After just missing out at the Jamaica Gun Club Championships last week, the consistent Craig Simpson came up trumps on Sunday to topple rivals at the ‘You Can Do Anything’ Charity Sporting Clays shoot at the Jamaica Skeet Club (JSC) in Portmore.

But while Simpson finished as the best of the lot with an impressive score of 97 from 100 targets to snare the Highest Overall prize for the day, 17-year-old shooter Danzell Knight, who organised the event, was the man of the hour.

Knight with the assistance of his mother and father Alveta and Nigel, orchestrated the successful event, which attracted approximately 96 shooters in aid of the Jamaica Society for the Blind (JSB).

Knight was overwhelmed by the show of support from the shooters, who seemingly enjoyed the course designed by former JSC president Khaleel Azan and set by Oneil Brown and team.

“My shooting was really good; I started off really well, I had a few shaky stations but I pulled through with 85 so I am pretty happy with that. But I am even happier with the support because for the past two weeks they had competitions, so I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of turnout, but we actually had a good showing.

“So I am really happy because at first I wanted to donate but I didn’t think it was enough; I wanted to do more so I actually spoke with them and one of their problems was the bathroom. So whatever I make from this shoot will be used to construct the bathroom and whatever is left will also be handed over to them,” he told reporters.

Simpson lauded young Knight for the well-thought-of initiative, which provided a fantastic day of entertainment enjoyed by all and sundry and is already looking forward to defending his title as the event is expected to become a staple on the shooting calendar.

“It is an awesome feeling and I couldn’t have asked for a better occasion to win. I am so proud of Danzell for this initiative, to be targeting a special- needs sector on his own is an amazing feat and I am super proud to be the champion for this event.

“As a father to a special-needs child I am fully aware of the challenges that can be encountered with people of special needs in Jamaica, and so any initiative towards improving any sector to benefit the special needs I will fully support it. This is an excellent occasion to highlight their needs and I will personally assist and help in any other initiative as best as I can,” Simpson noted.

Many-time national champion and stalwart Shaun Barnes, who ended with a score of 95, was the overall runner-up.

Ray McMaster made a long-awaited return to the winner’s enclosure when he finished tops in the “A” Class, bettering Nicholas Benjamin in a shoot-off after both ended with a score of 93. Former national champion Christian Sasso (91) completed the frame.

Junior shooter Roman Tavares-Finson continued his rich vein of form hitting a dazzling 93 to win “B” Class for a second consecutive tournament. With these back-to-back victories, Tavares-Finson, 14, becomes the youngest junior ever to move into “A” Class.

Matthew Josephs reigned supreme in the “C” Class with a score of 86, while the superb Wendy McMaster continues to impress as she took “D” Class honours with a score of 80. She will next compete against the big boys in the “C” Class.

Toby Hugh (83) gained promotion to the “D” Class after he outshot competition in the “E” Class.

Damien Sawyers bettered Andrewain Smith in a shoot-off to take top hunters honours after both ended with a score of 74. With the victory, Sawyers earned promotion to the “E” Class.

Meanwhile, Damian McLean, chairman of the JSB, also welcomed the support.

“Fund-raisers are always significant; they do a lot in terms of us being able to conduct our programmes and offerings, we are reaching out to blind and visually impaired persons who need lots of rehabilitation and help in terms of adjusting their lives.

“This one in particular is to better the plant so it will go towards refurbishing the bathrooms and doing maintenance work. So every time we can do something to better the plant we get a greater reach and we are really grateful for the initiative of this young man and we hail him for that,” McLean stated.