Bobby Chung takes 10th NCB Capital Markets Sporting Clays
Bobby Chung outshot a record field of 170 shooters to take hold of the 10th NCB Capital Markets 100 Sporting Clays on Sunday at the Knolford Polo & Sporting Clays Ranch in Bog Walk, St Catherine.
Chung shot 92, while runner-up Christian Sasso shot 91.
Chung, who was elated with his win, said: “ It feels great. It was a ‘course of patience and it was a long course, cause we had 16 stations, but you had to concentrate a lot and hang in there.” He credited 19-time world champion Ben Husthwiate for helping him to prepare for the tournament win.
“We just finished a training course with Ben Husthwaite. He is excellent, a former world champion. He is one of the best coaches out there. I would recommend him. He has helped the juniors so much with Khaleel. You have to try to follow his method and I came out on top today.”
The course was designed by Ben Husthwaite, who left the island last week after completing his work with numerous shooters. The venue was beautifully laid out with the shooting stations dotting the venue, including across the stream which ran through the property.
Marguerite Harris topped the ladies’ section, shooting 67 ahead of Isabella Chin with 66 and Renee Reckhi with 60. Harris said that she was very nervous while on the course: “It was a nice course, we had some challenging birds, but as usual the nervousness, but it came through in the end.”
She had high praises for sponsor NCB Capital Markets, the Jamaica Skeet Club and president Khaleel Azan for a well-run tournament. She also looked forward to the opportunity to defend her title.
The top-class performers were: A Class — 5-time national champion Shaun Barnes with 91 followed by Richard Azan on 90 and last year’s champion Craig Simpson with 89; B Class went to Nicholas Hudson on 88, with Robert Subaran on 83 and Evan Thwaites with 82 in third place. C Class was topped by Ryan Chung on 86 (on the basis of his scores on pre-selected stations or ‘long run’), while Danzell Knight with 86 was second and Alex Cummingham on 84 was third. D Class — Andrew Stanigar with 73, Nicholas Chai Chong on 72 and Kirk Miller with 71. E Class went to Brandon King on 73 (long run) followed by Dale Delaphena, also on 73 and Cameron Phang Sand on 71. The Hunters Class or beginners was topped by Andrew Simpson with 75, followed by Lenin Thompson on 71 and Sascha Hossman, also with 71. Danzell Knight with 86 topped the Juniors followed by D’Andre Simpson and Todd Lazarus, while the Sub Juniors went to Mark Denoes with 79, ahead of Jonah Subaran with 68 and Roman Tavares-Finson in third place on 67.
President Khaleel Azan, who spoke after the awards ceremony, said: “I am overjoyed. It’s great to see the sport grow. When we look back 10 years ago, where we were and where we are today, we have made so much progress. It’s a record-breaking crowd today (170 shooters), record-breaking with the number of girls shooting (15), record-breaking with beginners shooting (47); it just augurs well for the sport. This is my last event as president and I am very pleased to be going out on a high.”
Azan said that he will now focus on the juniors as well as make an effort to expand the sport under the sports tourism banner. He also credited the media for the growth of the sport during his four years at the helm of the Jamaica Skeet Club.