open Championship at Woodleigh Sports Complex in Clarendon yesterday.

Simpson, who last won the championship in 2011, showed class and resilience to top a field of 155 competitors for his hold on the prestigious title.

The 41-year-old left-handed shooter hit an outstanding 88 of 100 targets to end as High Overall winner. His tally was just a mere two targets short of the 16-station course par score of 90.

“This event has become the premier event on the shooting calendar and brings out all the top competitors, so I feel really good that I came here and held my form and executed my plan through the 16 stations,” Simpson told the

Jamaica Observer.

“The targets were very challenging and were of international standards because they were very similar to what we shoot when we go abroad.

“The organisation was very outstanding and the sport is growing from strength to strength, and I feel very proud to have come out victorious today (yesterday),” he continued.

Marc Barnes, who shot a score of 87, was elated with the performance which earned him the runner-up spot and $20,000.

“It was a very good day. I have to give thanks to the sponsors and my brother Shaun Barnes, who has been my coach and mentor. The course was kind of technical, but I guess I was on top of my game today,” Barnes noted.

Meanwhile, Shaun Barnes, a former national champion, is gradually rounding into form as he shot a score of 84 to top the A class. Reigning national champion Christian Sasso and Brandon Reid were the runners-up with a score of 83.

Nickolai Clarke shot a score of 85 to finish tops in the B and junior classes. Jeffery Panton (84) and Ray McMaster (79) were second and third in the B class, while Peter Mahfood (75) and Matthew Josephs (72) were the runners-up in the junior category.

Mahfood was also third in the C class behind winner Nicholas Benjamin (80) and Jordan Thwaites (76).

Young Mark Desnoes shot an impressive score of 80 to top the D and sub junior classes. Jordan Samuda (78) and Ryan Chen (75) were the D class runners-up, while Jonah Subaran (73) and Liam McConnell (70) took the minor spots in the sub-junior category.

Subaran was also second in the E class behind Alex Cunningham (78), with Brandon Laing (73) in third.

However, McConnell’s score propelled him to the top of the Hunters class ahead of Steven Chan Pang and Sanjay Welch who both shot a score of 63.

The Ladies category was won by Marguerite Harris with a score of 68, followed by Isabelle Chin (60) and Jolie Chin (58).

ATL Autohous, Zoukie trucking and Securipro were among the sponsors for the event.